Fascia (vestment)

The fascia is a sash worn by clerics and seminarians with the cassock in the Latin Rite of the Roman Catholic Church and the Anglican Church. It is also worn with the simar by those entitled to the simar's use. It is not to be worn as a belt but should be placed above the waist between the navel and the breastbone (sternum). The ends that hang down should be worn on the left side of the body and placed a little forward but not completely off the left hip. Technically, the fascia is not a vestment, but is part of choir dress.

The pope's fascia is white. Only the pope may have his Coat of Arms placed on the ends of the fascia that hang down near or past the knees. The fascia worn by cardinals is scarlet red watered silk. The fascia worn by Archbishops who are nuncios is purple watered silk. The fascia worn by Patriarchs, Archbishops, Bishops, protonotaries apostolic, honorary prelates, and chaplains of his holiness is purple. The fascia worn by priests, deacons and seminarians is black, while the fascia worn by priests attached to the papal household is black watered silk.

While the fascia is worn under the rochet or surplice it is not worn under the alb as the cincture, not the fascia, holds the alb in place.

Prior to the changed that followed the Second Vatican Council there were two types of fascia: the tufted fascia, on which each end was finished in a single large tassel, and the fringed fascia, on which each end is straight and finished with fringe. Currently, only the fringed fascia is used.