Rationale (vestment)

A rationale, also called superhumerale (from Latin super, "over", and [h]umerus, "shoulder"; thus a garment worn "over the shoulder[s]"), is a liturgical vestment worn exclusively by bishops mostly in the Roman Catholic Church.It is mainly characterized as a humeral ornament – yet also adorning chest and back – and is worn over the chasuble.The term rationale originates from a Latin translation of the Ancient Greek λόγιον logion for the Hebrew חֹשֶׁן hoshen by St. Jerome, referring to the sacred breastplate worn by the High Priest of the Israelites, according to the Book of Exodus.During the Middle Ages it was worn by several Bishops, primarily in the Holy Roman Empire, as far spread as Regensburg, Prague and Liège.Rationales are occasionally still worn by episcopi vagantes in the Celtic Christian Orthodox Church, a small community with historical links to the Old Catholic Church and Eastern Orthodoxy.
Rationale donated to the Archbishop of Kraków by queen Saint Jadwiga of Poland in 1384/85
Archbishop of KrakówJadwiga of PolandliturgicalvestmentbishopsRoman Catholic ChurchchasublehoshenSt. Jeromesacred breastplateHigh Priest of the IsraelitesBook of ExodusMiddle AgesHoly Roman EmpireRegensburgPragueLiègeEichstättBambergMindenBishopGermanyGregor Maria Franz HankeO.S.B.MetropolitanArchbishopPaderbornHans-Josef BeckerNancy (-Toul)FranceKrakówPolandMarek Jędraszewskiepiscopi vagantesOld Catholic ChurchEastern Orthodoxy