Cowl

:This article is about the garment used by monks. If you are looking for the book, see Cowl (novel).

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The cowl (from the Latin, cuculla) is a long, outer garment, with wide sleeves, worn by Catholic monks when participating in the liturgy. Developed in the Middle Ages as a more practical alternative to wearing a cloak, they became the formal garment for those in monastic life. They were worn to give warmth to people who often spent long hours in unheated and drafty churches.

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They are most commonly bestowed upon the monk at the time of his making solemn, or lifetime, vows. They are generally worn in conformity with the color of the monk's tunic, with the Benedictines wearing black, while other groups which also follow the Rule of St. Benedict, e.g., the Camaldolese and Cistercians wear some form of white. The garment, without a hood, is also worn by nuns, in the same manner.

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It should be noted that those orders which are not part of the Benedictine tradition, e.g., the Carthusians, do not make use of this garment.

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Catholic: Catholic (literally meaning: according to (kata-) the whole (holos) or more generally "universal" in Greek) is a religious term with a number of meanings:...

Monk: A monk is a person who practices monasticism, adopting a strict religious and ascetic lifestyle, usually in community with others following the same path. The word comes from the Greek monachos (μοναχός), commonly translated as a solitary person, and by convention ...

Liturgy: From the Greek word λειτουργια, which can be transliterated as "leitourgia," meaning "the work of the people," a liturgy comprises a prescribed religious ceremony, according to the traditions of a particular religion; it may refer to, or i...

Cowl related Images and Photos (experimental)

Batman Returns Bat Cowl Fiberglass Replica	Batman Begins 1:3 Scale Cowl Prop Replica	Jean Gabin and Darry Cowl: Archimède Le Clochard 1959	Brigitte Bardot and Darry Cowl: En Effeuillant La Marguerite 1956
Batman The Dark Knight 1:1 Scale Cowl Replica	THE FLASH Adult Mask with Cowl