Current Position: Earth Sector, U.S.A. Outpost, Breakroom Module 3
Mission Status: Discussion with my computer
Question: Someplace in my travels in Europe, I saw a display of special traveling vestments that priest would put on to protect them from getting roadway animal droppings on them. Do you know anything about this?
The Computer Answer: You’re remembering something very real — and wonderfully odd — from the history of clerical dress. What you likely saw wasn’t a “special vestment” in the liturgical sense, but a protective traveling garment that clergy used when roads were muddy, dusty, or full of… well… exactly what you described.
Here are the two most likely candidates for what you saw:
1. The Mantellum or Traveling Cloak
Before modern roads, priests traveling between villages often wore a heavy outer cloak specifically to protect their liturgical garments from mud, dust, and animal droppings.
• It was usually wool, dark-colored, and hooded.
• It wasn’t a vestment but a practical over-garment.
• In some regions (especially France, Spain, and Italy), these cloaks were displayed in museums of religious life.
These cloaks could be surprisingly large and were meant to shield the alb and stole underneath.
2. The Vespaio / Vespaio Mantle (Italy)
This is a rarer one, but it fits your memory even better.
Some Italian dioceses used a wide, apron-like protective garment that priests put on over their cassock when traveling rural roads.
• It protected the front of the cassock from mud and animal waste.
• It sometimes tied around the waist like a giant bib or apron.
• These are occasionally displayed in rural ecclesiastical museums.
3. The “Riding Cassock” or “Traveling Cassock”
In northern Europe, clergy sometimes wore a shorter, sturdier cassock for horseback travel.
• It was designed so the hem wouldn’t drag through mud or manure.
• Some versions had a removable lower section that could be unbuttoned after travel.
4. The Greca (Roman overcoat)
Not specifically for droppings, but priests often wore the greca, a long black overcoat, as a protective layer when traveling.
Daily log continuation:
Talking about roadway animal droppings of the 1700 and 1800's reminds me much of the various correspondences received from the Vatical Postal / CFN folks. The CFN sales unit was shut down in October of 2024. It reopened in July of 2025. A number of VPS members placed, and paid for, stamp orders in July of 2025. Ever since then we have been engaged in correspondence seeking information why our orders have not shipped. The Vatican response has been that philatelic shipments are "blocked due to tariffs". Our response has been, not in just one or two letters or emails, but a constant flow communicating that readings from the American Philatelic Society and the websites they referred to, give complete documentation that there are no U. S. tariffs on philatelic shipments, before or after changes tariff rule changes made by the Trump administration. To our way of thinking using U.S. tariff rule changes as an excuse to suspend Vatican philatelic shipments is totally misguided nonsense!
From our studies we know that stamp collecting contributes to Vatican City revenue and to the Catholic messaging. To suspend philatelic shipments to the United States destroys the heart and soul of U.S. Vatican stamp collectors. Perhaps Vatican City postal folks should acquire some protective traveling garment that clergy used when traveling roads of the 1700 and 1800's that were muddy, dusty, or full of… well… you know. Perhaps they could then get some clarity about the Vatican postal shipment mis-guided nonsense and put an end to it!
Question: Who can get some protective traveling garments sent to Vatican City, especially the folks in charge of decision making on postal shipments to the United States?
The VPSrobot has his protective traveling garments on, ready to help end the Vatican philatelic shipment suspension!!
Vatican postal folk — lift the suspension! – Suspendite suspensionem!Vatican postal folk — lift the suspension! – Suspendite suspensionem!
Vatican postal folk — lift the suspension! – Suspendite suspensionem!
If you share the desire to see Vatican philatelic shipments restored—and to ensure that Vatican stamp collector orders, collections, and commitments are respected—please take a moment to send a brief, courteous message to Don Felice Bruno, F.D.P., Office Manager, Post and Philately Service through the Vatican Post Office contact webpage at https://www.postevaticane.va/en/contacts.
— VPSrobot