Sometimes, you might notice another vestment peeking out from underneath the bishop's chasuble. We all know that the chasuble is the outer vestment that all priests wear for Mass--not so well known is the fact that, at a pontifical Mass, bishops traditionally wore not just the chasuble, but even the deacon's dalmatic and the sub-deacon's tunicle underneath. By wearing all the vestments, cumbersome as they may be, the bishop teaches the faithful that he alone possesses the fullness of the sacrament of Holy Orders, with the authority to confer the various degrees of ordained ministry upon others. The Extraordinary Form still requires the bishop to wear the under-dalmatic and tunicle for pontifical Mass. If he's conferring holy orders, he must wear them even if it's in the middle of a low Mass. The modern Ceremonial of Bishops no longer mentions the tunicle, but still recommends the pontifical dalmatic on major feasts

 

As they have developed, the pontifical dalmatic and tunic are essentially very thin, light vestments of silk that are easily worn the one over the other.

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Pontifical Dalmatics are used by a Bishop or Cardinal and are worn underneath the Chasuble.  These can be supplied in all liturgical colours. Pontifical Dalmatics are lightweight, made in a light plain fabric, and finished with gold bullion braid as shown. All liturgical colours can be made to order.

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The prayer when vesting with the tunicle: "May the Lord cloth me in the tunicle of delight, and the garment of rejoicing."

For the dalmatic: "Clothe me, Lord, with the garment of salvation, and the raiment of joy; and ever place upon me the dalmatic of justice."