CILICIUM, a sort of habit made of coarse stuff, of a black or dark colour formerly in use among the Hebrews in times of mourning and distress. It was called Cilicium, because it came from Cilicia, or rather because the Cilicians invented this kind of habit, made of Goats hair, and used principally in Camps and Ships, by Soldiers and Mariners1. The Septuagint and Hebrew call that Sackcloth, which S. Jerom translates Cilicium, either because Sacks were made of this sort of stuff, or because Hair-cloths were strait and close like a Sack. S. John in the Revelations shews plainly, that these Sack-cloths, or Hair-cloths were black, when he says, that the Sun became black as Sack-cloth made of hair. Sol factus est niger tanquam saccus cilicinus.
It is said in Scripture, that Jacob put on Gen. xxxvii. 34. 2 Sam. xxi. 10. 1 Kings xxi. 27.Sackcloth, when he was told that his Son Joseph was dead. Rizpah Saul’s Concubine lay on Sackcloth, while she guarded her Sons, whom the Gibeonites had hanged. Ahab cloathed himself with Sackcloth, when he heard how terribly the Prophet Elijah had by God’s Command threatned him. The same Prince put Sackcloth on his 2 Kings vi. 29, 30flesh, while the Syrians besieged Samaria; and having understood that a Woman had eaten her own Child, he tore his royal Robes, and all the people saw the Sackcloth which he wore upon his flesh. So that these Hair-cloths were very different from what we call at present by this name. The old Monks were very often cloathed with these Hair-cloths of the old fashion; that is to say, with coarse rough habits of a darkish colour, much like the habit of the Capuchins. Paulinus speaking of S. Martin, says2,
Quin & contexto setis coopertus amictu, Exesa assiduo compunxit acumine membra.
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