View source for Investiture

{{short description|Formal installation of a candidate}}
'''Investiture''' (from the Latin preposition ''in'' and verb ''vestire'', "dress" from ''vestis'' "robe") is a formal installation or ceremony that a person undergoes, often related to membership in Christian [[religious institute]]s as well as Christian knighthoods or damehoods, in addition to government offices.

In an investiture, a person may receive an outward sign of their membership, such as their [[religious habit]], an [[ecclesiastical decoration]] (as with chivalric orders) or a [[scapular]] (as with confraternities);<ref name="TWU2018"/><ref>{{cite web |title=Investiture in the Red Scapular: A Lifelong Devotion to Honor the Lord's Passion | work=Clallam Catholic &#124; Queen of Angels, St Joseph, St Anne, St Thomas Parishes |url=https://clallamcatholic.org/red-scapular-investiture/#:~:text=Investiture%20is%20a%20ceremony%20in,acts%20of%20charity%20and%20devotion. |publisher=Clallam Catholic |access-date=26 April 2022 |language=English |quote=scapular blessed by a priest. In wearing the scapular there is a promise (consecration) by the individual to pray and perform acts of charity and devotion. Investiture is done only once, and subsequent to being invested, the person wears the scapular at all times as a sign of that promise.}}</ref> they may be given the authority and regalia of a high office. Investiture can include formal dress and adornment such as robes of state or headdress, or other [[regalia]] such as a throne or seat of office. An investiture is also often part of a [[coronation]] rite or [[enthronement]].

==Christianity==
===Religious institutes===
Investiture indicates in [[religious orders]] the usually ceremonial handing over of the [[religious habit]] to a new [[novitiate|novice]]. The investiture usually takes place upon admission to the novitiate (rarely only upon profession). The investiture which takes place either as part of a liturgical celebration in the [[Choir (architecture)|choir]] of the church or in the community's [[chapter house]].

In some places, a slightly shorter or even a white habit is lent to dress up, which is then exchanged for one in the way that the other professed people wear at the first profession. In some religious orders for women, the white veil of the novice is exchanged for a black veil when taking temporary vows (simple profession), while others only give the black veil for solemn profession.

===Confraternities===
Joining a confraternity (such as the [[Confraternity of the Immaculate Conception]]) occurs through an investiture, in which one is given a [[scapular]] as an outward mark of their membership.<ref>{{cite web |title=The Confraternity of the Immaculate Conception |date=19 July 2021 |url=https://www.marian.org/confraternity/ |publisher=[[Congregation of Marian Fathers of the Immaculate Conception]] |access-date=26 April 2022 |language=English|quote=By joining the Confraternity of the Immaculate Conception, the faithful take upon themselves certain obligations and receive spiritual benefits. The ceremony of admittance into the Confraternity includes the investiture with the Blue Scapular. Confraternity members ought to piously wear the Scapular always as an outward mark of veneration for the Immaculate Conception of the B.V.M. and a symbol that sets them apart as people particularly dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary.}}</ref>

A Christian is made a [[knight]] or [[dame]] through an investiture, as with the [[Order of Saint John (Bailiwick of Brandenburg)]], a chivalric order.<ref name="TWU2018">{{cite web |title=Palomares-Fernandez honored with knighthood |url=https://inside.twu.edu/archives/read/palomares-fernandez-honored-with-knighthood |access-date=26 April 2022 |language=English |date=8 May 2018|quote=Ronald S. Palomares-Fernandez, Ph.D., a Texas Woman’s University assistant professor of psychology, has been knighted by the Johanniter Order, a 900-year-old spiritual service organization dedicated to assisting the sick, the poor and the infirmed. Palomares-Fernandez received the honor for his humanitarian work in his church and around the world. Palomares-Fernandez was approved to serve as a Knight of Honor in March by the Herrenmeister, Prince Oscar of Prussia, Lord Master of the Brandenburg Bailiwick of the Knightly Order of Saint John of the Hospital of Jerusalem. His investiture and knighting ceremony occurred on April 7 in Boston, Massachusetts.|publisher=[[Texas Woman's University]]}}</ref>

==Government==
Investiture is the installation of individuals in institutions that usually have been extant from feudal times. For example, the installation of heads of state and various other state functions with ceremonial roles are ''invested'' with office. Usually, the investiture involves ceremonial transfer of the symbol of the gods. Judges in few countries, including justices of the Supreme Court of the United States, are invested with their office. American justices typically take two oaths: one to uphold the [[Constitution of the United States]], and the other to apply justice equally.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.foxnews.com/story/preparations-begin-for-roberts-swearing-in |work=Fox News |title=Preparations Begin for Roberts' Swearing In | date=29 September 2005}}</ref> Likewise, university presidents, rectors and chancellors are invested with office.

In Spain, the [[Prime Minister of Spain|Prime Minister]] and similarly, the leaders of regional governments, undergo an election procedure called "investiture" or "parliamentary investiture". Established in the [[Constitution of Spain|Spanish Constitution]], the procedure consists in the candidate to prime minister defending its political program and the legislative chamber supporting it or rejecting it. If accepted, the [[Monarchy of Spain|monarch]] appoints him as prime minister.

==Other uses==
{{see also|Investment (disambiguation)}}
[[File:Dempsey is invested in the field.jpg|thumb|Lieutenant General [[Miles Dempsey]] is invested with his knighthood as [[Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath]], in the field of battle, by King [[George VI]] on 15 October 1944, while Field Marshal [[Bernard Montgomery|Sir Bernard Montgomery]] looks on.]]
In the [[United Kingdom]], around 2,600 people are invested personally by King [[Charles III]] or another senior member of the [[British Royal Family|royal family]] each year. A list of those to be honoured is published twice a year, in either the [[New Year Honours]] or the [[Birthday Honours]]. Approximately 25 investitures are held annually, usually either in the [[Throne room|Throne Room]] at [[Buckingham Palace]] or the Grand Reception Room in [[Windsor Castle]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Investitures |url=https://www.royal.uk/investitures |website=The official website of the Royal Family |publisher=The Royal Household |access-date=25 November 2023}}</ref> The [[Palace of Holyroodhouse]], in [[Edinburgh]], [[Scotland]], is also used, as are other locations from time to time.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.royal.gov.uk/RoyalEventsandCeremonies/Investitures/Overview.aspx|title=Investitures|publisher=Royal Household}}</ref> In 2014 The then-Prince of Wales held an investiture at [[Hillsborough Castle]] in [[Northern Ireland]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-northern-ireland-26856190|title=Prince of Wales gives OBE and MBE honours at Hillsborough Castle|publisher=BBC News}}</ref> Investitures are also held in other [[Commonwealth realm]]s, when the [[governor-general]] or [[lieutenant-governor]] acts on behalf of the King.<ref name="GG-AUS">[https://www.gg.gov.au/australian-honours-and-awards/investiture-ceremonies Investiture Ceremonies], [[Governor General of Australia]], accessed 2021-20-07</ref> 

The poem "The Investiture" by English poet, writer, and soldier [[Siegfried Sassoon]] is about a young man who was killed in battle during World War I.<ref>{{cite wikisource |title=The Investiture |last=Sassoon |first=Siegfried |year=1918}}</ref>

The term is used in the [[Scouting]] movement when enrolling a new youth member or an existing member is moving to a different section such as from [[Cub Scout|Cubs]] to [[Scout (Scouting)|Scouts]],<ref name="Scout Investiture Fact Sheet">{{cite web| url=http://www.scoutbase.org.uk/library/hqdocs/facts/pdfs/fs315073.pdf| title=Scout Investiture Fact Sheet| date=4 September 2012| access-date=4 September 2012| archive-date=10 July 2012| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120710203706/http://www.scoutbase.org.uk/library/hqdocs/facts/pdfs/fs315073.pdf| url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://troopresources.scouting.org/investitures/ |title=Investitures |website=Troop Program Resources}}</ref> and for the ceremony in which a new member declares their commitment to Scouting traditions.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://scoutdocs.ca/Documents/Scout_Investiture.php |title=Scout Investiture Ceremony |publisher=ScoutDocs Resources for Scouting in Canada |access-date=25 September 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://issuu.com/scoutingireland/docs/investiture|title=Investiture by Scouting Ireland|website=issuu.com |date=26 April 2022 |publisher=[[Scouting Ireland]]}}</ref>

==See also==
* [[Consecration]] of a bishop or of a church 
* [[Coronation]] and [[anointing]], equivalent terms for the assumption of royal office
* [[Enthronement]], an equivalent term used for royal and episcopal office
* [[Investiture controversy]] of Middle Ages
* [[Ordination]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{Wiktionary}}
{{commonscatinline}}
*[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kPtCemr7y9I Queen Elizabeth investiture (knighting) ceremony at Buckingham Palace.] on [[YouTube]]
*[http://gg.govt.nz/honours/investitures.htm Governor-General of New Zealand, Investiture ceremonies.]
{{Investiture Controversy}}
[[Category:Ceremonies]]
[[Category:Investiture Controversy]]
[[Category:State ritual and ceremonies]]