THE ALTAR THE ALTAR VESTMENTS VESTMENTS LINENS AND LINENS AND

VESSELS USED AT VESSELS USED AT MASS AND WHAT MASS AND WHAT THEY REPRESENTTHEY REPRESENT

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A consecrated A consecrated altar, which altar, which must in every must in every Church or Church or Chapel occupy Chapel occupy an elevated an elevated position, position, because it because it represents the represents the Mount Calvary Mount Calvary whereon whereon Christ, the Christ, the guiltless guiltless victim, was victim, was killed in the killed in the sacrifice and sacrifice and lifted up on the lifted up on the Cross.Cross.

The Amice, which the priest The Amice, which the priest passes over his head and passes over his head and places around his neck; this places around his neck; this represents the linen cloth with represents the linen cloth with which in the house of Caiphas which in the house of Caiphas the Jews covered Christ’s the Jews covered Christ’s countenance, bidding Him in countenance, bidding Him in mockery: “Prophecy to us, mockery: “Prophecy to us, who is it that struck Thee” A who is it that struck Thee” A short, oblong vestment of short, oblong vestment of white linen worn beneath the white linen worn beneath the alb to cover the shoulders of alb to cover the shoulders of the priest while celebrating the priest while celebrating Mass. This piece of vestment Mass. This piece of vestment is no more used in many parts is no more used in many parts of the world today. When of the world today. When putting on the amice, the putting on the amice, the priest says, priest says, “Put on my head, “Put on my head, O Lord, the helmet of O Lord, the helmet of salvation in order to repel the salvation in order to repel the assaults of the devil.”assaults of the devil.”

The alb symbolizes the garment The alb symbolizes the garment in which Christ was clothed by in which Christ was clothed by Herod and the purity of the soul Herod and the purity of the soul with which the Sacrifice of the with which the Sacrifice of the Mass should be offered. Mass should be offered. “Make “Make me white O Lord and cleanse my me white O Lord and cleanse my heart that, made white by the heart that, made white by the Blood of the Lamb, I may be Blood of the Lamb, I may be able to serve Thee”able to serve Thee” is said by is said by the priest as he puts on the alb. the priest as he puts on the alb. An alb is a plain, lightweight, An alb is a plain, lightweight, ankle-length tunic with long ankle-length tunic with long sleeves. It is generally worn with sleeves. It is generally worn with a girdle. The word alb is short a girdle. The word alb is short for the Latin phrase tunica alba, for the Latin phrase tunica alba, which means white tunicwhich means white tunic

The linen girdle, with The linen girdle, with which the priest girds which the priest girds himself, and which himself, and which represents the cord that represents the cord that bound Our Lord to the bound Our Lord to the pillar when He was being pillar when He was being scourged. A girdle is scourged. A girdle is anything worn around the anything worn around the waist to gather or hold up waist to gather or hold up clothing. It symbolizes clothing. It symbolizes modesty, and also modesty, and also readiness for hard work in readiness for hard work in God’s service. God’s service. “Gird me, O “Gird me, O Lord, with the cincture of Lord, with the cincture of purity and extinguish in purity and extinguish in my heart the fire of the my heart the fire of the desires of the world so desires of the world so that the virtue of yielding that the virtue of yielding to impulse and chastity to impulse and chastity always abiding in my always abiding in my heart, I may better serve heart, I may better serve Thee.” Thee.”

The Maniple, which is The Maniple, which is placed on the priest’s left placed on the priest’s left arm, represents the bonds arm, represents the bonds wherewith Christ’s hands wherewith Christ’s hands were tied.were tied. This piece of This piece of vestment is no more used vestment is no more used in many parts of the world in many parts of the world today.today. “May I deserve, O “May I deserve, O Lord, to carry this maniple Lord, to carry this maniple of sorrow and penance so of sorrow and penance so that I may one day enjoy that I may one day enjoy the reward of all my the reward of all my labors.”labors.”

The Stole, which placed around the neck of The Stole, which placed around the neck of the priest and crossed upon his breast, the priest and crossed upon his breast, represents the chains laid upon our Lord after represents the chains laid upon our Lord after He was sentenced to death. A Stole is a He was sentenced to death. A Stole is a liturgical vestment composed of a strip of liturgical vestment composed of a strip of material from two to four inches wide and material from two to four inches wide and about eighty inches long. It has either a about eighty inches long. It has either a uniform width throughout, or is somewhat uniform width throughout, or is somewhat narrower towards the middle, widening at the narrower towards the middle, widening at the ends and is worn around the neck so that it ends and is worn around the neck so that it hangs down in front of the wearer’s legs, hangs down in front of the wearer’s legs, ending below the knees. A small cross is ending below the knees. A small cross is generally sewed or embroidered on the stole generally sewed or embroidered on the stole at both ends and in the middle; the cross, at both ends and in the middle; the cross, however, is prescribed only for the middle, however, is prescribed only for the middle, where the priest kisses the stole before where the priest kisses the stole before putting it on. There are no express precepts putting it on. There are no express precepts concerning the material of the stole, but silk, concerning the material of the stole, but silk, or at least a half-silk fabric, is most or at least a half-silk fabric, is most appropriate. “O Lord, Who hast said, appropriate. “O Lord, Who hast said, ‘My ‘My yoke is sweet and My burden is light,’ grant yoke is sweet and My burden is light,’ grant that I may so carry it as to merit Thy grace.” that I may so carry it as to merit Thy grace.”

The Chasuble, which The Chasuble, which represents the purple robe represents the purple robe wherewith the impious wherewith the impious soldiers clothed Him in soldiers clothed Him in mockery at the crowning with mockery at the crowning with thorns; the cross upon the thorns; the cross upon the chasuble represents the chasuble represents the Cross to which Christ was Cross to which Christ was nailed; the pillar; the column nailed; the pillar; the column at which He was scourged. A at which He was scourged. A chasuble is a decorated chasuble is a decorated circular garment with a hole circular garment with a hole in the center for the wearer’s in the center for the wearer’s head. When worn, it reaches head. When worn, it reaches to the wearer’s wrists, so that to the wearer’s wrists, so that if the wearer holds both arms if the wearer holds both arms straight out, the chasuble straight out, the chasuble forms a semi-circle when forms a semi-circle when viewed from the front or the viewed from the front or the back. back.

Colours of the Chasuble and their significanceColours of the Chasuble and their significance

WhiteWhite:The symbol of innocence and triumph. It signifies the :The symbol of innocence and triumph. It signifies the joy and purity of the soul. The white vestment is the joy and purity of the soul. The white vestment is the peaceable garment used on all the feasts of the joyful and peaceable garment used on all the feasts of the joyful and glorious mysteries of our Lord’s life, on the feasts of our glorious mysteries of our Lord’s life, on the feasts of our Blessed Mother, on the feasts of angels and of all saints who Blessed Mother, on the feasts of angels and of all saints who were not martyrs. It is also worn from Christmas to the were not martyrs. It is also worn from Christmas to the Epiphany, and during Eastertide. Epiphany, and during Eastertide.

RedRed:The color of blood, is used on all feasts of our Lord’s :The color of blood, is used on all feasts of our Lord’s Cross and Passion, on the feasts of the Apostles and of all Cross and Passion, on the feasts of the Apostles and of all martyrs. Red is also used on Pentecost and in Masses of the martyrs. Red is also used on Pentecost and in Masses of the Holy Spirit, in memory of the tongues of fire of the First Holy Spirit, in memory of the tongues of fire of the First Pentecost. Red also signifies the fire of love towards God. Pentecost. Red also signifies the fire of love towards God.

GreenGreen:The color of budding and living vegetation, of hope. It :The color of budding and living vegetation, of hope. It is used on the Sundays after Epiphany and after Pentecost. is used on the Sundays after Epiphany and after Pentecost.

PurplePurple:The color of humility and penance is worn in times of :The color of humility and penance is worn in times of repentance. It is used during the penitential seasons of repentance. It is used during the penitential seasons of Advent, Septuagesima and Lent, and on fast days and vigils. Advent, Septuagesima and Lent, and on fast days and vigils.

A Consecrated A Consecrated Chalice, which Chalice, which represents the represents the grave wherein grave wherein the Lord was the Lord was laid, or the bitter laid, or the bitter chalice of His chalice of His Passion that He Passion that He drank to the to drank to the to the last drop.the last drop.

The Pall is a The Pall is a stiff white stiff white linen to cover linen to cover the chalice; the chalice; this represents this represents the stone that the stone that closed the closed the Lord’s tomb.Lord’s tomb.

The Corporal The Corporal is a square is a square fine linen fine linen placed under placed under the chalice, the chalice, which which represents the represents the shroud shroud wrapped about wrapped about the Lord’s the Lord’s sacred sacred remainsremains

A Paten is A Paten is a small a small plate, it plate, it represents represents the vases the vases containing containing the salves the salves used to used to anoint the anoint the Body of Body of Christ Christ before His before His burial.burial.

The The Purificator is Purificator is a small cloth a small cloth employed to employed to dry the dry the chalice, chalice, representing representing the other the other cloths that cloths that were used to were used to drop the drop the Lord’s body Lord’s body down in down in burial.burial.

V

The Veil of silk to cover the chalice, represents the The Veil of silk to cover the chalice, represents the veil of the Temple, rent in two from the top to the veil of the Temple, rent in two from the top to the bottom at the moment of His death.bottom at the moment of His death.

The two The two cruets, cruets, represent represent the the vessels vessels which which contained contained the wine the wine and the and the gall given gall given to the to the Lord to Lord to drink drink upon the upon the Cross.Cross.

Background song Gregorian chantsBackground song Gregorian chants

O sacrum convivium!O sacrum convivium!in quo Christus sumitur:in quo Christus sumitur:recolitur memoria passionis ejus:recolitur memoria passionis ejus:mens impletur gratia:mens impletur gratia:et futurae gloriae nobis pignus datur.et futurae gloriae nobis pignus datur.Alleluia.Alleluia.

O sacred banquet!O sacred banquet!in which Christ is received,in which Christ is received,the memory of his Passion is renewed,the memory of his Passion is renewed,the mind is filled with grace,the mind is filled with grace,and a pledge of future glory to us is given.and a pledge of future glory to us is given.Alleluia. Alleluia.