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Jesus drives the merchants away from the Temple

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It is useful to know and to be able to identify the sacred vessels and liturgical items used in the cult, especially for the celebration of the Holy Mass.

The altar is the table on which the sacrifice of the Mass is offered. It must be covered with the altar cloths. There should be candles and a cross on the altar or somewhere not far from it.

The reredos or altarpiece is a richly painted or ornamented screen, usually with images, at the back of the altar.

The sacred books used in the Mass are called the Lectionary, which contains all the readings, psalms, and Gospels, and the Sacramentary. They are placed on the self-standing lectern for the readings or on a small folding book stand on the altar during the Mass.

The tabernacle is a boxlike receptacle where the Blessed Sacrament is reserved. It should be solid, inviolable, and located always in a place that is truly prominent and conducive to prayer. Its name is derived from the word "tent." It is covered with a tabernacle veil.

The sanctuary lamp must be kept burning before the tabernacle.

The chalice is a cup used at Mass to contain the precious blood of Christ.

The paten is a shallow dish on which the host is placed.

The ciborium is a covered cup in which the small consecrated hosts are kept. It is usually covered with a veil.

The corporal is a linen cloth, twenty inches square, upon which the chalice and paten are placed. It is pleated in three folds overlapping inwardly so that no fragment of the consecrated host may be dropped. It is carried in a burse.

The pall is a stiff cardboard, usually square, covered with linen. It is used as a cover for the chalice to protect it from dust and other foreign matter.

The purificator is a small linen towel used to dry the priest's fingers and the chalice at the end of the Mass.

The chalice veil covers the chalice before and after its use at Mass.

The Communion plate is held under the chin of the communicant to catch any particle of the sacred host that may fall. The Communion cloth, placed over the rail, has a similar purpose.

The altar bell is rung to alert those present at some moments of the Mass.

The cruets are two small bottles or vessels containing the wine and water to be used for the Consecration and for the ablutions after Communion.

In some places, it is customary to light a little candle on a bougie lamp during the Consecration.

A censer or thurible to burn incense is used in solemn Masses. The incense boat is a vessel in which incense is kept; a small spoon is used to transfer incense from the boat to the censer.

The amice is a rectangular piece of white linen, worn beneath the alb.

The alb is a full-length white linen vestment. It symbolizes the garment in which Christ was clothed by Herod, and the purity of soul with which the sacrifice of the Mass should be offered.

The cincture is a belt, girdle, or cord tied around the waist of the alb. It symbolizes chastity and mortification of the senses.

The stole is a long, narrow band worn over the neck. It symbolizes the sweet yoke of Jesus Christ and the dignity of the ministerial priesthood.

The chasuble is a sleeveless outer garment worn by the priest at Mass. It is worn over all the other vestments, and is made of silk or some other rich material usually decorated with symbols. It is patterned after the traveling cloak used by the ancient Greeks and Romans. Originally, it was a large circle of cloth with an opening in the center for the head of the priest. It symbolizes charity, which must cover all our actions.

At solemn Masses, the deacon wears a dalmatic. It is an outer liturgical vestment with short sleeves, open at the sides and made of the same material as the vestments of the celebrant.

The beauty of the vestments should derive from the materials and design rather than from lavish ornamentation. Representations on vestments should consist only of symbols, images, or pictures portraying the sacred. Anything not in keeping with the sacred is to be avoided.

Liturgical colors

The different colors of the liturgical vestments are meant to express the specific character of the mysteries of the faith being celebrated, to symbolize different truths, or to convey sentiments. Customarily, the color of these liturgical vestments (the chasuble, the dalmatic, the stole) is repeated in other items (the chalice veil, the tabernacle veil, the corporal burse, and even the frontal of the altar when it is made of cloth).

The color white is the symbol of purity, majesty, and glory. It is used on the feasts of our Lord, the Blessed Virgin, confessors, and virgins.

Red is the symbol of love, fire, the blood of martyrdom, and royalty. It is used on Palm Sunday, Good Friday, Pentecost, the Lord's Passion, and the feasts of the apostles, evangelists, and martyrs.

Green is the symbol of hope, youth, progress, life, and continuous growth. It is used in Masses of Ordinary Time.

Violet is the symbol of humility, penance, and austerity. It is used in Lent and Advent. It may also be used in Masses for the dead.

Black is the symbol of mourning. It may be used in Masses for the dead.

Rose lightens the austerity and penitential rigor of violet. It may be used on the Third Sunday of Advent and on the Fourth Sunday of Lent.

Light blue is the symbol of our Blessed Mother. It may be used on her feasts, following the regulations of the local bishop.

On solemn occasions more precious vestments may be used, even if not of the color of the day.[1]

Endnotes

1. GIRM, nos. 306-309.

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