“Liturgical Lingo” with Fr. Jim

Over the last several years here at St. Max, on Sundays between the Masses, we have held our “Family, Faith and the Mass” time. Meeting at 10:30 AM and ending before the 11:00 AM Mass, this time is an opportunity for me to share some knowledge about the Mass, our Church, the saints, etc. with children and their families. While the focus may be on younger children, whole families are welcome.

When I first started these sessions, we focused primarily on the Mass and learning “liturgical lingo.” I discovered that the vocabulary surrounding the Mass was something new for not only the children, but often the parents as well. Mass is so familiar to us, but perhaps the names of the vessels, vestments, books, etc., might be unknown. So, I thought I’d share a little liturgical lingo with you. We’ll begin with the vestments that may be worn by the servers, deacons and priests.

Vestments

Illustration showing three priests in different stages of adjusting their cassocks, labeled as 'Priest in Amice,' 'Priest in Alb,' and 'Priest adjusting the Cincture.'

Amice: An amice is typically a short linen cloth, either square or oblong in shape. It may be worn by a server, deacon or priest. It is worn over the shoulders and has the practical purpose of keeping other vestments from having contact with the skin. When donning an amice, one first drapes the amice over his head, then lowers it to his neck, tying it around his torso. During this action, he prays a short prayer asking God to clothe him with the "helmet of salvation.”
Alb: From the Latin word albus meaning white, an alb is a long, white linen garment, worn from shoulders to ankles with long sleeves extending to the wrists. The alb reminds the wearer of his baptism when he was clothed in white, signifying his freedom from sin and his Christian dignity. When putting on an alb, one prays: “Cleanse me, O Lord, and purify my heart, that washed in the Blood of the Lamb, I may attain everlasting joy.”
Cincture: The cincture is an article of liturgical attire that has been in general use since the ninth century. It is typically a rope or cord tied around the waist of an alb in order to confine the garment. The cincture symbolizes chastity. As the cincture is fastened around the waist, the wearer prays, “Gird me, O Lord, with the cincture of purity, and quench in my heart the fire of concupiscence, that the virtue of continence and chastity may abide in me.”

Illustration showing three types of biblical robes: Stole, Dalmatic, and Chasuble, each with distinct designs.

Stole: With roots going back to the vestments of the Old Testament priesthood, a stole is now a sign of the authority of Christ bestowed upon those who have received the sacrament of Holy Orders. It is a band of colored cloth worn around the back of the neck with the two ends hanging down parallel to each other in front. A deacon wears a stole as well, but over his left shoulder and bound at his right side The stole is often decorated in some way, usually with a cross or some other significant religious design. The vetting prayer for a stole is as follows: “Lord, restore the stole of immortality, which I lost through the transgressions of my first parents, and although I am unworthy to approach your sacred mysteries, may I gain eternal joy.”
Dalmatic: Dating back to the fourth century, the dalmatic is the outer liturgical vestment worn by deacons either at Mass or for other liturgical rites. It is a wide-sleeved, long, loose vestment open at the side. In contrast, the chasuble, the outer garment worn by a priest during Mass, does not have sleeves. The deacon’s dalmatic will match the proper liturgical color for the day. As the deacon puts on the dalmatic, he may pray, “Lord, endow me with the garment of salvation, the vestment of joy, and with the dalmatic of justice ever encompass me.”
Chasuble: The chasuble is the sleeveless outer garment worn over the stole and alb by the priest at Mass. The color of the chasuble is determined by the Mass being celebrated, red for a martyr, green for Ordinary Time, etc. The origins of the chasuble go back to Roman secular garments. Over time, the chasuble took on a solely liturgical purpose. As the priest dons the chasuble, he prays, “O Lord, who has said, ‘My yoke is sweet and My burden light,’ grant that I may so carry it as to merit Thy grace.”

While there is a vast and rich history behind the wearing of vestments, it is good to emphasize two aspects of why priests (and deacons) wear vestments. One, it is a sign that he has been set apart, serving a unique role in the liturgy. They are the “uniform” of his sacred office. Two, as the vestments blend in with the liturgical color, they remind the priest and the people that it is not about him, the priest. He is to blend in with the prayer, the Mass.

Illustration showing three religious objects: a bishop sitting on a throne in a cathedra, a tabernacle with religious figures carved on the doors, and a preacher speaking at a pulpit with a chandelier hanging above.

Furnishings

Ambo: From a Greek word meaning “step” or “elevation,” ambo refers to the raised stand formerly used for reading from Sacred Scripture at the Mass. First used in early basilicas, the ambo was originally used to proclaim only the Gospel and the Epistle. In the Latin Rite, we will also refer to an ambo as a lectern or pulpit. The General Instruction of the Roman Missal states: “The dignity of the Word of God requires that in the church there be a suitable place from which it may be proclaimed and toward which the attention of the faithful naturally turns during the Liturgy of the Word.”
Chairs: The chairs for the presider and deacons do not have a unique name. They are typically more formal furnishings. However, the chair for a bishop is called a “cathedra.” From the Greek word meaning “seat,” in Church lingo the word cathedra refers specifically to the seat upon which the bishop sits when he presides over solemn rituals in his diocese. It also refers to his authority and his position. A bishop teaches with authority when he speaks “ex cathedra”, from the chair. The actual seat the bishop uses while presiding at Mass in his home church lends its name to the building that houses it. That is why we call the primary church of a diocese a “cathedral.”
Altar: The word “altar” has its roots in the Latin word altus, meaning “high,” but was also likely influenced by the word adolere, meaning “burn.” Commonly used in many religions, altars were places upon which sacrifices and burnt offerings were offered up to the gods on high. The Patriarchs of the Old Testament, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, all built altars to give thanks to God. Today the word refers mainly to the “high” table upon which the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass is offered.
Tabernacle: Biblically speaking, tabernacle refers to the movable tent that the ancient Israelites used as the center of their lives and their worship. Whenever they would set up their camps, the tabernacle would be placed in the center of their camp. The word originally meant “dwelling place.” For the Israelites, that specifically referred to the dwelling place of God the Most High among His people. The tabernacle was a holy place.
For Catholics, the tabernacle still refers to a holy place, the dwelling place of God. In particular we recognize that the true Presence of Christ in the Holy Eucharist is reserved within the tabernacle.
Credence Table: A credence table is a small side table found in or near the sanctuary and used during the celebration of the Holy Eucharist. Traditionally the credence table was placed near the wall on south side of the sanctuary. The table should be made of wood, marble or an other worthy material, and may be covered with a fine linen cloth. The cruets, patens, chalices and other vessels used in the Mass are placed upon the credence table. The word itself comes form the Latin credere meaning “belief.” Curiously, the word credenza shares the same origin.

A priest in white and blue vestments conducts a religious service in a church, standing at an altar with gold chalices and a gold candle holder, with a stained glass window in the background.

Origins of Liturgy, Mass & Eucharist

Liturgy: The word liturgy evolved from two Greek words, leitos, meaning “public,” and ergos, meaning “working.” Broadly speaking, the word leiturgos means “the work of the people.” However, the word specifically referred to public religious worship and the rites connected to that worship. Today, this word refers to the official public acts of worship within the Church, such as the Mass, the celebration of the sacraments, and the Liturgy of the Hours, which contains the official prayers recited primarily by priests and religious to sanctify parts of the day. In the Eastern Churches, liturgy refers solely to the Divine Liturgy, the Sacrifice of the Holy Eucharist.
Mass: It’s a word we use so frequently that we may have never really stopped and asked where it came from or what it means. The term Mass comes from the Latin word missa meaning “dismissal.” It comes from the last phrase spoken by the priest at Mass, “Ite missa est,” essentially meaning: “Go, you have been sent forth.”
So we call it the "Mass" because of the "mission" or "sending" with which the liturgy concludes. “Mass” shares the same root with the English word "mission." We understand that the liturgy does not simply come to an end. Those assembled are sent forth to bring the fruits of the Eucharist to the world.
We cannot mention the Missal without focusing on one other term: rubric.
Eucharist: Like many of our liturgical words, Eucharist has its origin in ancient Greek. The Greek word eucharistos, is a composite of two other Greek words: eu, meaning “well,” and kharizesthai, meaning “to offer graciously.” Together these words are generally understood as the usual verb in Biblical Greek for "to thank, to be thankful.” The word is found in the Septuagint (the ancient Greek translation of the Old Testament), as well as the Greek New Testament. The fundamental truth of the Eucharistic celebration, then, is that it is our opportunity to give to our Lord, not to receive. We come to give Him thanks and praise. Yet because of His goodness, He will not be outdone in generosity, and so through our thanksgiving He gives us Himself in Holy Communion.

A close-up of an open book on a table with colorful ribbons attached, with a blurred red and white background.

Books

Lectionary: This is the book used at Mass that contains the collection of Scripture readings set aside for a given day or occasion. A book that contains only the Gospel readings is known as an “evangeliary.” Lectionary finds its root in the Latin word lectio meaning “reading.” In the Catholic Church, we use a three-year cycle for the Sunday readings (Years A, B & C). The readings at daily Mass rely upon a two-year cycle (Years I & II). Over a three-year period, those who attend daily Mass will, therefore, hear Scripture readings from over 90% of the books of the Bible.
Missal: The “Missal” is the liturgical book used by the priest that contains all the instructions and texts necessary for the celebration of the Mass throughout the year. It takes its name from the Mass itself. In Latin the book is referred to as the Ordo Missae, or “Order of the Mass.” Sometimes it is called the Roman Missal to differentiate it as the source for the Latin Rite texts of the Mass as compared to the other permitted rites of the Church. The Missal for the Latin Rite is first written in Latin and then approved translations in the vernacular are used around the world.
We cannot mention the Missal without focusing on one other term: rubric.
Rubric: While this is not a word that is spoken during the Mass, it does refer to an integral aspect of the Mass. Originating in the Latin word rubeus, meaning “red.” Over time the word came to refer to the directions in religious services. The Roman Missal, provides specific directions for the priest to follow, such as when to extend his hands or speak in a quiet voice, etc. To distinguish those words from the words that are meant to be spoken, the directions are written in red; hence, the term rubric.

Liturgical Linens

Altar Cloth: The large cloth draped over the altar. While other cloths of various colors may be used with an altar cloth, the altar cloth itself must be white.
Corporal: Rooted in the Latin word meaning body (corpus), the corporal refers to the square white cloth upon which the priest places the Holy Eucharist during the Mass or any sacred vessels that contain the Most Blessed Sacrament. The corporal represents the shroud which was wrapped about the Sacred Body of our Redeemer before He was placed in the tomb. As far back as the 300s the Church has formally called for the use of such a cloth. The corporal is to be made of pure white linen and should have only a single cross embroidered in the center of the cloth.
Purificator: A small piece of white linen, marked with a cross in the center, used by the priest in the celebration of Mass. It is usually twelve to eighteen inches long, and nine or ten inches wide. The purificator is folded in three layers and used by the priest to purify his fingers, as well as the chalice and paten after Holy Communion. They are also used by Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion when the chalice is used for distribution. While the purificator itself is not blessed, it, along with the corporal, does require special cleansing after use.
Chalice Veil: The General Instruction for the Roman Missal states, “It is a praiseworthy practice for the chalice to be covered with a veil, which may be either of the color of the day or white.” (GIRM 118) This covering is used to conceal the chalice and paten before the offertory and after Communion. The chalice veil is often seen as a reminder of the Temple veil that kept concealed the Holy of Holies, the dwelling place of God.
Pall: The word pall comes from the Latin word “pallium” meaning “covering.” In the Church, a pall generally refers to one of two items. In the Mass, the pall is the stiff square cardboard piece that is covered with linen and placed over the top of the chalice. The primary use of the chalice pall is to prevent dust and insects from falling into the chalice during the celebration of the Mass. Pall also refers to the heavy cloth draped over the casket at the funeral Mass.
Burse: From the Latin word bursa meaning “purse or pouch,” a burse is a stiff pocket about twelve inches square in which the folded corporal is carried to and from the altar. The cover of the burse is typically made of matching material to the priest’s vestments. The burse is placed upon the chalice and chalice veil before Mass and is removed at the preparation of the altar. It is placed once again upon the chalice after Holy Communion and the purification of the vessels.

Vessels

Chalice: The word chalice comes from the Latin word calix, meaning cup. This term is applied to the presider’s chalice and the cups used for distribution to the faithful. The General Instruction of the Roman Missal states that the chalice is a sacred vessel and is held in special honor. (#327) The GIRM goes on to say that these “Sacred vessels are to be made from precious metal. If they are made from metal that rusts or from a metal less precious than gold, then ordinarily they should be gilded on the inside.” (#328)
Glass chalices are not permitted because they are too fragile. Wood may be used for the base of a chalice, but not the cup itself (unless it is gilded) since it is “absorbent.”
Generally speaking, these rules about the materials used apply to all sacred vessels, including the pyx, patens, ciboria and monstrances.
Paten: From the Latin word patina, meaning “shallow dish,” paten may be used to identify three different vessels used at Mass. It can refer to the small thin plate or disc made from some precious metal used by the presider and upon which the element of bread is placed at the Mass. It is usually designed so as to fit the chalice as a cover. Paten could also refer to the shallow bowls or plates used to distribute Holy Communion. Finally, Communion patens are the small, slightly-curved metal plates that are held beneath the chin of those receiving Holy Communion. These were more commonly used in the past. Their purpose is to catch any particle of the Sacred Host that may fall.
We cannot mention the Missal without focusing on one other term: rubric.
Ciborium: The etymological origin of the word ciborium is difficult to identify. Most likely the word was influenced by the Latin cibus, meaning “food,” but curiously it could also have some connection to the Greek word Κιβοριον (kiborion). That word refers to the cup shaped seed vessel of the Egyptian lotus or a cup made from it. Both roots lead to the modern usage. A ciborium is the chalice-like vessel used to contain the Blessed Sacrament, particularly when being reserved in the tabernacle. The ciborium will typically have an arched or decorative lid.
Monstrance: The monstrance is typically a gold or silver-plated metal vessel with a transparent section through which the Sacred Host can be seen when exposed for adoration or carried in procession.
Pyx: From the Greek word, puxis meaning box, pyx generally refers to the small metal box or vessel in which the Blessed Sacrament is carried, usually when visiting the homebound or hospitalized.

Additional “Liturgical Lingo”

Lavabo: From the Latin word meaning “I shall wash,” the lavabo can refer to either the towel or the small basin used for the washing of the celebrant's hands at the offertory of the Mass. Purification rituals before prayer have their roots going back to the ancient Jews. This practice continues today as the priest prepares to offer the holy Sacrifice of the Eucharist. As the server pours the water over his hands, the priest prays quietly, “Wash me, O Lord, from my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin.”
Cruets: The small pitchers, usually glass, that respectively contain the water and wine used at Mass.
Aspergillum: The sprinkling of blood or water is a practice that goes back to the Old Testament. Moses sprinkled sacrificial blood over the people. The Psalms speak of a hyssop branch being used for sprinkling. “Asperges me, Domine, hyssopo et mundabar” reads the Latin text of Psalm 51. “Sprinkle me, O Lord, with hyssop and I shall be cleansed.” From that word “asperges” comes the name for the liturgical implement used to sprinkle holy water at Mass or in particular blessings. An aspergillum can either be a brush or branch dipped in water or a short handled implement with a perforated ball at the end.
Sanctus Bells: Also known as “altar bells,” these are the bells rung at the epiclesis (the prayer said while the priest holds his hands over the bread and wine before the consecration) and during the elevation of both the Sacred Host and the Chalice at Mass.
Sanctuary Bells: Bells rung in order to announce the beginning of a liturgy. Here at St. Max, these bells are found on the wall above the bulletin board.
Thurible: Sometimes called a censer, a thurible is the cup-shaped, metal container in which incense is burned at Mass and other rites. Charcoal is placed in the cup, then lit. Grains of incense are added to create fragrant smoke. The thurible usually has a removable lid and chains that allowing the thurible to swing without spilling its contents. Thurible comes from a Greek word, “thuos” which refers to incense or a burnt offering.
Thurifer: the server responsible for the thurible.
Boat: A highly technical term, “boat” refers to the portable container used to carry the incense. A small spoon is kept with the boat for scooping out the incense grains.
Altar Candle (Processional Candles): The name pretty much says it all. These are the candles used at the altar or in procession. Six is the traditional number of candles used at the altar, except in Lent, reflecting the more simplified decor of that liturgical season. Here at St. Max, these candles are also used as our processional candles and at the ambo.
Paschal Candle: the large ornate candle used at funerals, Baptisms, and at Masses from Easter until Pentecost.
Candelabra: A candle holder made for multiple candles, typically three or seven. Candelabras may be used for Mass, but are more commonly used for Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament.
Votive Candles: Typically kept in glass globes, votive candles are lit by the faithful as a votive offering of prayer. Votive comes from a Latin word meaning “expressing a desire.”
Processional Cross: the large cross carried in and out of the Mass.