Verba
Glossary
The words you’ll hear around the altar and in the sacristy, explained simply.
- Ad orientem
- Priest and people facing the same direction, toward the altar and liturgical east. The usual posture of the traditional Mass.
- Alb
- The long white linen vestment the priest wears under his other vestments.
- Altar cards
- Three framed cards on the altar carrying prayers the priest says at fixed points, so he needn’t turn the missal pages.
- Asperges
- The sprinkling of the people with holy water before the main Sunday Mass. In Eastertide the chant is the Vidi aquam.
- Biretta
- A stiff square cap with three ridges, worn by clergy on the way to and from the altar.
- Burse
- A square, flat case holding the corporal. It sits on top of the veiled chalice.
- Canon
- The central, unchanging prayer of the Mass, which includes the Consecration. The priest says it silently.
- Chalice veil
- The cloth, in the colour of the day, that covers the chalice before the Offertory and after Communion.
- Chasuble
- The outer vestment the priest wears for Mass, in the colour of the day.
- Collect
- The opening prayer of the day’s Mass, said after the Gloria (or the Kyrie).
- Communion rail
- The low railing where the faithful kneel to receive Holy Communion.
- Corporal
- A square of white linen spread on the altar, on which the Host and chalice rest.
- Credence
- A small table on the Epistle side holding the cruets, lavabo dish and towel.
- Cruets
- The two small vessels holding the wine and water for Mass.
- Epistle side
- The right-hand side of the altar as you face it. The Epistle is read there.
- Gospel side
- The left-hand side of the altar as you face it. The Gospel is read there.
- Hand missal
- A missal for the faithful, with the Latin and a translation side by side.
- Introit
- The entrance verse of the day, read by the priest at the Epistle side after he goes up to the altar.
- Last Gospel
- The opening of St John’s Gospel (John 1:1–14), read at the end of Mass.
- Lavabo
- The washing of the priest’s fingers at the Offertory, named from the psalm verse he says.
- Low Mass
- A Mass said rather than sung, usually with one server.
- Maniple
- A narrow band of fabric worn on the priest’s left forearm during Mass.
- Mantilla
- A lace veil some women wear in church, following a long-standing custom.
- Missa Cantata
- A Sung Mass offered by one priest, without deacon and subdeacon.
- Missal
- The book containing the texts of the Mass. The traditional Mass uses the 1962 edition.
- Ordinary
- The parts of the Mass that stay the same every day, such as the Kyrie, Gloria and Canon.
- Paten
- The small gold plate for the Host. The server’s communion paten is held under each communicant’s chin.
- Propers
- The parts of the Mass that change with the day or feast: Introit, Collect, readings and so on.
- Purificator
- A small linen cloth the priest uses to wipe the chalice.
- Secret
- The prayer over the offerings, said quietly by the priest before the Preface.
- Solemn High Mass
- A sung Mass with a priest, deacon and subdeacon, usually with a full set of servers.
- Tabernacle
- The locked receptacle on or near the altar where the Blessed Sacrament is reserved.