Preparing the chalice and paten

The chalice and paten are prepared, or ‘made up’ as we say, before the service in this way:

• first, a folded linen cloth is laid over the top of the chalice so that it hangs down on each side.  This is called the purificator, and it is used for drying the chalice after it has been rinsed when the people have made their Communion.
• On top of this is laid the paten containing the priest’s wafer.
• Next comes the pall, a square piece of stiffened linen.  This is used during the service as a cover for the chalice.
• Over the pall the chalice veil is spread.  This is coloured to match the vestments worn by the priest, and it covers the chalice and paten.
• Lastly, the burse is laid on top of the veil.  This is the same word as purse, and is a folder coloured like the chalice veil.  Inside it is kept the corporal.  The corporal is a largish square of linen which is spread on top of the altar cloth and on which the bread and wine are actually consecrated.  It comes from the Latin word corpus,meaning body.  On it the form of bread on the altar and Our Lord’s Ascended Body become one. 

The credence table

Near the altar stands the credence table, which is also covered with a white cloth.  Credence means trust, and was the name given in olden days to a side-table in the banqueting hall of a great nobleman’s house.  In those days poison was a favourite way of removing an enemy, and so the nobleman used to employ a man to taste some of his dinner first to see if it could be trusted.  This was done at the side-table which came to be known as the credence or trust table.  If the unfortunate man was taken violently ill while tasting some delicacy, then the nobleman knew better than to have any himself.

On the credence table are placed the box of people’s wafers, and two cruets, one containing wine and the other water.  There are also what are called the lavabo jug, dish and towel.  Lavabo is the Latin for “I will wash”, and is part of Psalm 26 which the priest says during the Eucharist when the server pours some water from the jug over the fingers of the priest who then dries them on the towel.  The meaning of this is that we must come to the altar with clean hearts.  The alms dish on which the collection is put, is often placed on the credence table as well.