Ms. Beth teaches the DOVES how to wash the blessed, sacred linens
used during the Holy Mass in the sacrarium,
which is a special sink used for the proper disposal of sacred substances.
The basin of this unique sink has a hinged lid that closes over it when not in use.
What makes this sink unique is that the drain opens into a pipe
that bypasses the sewer and ends in the ground underneath the altar.
The vessels which held the Body and Blood of Christ are rinsed and cleansed there.
The special linens that are used during the Mass
that may come in contact with the
Body and Blood of our Lord are initially rinsed in this sink.
If there are any remaining particles of the Eucharist,
they are washed into the earth, beneath the altar.
Ms. Beth taught us the names of the blessed linens that are rinsed
after use in the sacrarium:
Corporals
Sacred vessels containing the Body and Blood of the Lord
are always placed on top of a corporal.
One of the purposes of the corporal is to contain
whatever small particles of the consecrated Host
may be left at the conclusion of Mass,
which is why care is taken to rinse them in the sacrarium.
Purificators
Purificators are customarily brought to the altar with chalicesand are used to wipe the Precious Blood
from the lip of the chalice and to purify sacred vessels.
If ever a spill occurs from the chalice,
purificators are used to absorb the spill.
Because of their function,
purificators may become stained with the Precious Blood.
This is why they are first cleaned in the sacrarium,
before being washed in the customary manner.
In front of the Tabernacle, there is a small Ablution bowl,
where, after the distribution of Holy Communion,
the Extraordinary Ministers of Communion
purify their fingers of the sacred particles of the Host.
They then use the purificator that is left there to dry their fingers.
The DOVES who place a clean one there before Mass call it the 'finger towel'.
These are also rinsed in the sacrarium,
before customary cleaning and ironing.
Palls and Chalice Veils
A pall may be used to cover the chalice at Mass
in order to protect the Precious Blood from insects or other foreign objects.
In order that palls may be kept immaculately clean
they are sometimes made with removable covers of a worthy material
which may be easily washed in the sacrarium and then laundered.
Chalice veils either of the color of the day, or white
are sometimes used to cover the chalice before it is prepared
and after it has been purified.
Ms. Beth also launders other linens that are not rinsed in the sacrarium,
but in customary fashion:
A liturgical vestment consisting of an oblong piece of white linen worn
around the neck and shoulders and partly under the alb of the priest.
As the priest places it over his head
and then allows it to rest upon his shoulders,
the traditional prayer he may pray,
"Place O Lord, on my head the helmet of salvation,
that so I may resist the assaults of the devil."
Historical origin:
A covering for the head and neck worn like a hood.
When indoors it was lowered and thrown over the shoulders.
Symbolic Reference:
(a). The linen cloth that the soldiers put over Our Lord's head;
when thus blindfolded He was mockingly asked who struck Him.
(b). The helmet of Salvation Cf. Ephes. 6:17.
†The New Roman Missal ~Fr. Lasance†
Lavabo Towels
in the course of the preparation of the gifts.
This is a bigger towel that is laundered normally.
Baptism Towels
These are used for the Baptisms and laundered normally.
The DOVES learned the very special way we treat sacred linens,
by the work that Ms. Beth has been doing for many years.
By diligent care of the altar linens,
we are caring for the cloth that will be closest to our Eucharistic Lord.
Thank you, Ms. Beth for teaching us how to do this work in the Lord!
