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ALTAR SERVER VOCABULARY

Second Edition (November 2015)

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PICTURE BOOK OF TERMS

LITURGICAL VESTMENTS

Alb Amice Cassock

Chasuble Cincture Cope

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LITURGICAL VESTMENTS (continued)

Dalmatic Humeral Veil Miter

Stole Surplice

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SACRED VESSELS & LINENS

Ablution Cup Altar Cloth Aspergillum

Aspersorium Baptismal Font Boat

Chalice Chalice Veil Ciborium

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SACRED VESSELS & LINENS (continued)

Corporal Cruets Flagon

Funeral Pall Lavabo Set & Towel Luna

Monstrance Pall Paten

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SACRED VESSELS & LINENS (continued)

Purificator Pyx Relic of St. Anne

Thurible/Censer

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LITURGICAL TERMS

Altar Altar Rail

Ambo Ambry Baptistery

Book of the Gospels Credence Table Crosier Easter Candle

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LITURGICAL TERMS (continued)

Gift Table Hymnal Incense

Lectionary Narthex Nave

Presidential Chair Processional Crucifixes Reredos

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LITURGICAL TERMS (continued)

Roman Missal Sacrarium Sacristy

Sanctuary Sanctuary Lamp Shrine of St. Anne Stations of the Cross

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EXTRAS

Bell Tower Confessional Mary Altar St. Joseph Altar Chalice Set-up

Altar Set-up

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GLOSSARY OF TERMS

The following list of terms serves as a guide to familiarizing oneself with the language of the sacred liturgy. Altar

servers are expected to use this list in conjunction with other catechetical materials to augment their knowledge of

the Holy Mass and the Catholic faith.

LITURGICAL VESTMENTS

Alb – A white robe that is worn to symbolize our baptismal garment.

Amice – A square, white cloth sometimes used as a neckband or hood along with the alb.

Cassock – A long, black garment worn by clergy or altar servers.

Chasuble – The colored outer vestment worn by the priest which changes according to the celebration.

Cincture – The cord used as a belt to fasten and hold the alb.

Cope – A cape-like vestment worn by a priest or deacon for special services.

Dalmatic – Similar to the chasuble; the dalmatic is a colored outer vestment worn by the deacon which

changes according to the celebration. The dalmatic has sleeves; the chasuble does not.

Humeral Veil – A vestment worn over the shoulders with the cope during Benediction of the Blessed

Sacrament.

Miter – The tall, pointed ‘hat’ worn by a bishop at certain times during Mass.

Stole – A long, narrow band of colored cloth worn by the priest and deacon that comes down over the

neck (in the case of a priest) or over the left shoulder (in the case of a deacon).

Surplice – A white outer garment worn over a cassock.

SACRED VESSELS & LINENS

Ablution Cup – A small bowl-like container near the tabernacle that the Extraordinary Ministers use to

purify their fingers after distributing Holy Communion.

Altar Cloth – The white linen that covers the entire ‘tabletop’ surface area of the altar.

Aspergillum – An instrument for sprinkling holy water.

Aspersorium – A bucket-like vessel for holding holy water.

Baptismal Font – The large marble basin with a lid used for the Sacrament of Baptism.

Boat – A small holder with a lid that holds the grains of incense.

Chalice – The cup used by the priest at Mass that holds the wine that becomes the Blood of Christ. The

Extraordinary Ministers use similar chalices.

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Chalice Veil – A fine, ornate cloth used to cover and protect the chalice and paten from dust and damage

when not in use. The color of the chalice veil usually matches the color of the clergy’s vestments.

Ciborium (pl. Ciboria) – A deep bowl which contains the hosts that will be consecrated. It also has a lid.

Corporal – A cloth unfolded on the altar when the altar is prepared for the Liturgy of the Eucharist. It

functions like a placemat.

Cruets – Small glass containers that hold the water and wine.

Flagon – A golden pitcher with a lid that contains the wine to be consecrated.

Funeral Pall – The large (white or black) cloth placed on the casket at funerals as a sign of the way in

which those who have died have ‘put on Christ’ on the day of Baptism.

Lavabo – The pewter bowl and pitcher used to wash the priest’s hands.

Luna – A circular-shaped glass container for holding the Eucharist. It is placed in the Monstrance for

Eucharistic Adoration.

Monstrance – A gold holder shaped like the sun; it is used to hold the consecrated host for Eucharistic

Adoration and Benediction.

Pall – A small square of stiffened linen or other hard material covered with linen that is used to cover the

chalice.

Paten – The saucer-like dish that holds the bread that becomes the Body of Christ.

Purificator – A small cloth used by the priest to dry the chalice.

Pyx – A small, gold, circular vessel in which the reserved host is kept for carrying the Eucharist to the

sick.

Relic – Part of the body of a saint, or anything, such as clothing, associated with the saint that the Church

honors because of the person’s holiness while on Earth. Our church has a relic of St. Anne.

Thurible/Censer – A vessel on a long chain (or chains) used to hold the coals that burn the incense.

LITURGICAL TERMS

Altar – The sacred table upon which the Body and Blood of Christ are offered.

Altar Rail – The marble railing that guards the sanctuary and is sometimes used for the reception of Holy

Communion.

Ambo – The stand from which the readings are proclaimed and the homily is delivered.

Ambry – The glass ‘box’ near the baptismal font where the Holy Oils are kept.

Asperges – The sprinkling of the people with holy water.

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Baptistery – The small, circular room near the side entrance of the church where baptisms used to be

done.

Benediction – The service in which we worship Jesus under the appearance of bread and a blessing is

given with the monstrance.

Blessing – When the priest offers a prayer that makes a person or object holy.

Book of the Gospels – The large book that contains the Sunday and Holy Day gospel readings for the

liturgical year. It follows the three-year cycle of readings.

Canon – The part of the Mass called the Eucharistic Prayer.

Consecration – The part of the Mass in which the priest, using the words of Jesus, changes bread and

wine into the Body and Blood of Christ. This change is called transubstantiation.

Credence Table – The small wooden table in the sanctuary that holds the sacred vessels and the Roman

Missal when not in use.

Crosier – A ceremonial staff carried by a bishop that is hooked at one end like a shepherd’s crook.

Easter/Paschal Candle – The large candle, first lit on Holy Saturday night at the Easter Vigil liturgy, and

used during the Easter season; it is also used at baptisms and at funerals.

Elevation – When the priest raises the host and the chalice, separately, at Mass.

Eucharist – One of the Sacraments of Initiation; the greatest Sacrament, in which, under the appearances

of bread and wine, the Lord Jesus is contained, offered, sacrificed, and received. The Eucharist is the real

presence of Christ himself, in his Most Precious Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity. We have an

opportunity to receive the Eucharist every time we participate in Holy Mass.

Exposition – When the Blessed Sacrament is placed in the monstrance on the altar.

Feast – The rank of secondary liturgical days including lesser events in the life of Jesus, Mary, or an

Apostle (theologically speaking) or for major saints.

Gift Table – The table placed in the center aisle or some other place for the gifts, which are presented by

the people to the priest.

Gifts – The vessels (ciboria and cruets) containing bread and wine which are brought forth from the gift

table to the altar by the people during the Presentation of the Gifts.

Holy Oils – These are used for anointing members of the faithful during the celebration of certain

sacraments. There are three Holy Oils: Oil of the Sick (OI), Oil of Catechumens (OC), and Sacred Chrism

(SC).

Homily – When the priest speaks to the congregation about the readings.

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Hymnal – A book that contains the prescribed music (songs and chants) for Mass. It may also include the

proper scripture readings and a guide to liturgy.

Incense – Grains of tree resins and crushed leaves which make a sweet smoke when burned; it is used as

a sign of our sweet prayers rising up to God and as a mark of honor for holy things.

Lectionary – The book of scripture readings.

Liturgical Calendar – The cycle of seasons throughout the year that orders the feasts and scripture

readings. The Catholic Church has six seasons: Advent, Christmas, Lent, Triduum, Easter, and Ordinary

Time.

Liturgy – The official public prayer of the Church. Other words for liturgy are Mass and Eucharist.

Liturgy of the Hours – Also called the Divine Office; the official public prayer of the Church celebrated

at specific times, or hours, throughout the day. It is required of clergy and religious.

Mass – A term that started in the fourth century that refers to the Lord’s Supper or Eucharist. Another

common word used to describe the Mass is liturgy.

Memorial – The commemoration of a saint of lesser importance. Many Memorials are optional or only

observed in specific dioceses, regions, or nations.

Narthex – An enclosed passage between the main entrance and the nave of a church.

Nave – The central space in a church, extending from the narthex to the sanctuary, often flanked by

aisles: generally used only by the congregation.

Novena – A devotion (prayer) that takes place over nine days.

Presidential Chair – The chair of the priest; it signifies the role of the priest to call together and oversee

the assembly of God’s people.

Procession – The organized and orderly process by which the liturgical ministers advance as a group into

the sanctuary in a ceremonial manner. The act of procession is an ancient ritual that represents the pilgrim

journey of God’s people (both clergy and laity) to Heaven.

Processional Crucifix – The large crucifix carried by the crucifer at the head of most processions.

Recession – A type of procession in which the liturgical ministers exit the sanctuary in an organized and

orderly fashion.

Reredos – A screen or a decorated part of the wall behind an altar in a church.

Roman Missal – The book that contains all the prayers, chants, and instructions for the celebration of

Mass in the Roman Catholic Church.

Sacrament – An outward sign instituted by Christ to give grace.

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Sacrarium – The special drain in the sacristy where materials used in the sacred rites are deposited.

Precious Blood is never to be poured down this drain.

Sacristy – The room where the clergy vest for Mass and where the sacred vessels are kept.

Sanctuary – The elevated area of a church where the liturgical ministers do their jobs.

Shrine – Any structure or holy place (such as an altar, church, or chapel) devoted to some saint or holy

person.

Sanctuary Lamp – The red-tinted lamp next to the tabernacle that is almost always lit. It tells us that

Jesus is present in the tabernacle.

Solemnity – The highest-ranking feast day. It commemorates an event in the life of Jesus or Mary or

celebrates a saint important for the Church as a whole or for the local community. The Mass of a

solemnity has proper readings, and the Gloria and Creed are recited.

Stations of the Cross – The fourteen representations of events during the Passion and Death of Christ,

which appear on the walls of the church.

Tabernacle – The ‘dwelling place’ for the Eucharist after the celebration of the Mass. The Blessed

Sacrament is kept there to provide Holy Communion for the sick, and for the private adoration and

devotion of the people. Every time we pass in front of the tabernacle, we must genuflect.

Vigil – The night before (eve) of a solemnity.

LITURGICAL MINISTERS

Altar Server – A person who wears an alb and cincture, sits in the sanctuary, and assists the bishop,

priest, or deacon during the Mass according to the ceremonies of the Roman Catholic Church.

Bishop – A man who has received the fullness of the Sacrament of Holy Orders and continues the

Apostles’ mission of leadership and service.

Clergy – A term that refers to the collective body of ordained men (bishops, priests, and deacons) who

serve the Church in a specific capacity.

Crucifer (Cross Bearer) – The person who carries the Processional Crucifix.

Deacon – A man ordained to share in Christ’s mission by assisting bishops and priests in the service of

the Church.

Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion – A person who distributes Holy Communion, either

within Mass or by taking it to a sick person, when an ordained minister (bishop, priest, or deacon) is

absent.

Lector – A person who proclaims the scripture readings during Mass.

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Lucifer (Candle Bearer) – In liturgical terms, the lucifer is the person who carries a candle. It is derived

from the Latin word for “light” (“lux”). Lucifers are often used for Masses of Solemnity and some Feasts.

Master of Ceremonies (MC) – The head altar server who ensures that each server knows his/her role(s)

at a given Mass.

Priest – A man who is ordained to preach the Gospel and serve the faithful, especially by celebrating the

Eucharist and the other sacraments.

Sacristan – A church employee who is in charge of caring for the sacristy and the church building, as

well as for the maintenance of the sacred vessels and vestments. Mrs. Weaver is the sacristan!

Thurifer – The person who carries the thurible/censer and boat.

Usher – A person who escorts people to seats in the church. The ushers also help with the collection

baskets before the Presentation of the Gifts.

Vimpas – Altar servers who hold the bishop’s crosier (staff) and miter (hat) at certain times during Mass.