Altar linens are the cloths used on the altar at Mass, including the altar cloth, corporal, purificator, pall, lavabo towel, and others. Each linen has a specific job: some protect the altar, some touch the sacred vessels, and some support the reverent handling of water, wine, and the Eucharist.
What are altar linens?
Altar linens are the specially prepared church linens used in Catholic worship, especially during the celebration of Mass. They are not simply altar decorations, even though clean, well-kept linens do add beauty and order to the sanctuary. Their purpose is practical, liturgical, and reverent.
Each linen has its own name and use. The altar cloth covers the altar itself. The corporal is placed where the chalice and paten rest. The purificator is used to wipe the chalice and sacred vessels. The pall covers the chalice. The lavabo towel dries the priest’s hands after the ritual washing. Related cloths, such as credence table cloths or chalice veils, may also be used depending on parish custom. Episcopal, Lutheran, and other liturgical churches use many of the same linens under the same names.
Altar linens are commonly made of linen or cotton blend fabrics. The important point is that these cloths are treated with care because of where and how they are used.
Main altar linens at a glance
| Name | What it is | When it is used |
|---|---|---|
| Altar cloth | A larger cloth that covers the altar table | Placed before Mass and remains on the altar during the liturgy |
| Corporal | A square white cloth, usually folded into nine sections | Spread on the altar during the Liturgy of the Eucharist for the chalice, paten, and ciboria |
| Purificator | A small rectangular cloth, often with a center cross | Used during and after Communion to wipe the chalice and sacred vessels |
| Pall | A stiff square cover, often fabric-covered | Placed over the chalice to protect its contents |
| Lavabo towel | A small hand towel | Used when the priest washes and dries his hands |
| Credence table cloth | A cloth covering the credence table | Used to prepare vessels, cruets, linens, and other items before Mass |
| Chalice veil | A cloth veil placed over the prepared chalice | Used before the gifts are prepared, according to local custom |
The altar cloth forms the foundation
The altar cloth is the large cloth placed directly on the altar. It usually covers the top surface and may extend down the sides, depending on the style of the altar and local practice. Of all the altar linens, it is the most visible, because it frames the central place where the Eucharistic sacrifice is celebrated.
During Mass, the altar cloth remains in place while the prayers, preparation of the gifts, consecration, and Communion rite unfold. Its role is not to replace the altar but to honor it. In many parishes, the altar cloth is simple and white, allowing the altar, vessels, candles, and seasonal liturgical colors to remain clear and uncluttered.
See the altar cloths collection at CFaithS.
How do the corporal and purificator differ?
The corporal and purificator are both small white altar linens used close to the Eucharist, but they are not the same. The corporal is spread flat on the altar to receive the chalice, paten, and other sacred vessels; the purificator is held and used to wipe the chalice or clean the rim after someone receives from it.
The corporal is usually square and folded carefully so that any particles from the consecrated host remain enclosed when it is folded again. It is placed on top of the altar cloth during the preparation of the gifts or before that moment, depending on how the parish sets the altar. Once opened, it marks the immediate area where the sacred vessels are placed.
The purificator is usually rectangular and may have a small cross near the center. It is kept with the chalice before Mass, used during Communion if the chalice is offered, and used again during purification of the vessels. When people speak of “corporal and purificator” together, they usually mean the two linens most closely associated with the chalice and paten during Mass.
See the separate collections of corporals and purificators at CFaithS.
The pall protects the chalice
The pall is a small, stiff square placed over the chalice. It may be made with a firm insert covered by fabric, so it keeps its shape and rests evenly over the cup. Its appearance is simple, but its job is important: it protects the contents of the chalice from dust, insects, or small particles while the chalice is on the altar.
The pall is usually placed on the chalice before Mass when the chalice is prepared. During the Liturgy of the Eucharist, it may be removed and replaced at different moments as the priest prepares the gifts and prays the Eucharistic Prayer. After Communion and purification, it is placed with the chalice again as the vessels are returned to the credence table.
See chalice palls at CFaithS.
The lavabo towel supports the washing of hands
The lavabo towel is a small towel used when the priest washes his hands. It is usually plain, absorbent, and sized for hand drying rather than for covering a surface. It is commonly placed on the credence table near the water cruet and lavabo bowl before Mass begins.
During the preparation of the gifts, the server brings the water, bowl, and towel to the priest. After water is poured over the priest’s fingers, the lavabo towel is used to dry his hands. This linen is not placed under the chalice or paten, so it should not be confused with the corporal or purificator.
See lavabo towels at CFaithS.
Other related church linens and cloths
Some cloths are not always listed among the core altar linens, but they still support the orderly celebration of Mass. The credence table cloth covers the side table where vessels, cruets, books, and linens are prepared before they are moved to the altar. It is placed before Mass and usually remains there until the liturgy is finished.
A chalice veil may be placed over the prepared chalice, often with the burse and corporal, before the Liturgy of the Eucharist. It is removed when the chalice is prepared for use. While customs vary, the veil keeps the prepared vessels visually ordered before they are needed.
These items are part of a larger pattern of preparation. They keep the sanctuary organized, support the movement of servers and clergy, and help each object used at Mass remain in its proper place.
Setting, folding, and caring for altar linens
Setting altar linens is usually done before Mass by the sacristan, altar guild, or another trained helper. Parish practice varies, so follow local instructions, especially for the exact timing of placing items on the altar. A simple order often looks like this:
- Prepare the altar cloth first. Make sure it is clean, smooth, and placed evenly on the altar.
- Prepare the credence table. Place the lavabo towel, cruets, bowl, purificator, pall, chalice, paten, and other needed items where they can be carried easily.
- Place or prepare the corporal. It may be set on the altar before Mass or brought with the chalice and opened during the preparation of the gifts.
- Arrange the chalice. The purificator is commonly placed over the chalice, then the paten and pall above it, with a veil if used.
- Check everything quietly. Linens should be clean, unfolded only when needed, and arranged so the liturgy can proceed without distraction.
Folding the corporal
The corporal is traditionally folded into thirds one way and thirds the other way, creating nine sections. When unfolding it, place it on the altar and open it carefully so the center lies flat where the chalice and paten will rest. When folding it after use, fold the sides inward first, then fold the remaining sections inward, so any possible particles remain contained inside.
Folding the purificator
The purificator is usually folded lengthwise in thirds so it can rest over the chalice. If it has a cross, the fold is often arranged so the cross is visible or centered when placed with the chalice. The fold should make the purificator easy for the priest or deacon to pick up and use during Mass.
Reverent care after Mass
Linens used near the Eucharist should be handled reverently. Common care includes:
- Rinsing before laundering: Corporals and purificators are rinsed first in water before normal washing, because they may have come into contact with the Precious Blood or fragments of the host. In Catholic parishes, this first rinse water is poured into the sacrarium (the sacristy sink that drains directly into the earth) or onto the ground, never down an ordinary drain.
- Washing: After the first rinse, linens are washed according to parish practice and the fabric’s needs.
- Ironing: Ironing helps the altar cloth, corporal, purificator, pall cover, and lavabo towel lie flat and look orderly.
- Storing: Once dry and folded, linens should be stored in a clean place where they stay protected until needed again.
For a broader preparation overview, see our altar guild guide to candles and linens.
Key takeaways for recognizing altar linens
If you are learning the names of altar linens for the first time, focus on each cloth’s location and action. The altar cloth covers the altar. The corporal receives the sacred vessels. The purificator wipes and purifies. The pall covers the chalice. The lavabo towel dries the priest’s hands.
A quick way to remember the main church linens is:
- Covers a surface: altar cloth, credence table cloth
- Receives vessels: corporal
- Wipes vessels: purificator
- Covers the chalice: pall or chalice veil, depending on the moment
- Dries hands: lavabo towel
Understanding these cloths makes the movements of the Mass easier to follow, and it helps sacristans, servers, and altar guild volunteers order the right linen for each task. Browse altar cloths, corporals, purificators, chalice palls, and lavabo towels at CFaithS.
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