Altar Cloth Color

[sacristan1]

At my parish the altar cloth is green which I believe is against the GIRM requirements which states a white cloth must always cover the mensa of the altar. There is a small white cloth to the right of the altar which is used to place the patens and ciboria following distribution of communion but the entire mensa is not covered. Therefore, mass is celebrated on a green cloth. How can I say something without causing ill feelings?

 

[929dad]

If you choose to raise the issue, consider that you are entering into discussion with other members of the community of faith and do your best to speak with charity and love.

You might consider posing it in terms of a question. Something like, “in reading the GIRM, I read such and such and we do so and so. Am I missing something?”

It is entirely possible that there was an oversight or other perfectly innocent reason for not having a white cloth on the altar. Going in with guns blazing might not be your best option. You might also choose this opportunity to become more involved in some volunteer capacity that assists with the preparations for liturgy.

For the record, here’s the cite from the GIRM:

1. Out of reverence for the celebration of the memorial of the Lord and for the banquet in which the Body and Blood of the Lord are offered, there should be, on an altar where this is celebrated, at least one cloth, white in color, whose shape, size, and decoration are in keeping with the altar’s structure. When, in the Dioceses of the United States of America, other cloths are used in addition to the altar cloth, then those cloths may be of other colors possessing Christian honorific or festive significance according to longstanding local usage, provided that the uppermost cloth covering the mensa (i.e., the altar cloth itself) is always white in color.

 

[sacristan1]

Thank you for your reply. By “uppermost cloth” does this mean the cloth closest to the altar or the cloth over the colored cloth, i.e., the top cloth - of which is visible and the cloth on which Mass will be celebrated.

 

[Phemie]

Thank you for your reply. By “uppermost cloth” does this mean the cloth closest to the altar or the cloth over the colored cloth, i.e., the top cloth - of which is visible and the cloth on which Mass will be celebrated.

White goes on top of green, not the other way round.

 

[sacristan1]

I ask this because I believe there may be a white cloth underneath. And, as you said I am sure it is just a matter of someone not understanding exactly what the GIRM actually means and that someone may very well be me. I am sure you or someone here will be able to clear that up for me.

 

[sacristan1]

Thank you.

 

[Phemie]

I ask this because I believe there may be a white cloth underneath. And, as you said I am sure it is just a matter of someone not understanding exactly what the GIRM actually means and that someone may very well be me. I am sure you or someone here will be able to clear that up for me.

The white cloth is always the last one you put on and it should cover the entire top of the altar. Personally, I prefer a white cloth alone. Let other things in the church show the liturgical colour of the season, keep the altar a pristine white.

 

[EasterJoy]

The white cloth is always the last one you put on and it should cover the entire top of the altar. Personally, I prefer a white cloth alone. Let other things in the church show the liturgical colour of the season, keep the altar a pristine white.

I don’t know. A frontal isn’t required, but it is traditional, too, and usually it isn’t white. I agree, though that it is good that the altar cloth on top clearly shows.

 

[Matthew_Holford]

When the altar is in use the mensa should be covered by a white cloth. Outside of liturgies it may be covered with a dust cover. This cover may be any colour but is often green. I’m only guessing but it sounds to me as if they’re leaving this on (which is wrong) and just placing a corporal on it (wrong too).

You should raise the issue: don’t challenge as in why aren’t you doing this but pose a question as if you’re clarifying something you don’t understand: hopefully this will generate a discussion such as “well we do it this way” to which you can answer “but doesn’t the GIRM say …”.

 

[Phemie]

When the altar is in use the mensa should be covered by a white cloth. Outside of liturgies it may be covered with a dust cover. This cover may be any colour but is often green. I’m only guessing but it sounds to me as if they’re leaving this on (which is wrong) and just placing a corporal on it (wrong too).

You should raise the issue: don’t challenge as in why aren’t you doing this but pose a question as if you’re clarifying something you don’t understand: hopefully this will generate a discussion such as “well we do it this way” to which you can answer “but doesn’t the GIRM say …”.

I know that for several years we had only a purple cloth for Advent and Lent and Red for Pentecost. No white at all. I don’t think we were alone in that. Then I read the GIRM and suggested that, perhaps, what we’d been doing was not correct. It was corrected.