Church Linens (followup!)

[discerning_4]

Hi y’all!
So if you saw my last question/post, I want to start sewing for my local parish. A few people have suggested making the linens (I can’t remember the exact name, but I believe the little towel the priest uses?) and I just wanted to know if there’s any regulation as to how the linen is made/purchased/etc.

Thank you!!
God bless

 

[Divine3]

Material …best to stay away from any polyester (not absorbent) that is for purificator or for corporal…you can find better advice on line or from other sources. Great work to do for the church and for Jesus.

 

[CRV]

Linen is best. Whilst the current rubrics don’t state the fabric type, from experience linen is best.

The one the priest uses to purify the chalice is called a purificator and the one the priest uses to dry his fingers after the washing of hands, is called a lavabo towel or some simply call it the finger towel.

I make mine in the following measurements:-
purificator - 18 7/16 inch long x 11 inch wide (46.75cm x 28cm) with two folds for hemming. (First fold is .4 of an inch (1cm) and the second fold is also the same - also useful when making mitre corners.)
lavabo towel - 11.8 inches x 18.9 inches (30 x 48cm)

 

[CRV]

Also this is how I embroider the cross in the centre of the purificator and also for the lavabo towel bottom right hand corner cross for church linens. Whilst they can be embroidered in white, it is usual and preferred to be embroidered in red.

I use two strands of DMC thread. And each x is over two linen threads.

 

[AngelusDomini]

As a sacristan I prefer to source altar linen which is made of cotton or linen. It should be easy to press while damp and does not require starch to keep its shape. Some of the ready made altar cloths are lovely when they first come out of the packaging but are an absolute pain to press and store. As far as possible I would personally avoid lace decoration as it can catch on objects and trap particles of the Host (particularly in the case of a corporal). Just my own personal view.

 

[CRV]

I too don’t like corporals with lace for that reason. Regarding Altar cloths, I prefer 100%linen and yes the top cloth is starched for the High Altar. Out of the small altar linens only the corporal is starched.

 

[Anne1964]

The booklet from Angelus Press referenced in Fr. Z’s link is what my parish priest gave me when I helped to care for the church linens. It has clearly written instructions along with pictures. Highly recommended.

 

[discerning_4]

Do you mean that the cross is always embroidered in a corner? I’ve seen it in the bottom centre

 

[UpUpAndAway]

On a lavabo towel it could be either way. I’ve also seen lavabo towels without any embroidery at all.

 

[CRV]

Yes. The Bottom centre is where it is placed on a corporal.

Edited to add links:-

The Corporal

Finger towels/lavabo towels - traditionally it is folded in four lengthwise. Lay flat right side up → bring bottom edge closest to you to meet the top edge ->then the top layer is folded down to the bottom edge. Turn over → fold the the top layer down to the bottom edge and then fold in half by folding the length over to the right.

Purificators

The Amice

 

[PetraG]

I too don’t like corporals with lace for that reason. Regarding Altar cloths, I prefer 100%linen and yes the top cloth is starched for the High Altar. Out of the small altar linens only the corporal is starched.

I don’t like even the corporal to be starched, because starch is trouble for items in storage.
Linen does not really need starch, IMHO, although I understand the structure might be something someone could want for altar cloths. (In other words, I understand there are differences of opinion on the topic; I’ve never had a priest request any starch.)
Still, I think linen is more graceful without it and it does contribute to wear, yellowing and attracting bugs.
I agree that lace is best left to altar cloths.
This is a nice resource, too:

https://www.almy.com/UI/Hotspots/Docs/linencare.pdf

Nice links you posted; I prefer a bag for laundering amices (the net or lace bags used for lingerie). Starch those, too, though? Middle-aged linen is so lovely! Why starch it? Obviously I have my opinions, lol!

 

[CRV]

I prefer a bag for laundering amices (the net or lace bags used for lingerie).

Yes, I use those laundry bags for the amices otherwise the strings get so tangled and knoted that when wet are sooooo hard to untangle.
I guess it depends on the priest and the form of the Mass. One parish initially the corporals weren’t starched, but when I took over their care, I began starching and Father was most impressed, telling he liked them starched! So I’ve been starching them every since.

At another chapel which was attached to a convent, I ended up taking over from one of the nuns who due to age and health could no longer starch items and when I started there I noticed all these bars of soap in each of the linen drawers. Had no idea why they were there and upon asking was told they keep the silverfish away! (Still found the odd one though)

But yes, I agree starching items does attract those bugs.

I think I’ve read the almy link some time ago, but it is always good to refresh my memory, so thank you for posting.

Starching the linen creates a smooth surface making it easier for Father to gather any fragments of the Blessed Sacrament with the side of the paten.

Palls used to be starched stiff too - before plastic inserts became available.

Reading for those who are interested -
Liturgical Triva: The “Glossy” Corporal

Caring for Liturgical Linens Father B. Jerabek, J.C.L.

 

[UpUpAndAway]

One parish initially the corporals weren’t starched, but when I took over their care, I began starching and Father was most impressed, telling he liked them starched! So I’ve been starching them every since.

I had a similar experience. In addition to making it easier to collect liturgical particles, it also keeps safe any overlooked fragments, which was valuable for our resident retired priest, who is completely blind in one eye and half blind in the other. Starched corporals keep their shape longer; the starch makes them resistant to wrinkling, so we could use them more times between washings (corporals can be used more than once).

That said, if a church has a large quantity of corporals I don’t recommend keeping all of them starched because as was mentioned starch attracts bugs. Starch only enough for, let’s say, six weeks. When you’re down to a one-week supply, starch another six weeks’ worth. This will prevent starched linen from sitting unused for months, which is more likely to attract the bugs’ attention. I used cedar blocks to repel vermin from the starched supply. We never had a problem.

 

[CRV]

cedar blocks to repel vermin from the starched supply.

Thanks for the idea! I must try that in my sacristy cupboards. Another idea that works well, is to put the freshly laundered ones on the bottom of the pile - assuming they are kept in a drawer and not inside the burse - that way they all wear evenly. Works for the other small altar linens too. Was my PP idea

 

[UpUpAndAway]

Oh yes, I always put freshly laundered linen under what was already in the drawer. I hope this practice continues now that I’m no longer in charge.

To be honest, I discovered that bugs wouldn’t seek out the starched linens if they could find the altar breads. I strongly suggest keeping those secure as well!

 

[PetraG]

It does take double-ironing to get linen to buttery smoothness. That is time-consuming, and as you point out it results in a surface that is smooth but not as stiff. One parish I belonged to used a resin-based sizing instead of starch, because it held no interest for the bugs; that is another option that’s available.

For those (unlike you) who are new to using starch and sizing, it is important to know from the start that it will build up on an iron and on the cover of the ironing surface. That’s no disaster, provided the need to clean the iron and ironing surface on an ongoing basis is recognized. I really prefer not to deal with it, though. (I also prefer a little spray bottle for water, rather than putting water in the tank of my steam iron. It seems only a matter of time before the insides of the iron gunk up or corrode.)

 

[PetraG]

Yes! Linens need to rotate through to make sure everything is inspected regularly.

I also learned it is a big mistake to iron in creases. The linens will show wear lines much more quickly if the creases are ironed in instead of lightly finger-pressed. Finger-pressing gives a more round edge rather than a narrow edge that is exposed to wear. That edge will come out totally in the wash, so a slighlty different region will be abraded by wear the next time around, increasing the lifetime of the linen.

 

[UpUpAndAway]

For 100% linen, I found the way to insure buttery smoothness is to iron the material while it is wet. Not “moist,” not “sprinkled or sprayed upon,” but actually wet (but not soaked to the point of dripping).

Iron embroidered areas upside-down on a fluffy terry towel to avoid crushing the design. I had an all-white towel reserved exclusively for this purpose.

Fold after ironing, creasing well with your fingers. Do not iron the folds!

 

[PetraG]

I just wanted to know if there’s any regulation as to how the linen is made/purchased/etc.

As for size, ask the sacristans but I suspect making things to match the favorite size your parish already uses will be welcomed. It always pays to listen to those who are already in the work at your parish and to respect their opinions until you’ve been at it yourself for awhile. After all, the linens will wear out and need to be replaced but with any luck your relationship with them will be a happy one that will last for your lifetime and even in eternity. (No reason to up anybody’s Purgatory time by being unintentionally irritating, lol.)

 

[PetraG]

Yes. Iron damp from the wrong side, using terry under the embroidered parts, hang the piece to let it relax, and then come back later to iron from the right side to that beautiful smoothness.

What kills me is that little faint hint of a lipstick stain on a purificator that doesn’t show itself until the piece is ironed. Do you have the Precious Blood distributed to the laity at your parish? If so, how do you get the lipstick stains off? I used to use a laundry pre-treatment, but it is scented and the new priest cannot handle scented laundry products. I’m still casting around for a really reliable method to get out the lipstick without spending my life at it. I have an unscented version of the pretreatment but I’m still finding far too often that when the piece is smooth and dry I missed some little stain of sin and have to start over!!