PLEASE HELP! Serving at Altar

[Providence_Peep]

I am serving as the MC at a Mass and will need to set the Altar during the offertory.

When I bring the chalice to the Altar, where do I put the chalice veil?

Do I fold it a certain way and leave it on the altar or do I remove it from the altar?

Also, after I unfold the corporal, do I place the chalice in the center and the paten to its left or to its right?

And finally, do I put the pall and the purificator on the corporal, or on the altar (but not on the corporal)?

Thank you!

 

[tbtcom1213]

I am serving as the MC at a Mass and will need to set the Altar during the offertory.

When I bring the chalice to the Altar, where do I put the chalice veil?

Do I fold it a certain way and leave it on the altar or do I remove it from the altar?

Also, after I unfold the corporal, do I place the chalice in the center and the paten to its left or to its right?

And finally, do I put the pall and the purificator on the corporal, or on the altar (but not on the corporal)?

Thank you!

The Chalice Veil can be folded and placed on the upper right hand corner of the altar until the priest or deacon or you builds up the chalice after the ablutions.

The Chalice normally goes at the top part of the corporal and the paten with host at the bottom part of the corporal Additional ciboria and chalices for consecration would be to the right of the chalice and paten on the corporal. The celebrant may have another preference.

The pall would rest on the altar next to the corporal as would the purificator.

The pall is placed after the offering of the chalice; it is removed for the consecration, replaced after the consecration et cetera

 

[Ancient1]

What is “MC”?

 

[tbtcom1213]

What is “MC”?

Mastder of Ceremonies

 

[tbtcom1213]

Mastder of Ceremonies

I meant to say *Master of Ceremonies

This person is the principal server at Mass (sometimes even an ordained priest especially when a bishop celebrates). He oversees the other altar servers concerning their roles and is usually at the side of the priest celebrant.

 

[Jegudiel]

I am serving as the MC at a Mass and will need to set the Altar during the offertory.

When I bring the chalice to the Altar, where do I put the chalice veil?

Do I fold it a certain way and leave it on the altar or do I remove it from the altar?

Also, after I unfold the corporal, do I place the chalice in the center and the paten to its left or to its right?

And finally, do I put the pall and the purificator on the corporal, or on the altar (but not on the corporal)?

Thank you!

When you dress the altar, the chalice veil should definitely be removed. It should be folded (just as it is folded when stored) and along with the burse placed on the credence table or other appropriate area.

The chalice should not be centered on the corporal. It should be on the corporal but biased in the direction where the priest will receive the wine and water. If you do end-up centering it, no big deal.

Place the pall (make sure the celebrant intends to use one – they are optional) and the purificator on the altar next to the corporal on the side where the chalice will be filled. If either the pall or the purificator touches the corporal, again, no big deal.

 

[Chatter163]

If there is no deacon and the MC is bringing the chalice to the priest at the offertory, then the priest may fold and lay the chalice veil on the altar until the end of communion, or he may give it to the MC, who takes the veil back to the credence table.
If the corporal is not already spread on the altar prior to the start of Mass, the priest or deacon should do this himself. There is no reason for the MC to unspread a corporal during the Mass.

 

[Mrs_Sally]

I am serving as the MC at a Mass and will need to set the Altar during the offertory.

When I bring the chalice to the Altar, where do I put the chalice veil?

Do I fold it a certain way and leave it on the altar or do I remove it from the altar?

Also, after I unfold the corporal, do I place the chalice in the center and the paten to its left or to its right?

And finally, do I put the pall and the purificator on the corporal, or on the altar (but not on the corporal)?

Thank you!

You should also check with the priest who is celebrating Mass to see if he has any preferences. Depending on how many additional ciboria need to be on the altar may dictate how he wants things done.

 

[John_Lilburne]

…
If the corporal is not already spread on the altar prior to the start of Mass, the priest or deacon should do this himself. There is no reason for the MC to unspread a corporal during the Mass.

The corporal should not be on the altar at the start of Mass. The priest should not be putting the corporal on the altar during Mass.

From the General Instruction of the Roman Missal, in the description of Mass Without a Deacon:

“139. When the Universal Prayer is over, all sit, and the Offertory Chant begins (cf. no. 74).
An acolyte or other lay minister places the corporal, the purificator, the chalice, the pall, and the Missal on the altar.”

In the description of Mass with a Deacon:
“178. After the Universal Prayer, while the Priest remains at the chair, the Deacon prepares the altar, assisted by the acolyte, but it is the Deacon’s place to take care of the sacred vessels himself.”

“190. In the absence of a Deacon, after the Universal Prayer and while the Priest remains at the chair, the acolyte places the corporal, the purificator, the chalice, the pall, and the Missal on the altar.”

(From Roman Missal, English translation according to the third typical edition, approved for use in the dioceses of Australia, England and Wales, and Scotland, published by Catholic Truth Society, in 2010, ISBN 9781860827303, pages 65, 73 and 75).

 

[John_Lilburne]

I am serving as the MC at a Mass and will need to set the Altar during the offertory.

When I bring the chalice to the Altar, where do I put the chalice veil?

Do I fold it a certain way and leave it on the altar or do I remove it from the altar?

Also, after I unfold the corporal, do I place the chalice in the center and the paten to its left or to its right?

And finally, do I put the pall and the purificator on the corporal, or on the altar (but not on the corporal)?

Thank you!

The chalice veil is not put on the altar.

From the General Instruction of the Roman Missal:

“306. For only what is required for the celebration of the Mass may be placed on the altar table: namely, from the beginning of the celebration until the proclamation of the Gospel, the Book of the Gospels; then from the Presentation of the Gifts until the purification of the vessels, the chalice with the paten, a ciborium, if necessary, and, finally, the corporal, the purificator, the pall, and the Missal.
In addition, arranged discreetly, there should be whatever may be needed to amplify the Priest’s voice.”

After you unfold the corporal should you place the chalice on it? No. The Order of Mass in the Roman Missal has:

“25. The Priest then takes the chalice and holds it slightly raised above the altar with both hands, saying in a low voice:
Blessed are you, Lord God of all creation,
for through your goodness we have received
the wine we offer you:
fruit of the vine and work of human hands,
it will become our spiritual drink.
Then he places the chalice on the corporal.”

The paten is not placed on the altar by the altar server. The General Instruction of the Roman Missal has:
“139. … An acolyte or other lay minister places the corporal, the purificator, the chalice, the pall, and the Missal upon the altar.”

Instead the paten is handed to the priest. From the Order of Mass
"23. The priest, standing at the altar, takes the paten with the bread and holds it slightly raised above the altar with both hands, saying in a low voice:
Blessed are you, Lord God of all creation …
Then he places the paten with the bread on the corporal.

From the GIRM:
“141. The priest accepts the paten with the bread at the altar, holds it slightly raised above the altar with both hands and says quietly, Benedictus es, Domine (Blessed are you, Lord God). Then he places the paten with the bread on the corporal.”

“And finally, do I put the pall and the purificator on the corporal, or on the altar (but not on the corporal)?” On the altar, but not on the corporal.

(From Roman Missal, English translation according to the third typical edition, approved for use in the dioceses of Australia, England and Wales, and Scotland, published by Catholic Truth Society, in 2010, ISBN 9781860827303, page 65, 98, 564.)

 

[Jeancreese]

Although cultures differ but the correct way should be adhered to
I think that the veil is not important and is placed at the side of the altar.The pall is opened on the center of the altar.
The Chalice , purificator and paten should be left on the credence table until ready for use during mass.
I would welcome any comments
God bless you all

 

[roveau]

Our priest is very particular about form and likes everything that is not in use anymore to be taken away from the altar and put back onto the credence table for the Consecration. Last Wednesday I accidentally left the big pall on the altar.

Our parish is so poor that we don’t even have a chalice veil. I must ask about that at the next Liturgy meeting.

 

[Jegudiel]

If there is no deacon and the MC is bringing the chalice to the priest at the offertory, then the priest may fold and lay the chalice veil on the altar until the end of communion, or he may give it to the MC, who takes the veil back to the credence table.
If the corporal is not already spread on the altar prior to the start of Mass,** the priest or deacon should do this himself.** There is no reason for the MC to unspread a corporal during the Mass.

No. There is no prohibition for a layperson to dress the altar, which includes spreading out the corporal.

 

[Jegudiel]

Although cultures differ but the correct way should be adhered to
I think that the veil is not important and is placed at the side of the altar.The pall is opened on the center of the altar.
The Chalice , purificator and paten should be left on the credence table until ready for use during mass.
I would welcome any comments
God bless you all

The veil may not be but the altar is. The altar is an important icon of Jesus Christ. It would be tacky to leave the veil off to the side of the altar.

Along with the chalice, purificator and paten, the corporal must also be prepared along with the gifts and the lavabo.

 

[Jegudiel]

Our priest is very particular about form and likes everything that is not in use anymore to be taken away from the altar and put back onto the credence table for the Consecration. Last Wednesday I accidentally left the big pall on the altar.

Our parish is so poor that we don’t even have a chalice veil. I must ask about that at the next Liturgy meeting.

He would remove the pall just before handling the chalice so you did fine – and then it is replaced on top of the chalice.