why linen?

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sabriner

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Just a curiosity.

Why are things for liturgy always made of linen? Or at least, always prefer to be?
 
sabriner said:
Just a curiosity.

Why are things for liturgy always made of linen? Or at least, always prefer to be?
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2 reasons:
  1. Linen is a “rich” cloth, and only the best available should be used for the Holy Sacrifice. It’s also a natural material (so is cotton) and natural materials are always preferred in the Liturgy to synthetics.
  2. When it comes to purificators, linen is the best material because it’s the most absorbent for purifying the chalice and other sacred vessels. A priest can always tell the difference between 100% linen on the one hand and cotton/linen, cotton, poly/cotton on the other hand because only pure linen will get the vessel completely dry.
Other cloth items like the corporal don’t matter as much and other materials might be used which actually look better than linen–depends on the individual item.
 
FrDavid96 said:
2 reasons:
  1. Linen is a “rich” cloth, and only the best available should be used for the Holy Sacrifice. It’s also a natural material (so is cotton) and natural materials are always preferred in the Liturgy to synthetics.
  2. When it comes to purificators, linen is the best material because it’s the most absorbent for purifying the chalice and other sacred vessels. A priest can always tell the difference between 100% linen on the one hand and cotton/linen, cotton, poly/cotton on the other hand because only pure linen will get the vessel completely dry.
Other cloth items like the corporal don’t matter as much and other materials might be used which actually look better than linen–depends on the individual item.
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oooh, thanks FrDavid96. That’s what I suspected… I’m a textile nerd… I don’t know why, but I love studying fabrics :o
 
In addition, linen has the quality of becoming whiter the more it is laundered, symbolic of how we should advance in the spiritual life.

The body of our Lord after it was taken from the cross, and quickly annointed was wrapped in a fine linen shroud. (While the Church has not pronounced officially, I do beleive it is that of Turin)

Many Eastern Catholic Churches use silk.

The rubrics prior to Vatican II required linen, but also allowed where linen could not be had for the use of cloth made from Hemp fibers.
 
It’s Biblical, too!

God prescribed the use of linen in priestly vestments and temple appointments (Exodus Chapters 28, 35, 36, 38, 39; Leviticus Chapters 6 and 16). Jesus’ body was wrapped in linen for His burial (Mark 15:46). The seven angels in Revelation 15:5 wore linen.

Must be good stuff!
 
sabriner said:
Just a curiosity.

Why are things for liturgy always made of linen? Or at least, always prefer to be?
Click to expand...
Actually they aren’t. Nor is there always a preference for linen. No question real linen (made from flax not cotton) is good stuff and it wears like iron but its price can be daunting. Given the rip-off pricing of most church supply/furnishing companies on top of already high prices it can become offensive.

Some time ago I wanted to buy some nice purificators, corporals and hand towels for my parish. The prices asked were ridiculous. Instead I bought different sized 100% linen napkins from a company that sold linens to high-class restaurants and caterers. The price was less than 25% of what the church places charged and they were higher quality than any church linens I have ever seen.
 
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