Vocabulary for Altar Servers

Vocabulary for Altar Servers
Alb: White robe worn by servers. (See Figure 1)
Altar: An elevated place, like a table, on which the oly !ass is o""ered.
A#bo $ %ectern: &he stand where the Sacred Scriptures are read during the oly !ass.
'oat: A s#all #etal container which holds the incense to be put into the thurible$censor. (t
has a cover and co#es with a s#all spoon.
)halice: &he sacred vessel that the priest uses to hold the 'lood o" )hrist during !ass.
)iboriu#: &he sacred vessel that holds the 'ody o" )hrist during !ass.
)o##union )ups: &he sacred cups used by the !inisters o" )o##union to distribute the
'lood o" )hrist to the people at )o##union.
)orporal: A s*uare, white cloth, placed in the center o" the altar on which the ciboriu# and
chalice are placed during !ass.
)redence &able: &he table that holds ite#s needed "or the celebration o" !ass.
)ruet: S#all, glass pitcher that holds water or wine "or !ass.
Finger 'owl and +ug. A bowl and +ug used at the ti#e o" priest,s washing o" hands.
Finger &owel: A towel used by the priest to dry his "ingers a"ter he has washed his hands.
Flagon $ Wine -ecanter: &he pitcher that is used to hold the wine that will be consecrated at
!ass "or )o##union.
%ectionary: &he book that contains the Scripture .eadings "or !ass.
!issal: &he book that contains the prayers "or the !ass.
/resider,s )hair: A chair in which the priest resides.
/rocessional )ross: &he cross used to lead a procession. &he cross is #ounted on a pole to
be held high and straight with the 'ody o" )hrist (corpus) "acing "orward.
/uri"icator: &he s#all, white cloth used by the priest and the !inisters o" )o##union to
wipe the co##union cups during )o##union and to puri"y the sacred vessels a"ter
co##union.
/y0: A pocket watch1shaped case in which )o##union, used "or sick calls, is carried.
Sacrariu#: Sacristy sink (by the inner door) with a drain directly into the earth "or the "itting
disposal o" water used "or so#e sacred purpose.
Sacristy: &he roo# where the sacred vessels and vest#ents are kept.
Sanctuary: &he large area in the "ront center o" the church where the altar is located.
Sanctuary Furnishings:
2 Altar 2 )redence &able 2 &abernacle
2 /resider,s )hair 2 A#bo$%ectern 2 Sanctuary %ight
2 3aster$/aschal )andle 2 4igil$4otive %ights
• Sanctuary %ight: .ed candle showing the presence o" )hrist in the &abernacle.
• &abernacle: A sacred housing in the sanctuary where the 'ody o" )hrist is kept.
• &hurible $ )ensor: &he #etal container e0tended "ro# a chain in which charcoal and incense
are burned "or liturgical cere#onies like 'enediction or special occasions.
4ocabulary For Special %iturgical 5ses:
• Aspergillu# $ oly Water Sprinkler: A brush or ball with a short handle used by the priest to
sprinkle the people or articles to be blessed. (t is kept in a glass or #etal bucket that holds
the holy water.
• %unette: A round circle o" glass or s#all #etal clip used to hold the host to be placed in the
#onstrance.
• !onstrance: &he ornate vessel used to hold the 'lessed Sacra#ent "or 'enediction and
3ucharistic Adoration.
• )ope and u#eral: Shawl used by the priest to hold the !onstrance

Figure 1: An Alb Figure 2: The Altar

Figure 3: The Lectern Figure 4: Incense Boat

Figure 5: Chalice Figure 6: Ciborium

Figure 7: Communion lasses Figure !: Cor"ral

Figure #: Cre$ence Table Figure 1%: Cruet &ith &ine an$ &ater

Figure 11: Finger bo&l an$ 'ug Figure 12: Finger To&el

Figure 13: (ine )ecanter Figure 14* Lectionar+

Figure 15: ,oman -issal Figure 16: .riest/s Chair

Figure 17: .rocessional Cross Figure 1!: .uri0icators

Figure 1#: .+1 Figure 2%: Thurible

Figure 21: As"rigulum &ith buc2et Figure 22: Lunette

Figure 23: -onstrance Figure 24: Cole an$ 3umeral
Figure 25: eneral la+out 0or setting altar