How to Arrange the Sacred Vessels for Holy Communion

Setting up the vessels for the celebration of the Lord’s Supper is an intricate task that requires much attention to detail. One must understand the types of sacred vessels and their purposes as well as where they should be placed on the altar. Here is a guide to arranging the sacred vessels, adapted from What an Altar Guild Should Know by Paul H. D. Lang.

Veiling the Chalice before the Service

Before the Holy Communion service, the chalice is veiled in the sacristy as follows:

1. A folded purificator (small napkin) is laid over the mouth of the chalice to hang over the edges on the right and left sides.
2. The paten is laid on the purificator.
3. The pall (square of stiff material) covers the paten.
4. The chalice veil covers all.
5. The burse (envelope-like case) is laid on the chalice veil. Inside the burse is the corporal (linen on which the Communion vessels stand), a supply of purificators, and the post-Communion veil.

Placing the Vessels on the Altar before the Service

If the veiled chalice is placed on the altar by the pastor before the service, the following should be done:

1. The corporal is taken out of the burse and placed on the altar.
2. The veiled chalice is put on the corporal.
3. The burse is set upright against the shelf at the back of the altar, close to the left of the chalice.
4. Until the Offertory, the other vessels usually remain on the credence (linen covering the surface the bread and wine rest on before Communion).

However, when the other vessels are placed on the altar before the service, the flagon stands on the corporal behind and to the right of the veiled chalice, and the ciborium stands on the corporal behind and to the left of the veiled chalice.

Arranging the Vessels during the Offertory

When the chalice is unveiled during the Offertory, the position of the sacred vessels on the corporal becomes this:

1. The paten or ciborium is placed on the center forepart of the corporal.
2. The chalice is set behind the paten or ciborium.
3. The wine cruets or flagon are set behind the chalice.

This arrangement may be used instead:

1. The chalice and flagon are placed on the right side of the corporal with the chalice in front.
2. The paten and ciborium are placed on the left side of the corporal with the paten in front.

If all of the vessels except the chalice are placed on the credence, they may be prepared as such:

1. The ciborium is filled with wafers or hosts.
2. The flagon is filled with wine.
3. The water cruets (if used) are filled with water.
4. All vessels are set on the credence, the flagon to the right and the ciborium to the left.
5. Behind them are placed the water cruets and the lavabo bowl and towel, if they are used.

Not sure what the different types of Communion vessels are? Learn about them from a recent post.

Post adapted from What an Altar Guild Should Know, pages 65, 67 © 1964 Concordia Publishing House. Slightly revised 1968. All rights reserved.