The Church has always been meticulous when selecting and ordering its liturgical rites, ensuring that they clearly express the sacred realities they represent. One of these rites is the covering of the chalice and paten with a fine cloth during the Holy Mass.
Newsroom (02/07/2025) Gaudium Press At the start of the Offertory of the Mass, the acolyte presents the chalice and paten covered with a small veil, which matches the liturgical color of the day. This action is done with great care, ensuring the sacred vessels remain concealed from the congregation. The chalice is then placed on the altar, and the cloth is removed.
The Liturgical Significance of the Chalice Veil
The Church has always been meticulous when selecting and ordering its liturgical rites, ensuring that they clearly express the sacred realities they represent. One of these rites is the covering of the chalice and paten with a fine cloth during the Holy Mass. While this practice is no longer mandatory, it is still highly esteemed by the Church due to its ancient origins and profound symbolism.
The Eucharist: The Most Precious Treasure of the Church
The Eucharist is the greatest treasure of the Church, containing sublime supernatural realities that are veiled from our senses. Under the appearances of bread and wine – which retain their outward characteristics but whose substance changes through the Consecration – is Jesus Christ Himself, present in Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity. The cloth covering the chalice serves as a symbol of this mysterious and ineffable truth.
The Meaning of Removing the Chalice Veil
The action of removing the veil represents the revelation of this profound mystery. Rather than diminishing our intimacy with God, it brings us closer and helps us understand His divine secrets. The chalice veil in Mass is not only a symbol of reverence but also a means by which God reveals His mysteries to us.
Compiled by Donna Smolders
