Joshua Bennett
Altar linens are used by Catholics, Anglicans, and other liturgical Christian churches during services and require careful handling. They are made from exquisite linen fabric and are often embroidered with religious symbols. The linens include corporals, purificators, lavabo towels, altar scarves, and altar server albs, each serving a specific purpose, such as drying holy vessels, covering the chalice, or depicting the wounds of Christ. Proper care and folding techniques are essential for maintaining the linens, with specific guidelines for ironing, washing, and folding to ensure they are respectfully prepared for storage or use.
Explore related products
What You'll Learn
How to fold a corporal
To fold a corporal linen, start by placing the linen right-side up. Corporals are square linens that are a little smaller than the post-Communion veil with a decorative embroidered cross at the centre bottom. The right side up placement will have the cross facing up. Smooth out any wrinkles with your hands. Unlike most other small altar cloths, the corporal is folded inside out.
Next, take the bottom third of the linen and fold it up to cover the horizontal centre of the linen. Only the top third should now be free. Then, fold down the top third of the linen, covering the bottom and middle thirds. Lightly crease both folds with your fingers.
Bring the right third of the linen in towards the left, covering the centre third. Similarly, fold in the remaining left third, covering the right and vertical centre thirds. If done correctly, the corporal should be folded into nine equal square sections, with the cross tucked away inside.
Finally, crease the folds by dragging your finger along each fold to make them firm. If you intend to store the corporal for a long time, consider pressing the creases with an iron.
The Catholic Roots of Spain
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Purificator folding
Purificators are linen cloths used to dry the holy vessels during Holy Communion. They are generally 12" x 12" with an embroidered cross in the centre. They are folded in a specific way to ensure that the hems are hidden inside the folds.
To begin, lay the linen with the cross facing down and smooth out any wrinkles. Next, fold the linen lengthwise into three equal parts, ensuring that the cross remains on the top layer. Then, bring down the top third of the linen so that it covers the previous fold, creating nine even square sections. Finally, fold the linen in half, making sure that the cross is now facing up. The purificator should now be folded into thirds and ready for placement over the chalice and under the paten.
It is important to note that the purificator should be folded carefully and reverently, as it serves a sacred purpose during the liturgical service. The hems of the purificator are typically narrow on the sides and deeper on the ends, with a handmade lace edging.
When ironing the purificator, follow the traditional Catholic method by ensuring that the linen is ironed and folded in thirds, with the good side facing down, and then folded in half with the crosses facing up. This ensures that the purificator is ready for use during the Mass.
Charismatic Catholics: A Growing Number of Devoted Followers
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Pressing creases
When pressing creases into altar linens, it is important to treat them with the utmost care. Linen is a fabric that holds creases well, so it is important to be precise when creating folds.
First, use your fingers to press along the folded edges, creating a firm crease. This initial finger-pressing step helps to create a smooth surface for ironing and ensures the linen holds its shape. For the corporal linen, which is folded inside-out, this step is particularly important to ensure the linen is smooth and ready for the next set of folds.
Next, flip the linen over so that the embroidered cross is facing up. Use an iron to press the creases and create a crisp, sharp finish. This step is important to complete before long-term storage, ensuring the linen is free of wrinkles and has a neat appearance.
When ironing, do not use starch. The linen should be handled with care, as it is a delicate fabric. It is also recommended to follow the specific folding guidelines for each type of altar linen, as they differ in size and shape.
Altar linens are an important part of Catholic liturgy, and proper care reflects the respect and honor given to the sacred rituals in which they are used.
Meatless Fridays: Catholic Fasting Explained
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Preparing linens for storage
Preparing altar linens for storage requires meticulous care to ensure they remain in excellent condition. Here are some detailed guidelines for preparing linens for long-term storage:
Cleaning and Drying
Firstly, it is crucial to launder the linens before storing them. Washing removes stains and odours that could worsen over time. After washing, ensure the linens are completely dry to prevent mould and mildew. Air-drying is the best method to preserve the fabric's integrity. However, if you must use a dryer, opt for a low-heat setting to avoid damaging the fibres.
Storage Location
Select an appropriate storage location to maintain the quality of the linens. The optimal storage area should be cool, dark, well-ventilated, and free of sunlight. It should also be secured against insects and rodents. Consider an off-site storage option for delicate fabrics, as these facilities help prevent fluctuations in temperature and humidity.
Storage Materials
Avoid using plastic for linen storage, as it does not breathe and can cause condensation. Plastic can also yellow cotton if it is not BHT-free. Instead, use cardboard boxes lined with a discarded sheet to prevent staining. Alternatively, stack linens on wire shelves and cover them with a sheet. Natural repellents like cedar blocks, lavender sachets, or mothballs can be used to deter pests and maintain freshness.
Organisation and Stacking
Organisation is key to keeping your linens in top condition. Embrace bins, baskets, and labels to maintain a tidy and accessible storage space. For space-saving, roll towels instead of folding them, and stack more voluminous items at the bottom, with lighter, smaller items on top. One creative storage idea is to tuck sheet sets into matching pillowcases.
Voting Day: Catholics Decide on April 2nd
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Sewing altar linens
Planning and Fabric Choice:
Firstly, plan your project to minimise waste. Linen is derived from the flax plant and valued for its durability and purity in Christian liturgical traditions. When choosing fabric, opt for high-quality linen, cotton, or silk to ensure the production of durable liturgical linens. For smaller altar linens, use a heavier weight linen, especially for the purificator and finger towel. A lighter weight fabric may be used for the corporal and pall, but avoid "handkerchief" weight as it wears out quickly. Amices should be made of similar fabric weight to the purificator due to laundering requirements.
Cutting and Sewing:
Cutting and sewing altar linens require precision. Cut the linen along one thread of the weave to ensure straight edges. Cut squares and rectangles, which are simple shapes for altar linens. Fold and sew the hems on a drawn thread instead of marking the fabric to maintain squareness. Double-fold the hems to conceal raw edges. Miter the corners to avoid bulkiness. Sew a line of stitching one inch from the edge, as done by a Marian Sister of Santa Rosa, to achieve a neat finish.
Embellishments and Customizations:
Embroider a small red cross on each piece, checking with your priest for placement guidance. Embellishments like lace, embroidery, gold or silk work, crochet, and painting on silk can be added to altar linens. Embroidered or hem-stitched hems and lace finishes are beautiful additions. However, ensure that any embellishments complement the liturgical function of the linen and do not hinder its purpose.
Size and Shape:
The size and shape of the altar linen depend on its intended use. The Ecclesiastical Sewing pattern offers precise instructions on cutting and sewing fabric to achieve the correct size and shape. The altar height and width are important considerations when measuring for an altar fair linen. Smaller linens like the purificator and lavabo towel typically have narrower hems, while larger linens like corporals, credence cloths, and fair linens may have wider hems.
Maintenance and Care:
Altar linens require proper care and maintenance. Shrink the linen before embroidery, especially if it will be stretched over Plexiglas, like the chalice pall. Waxing the middle altar cloth is a traditional practice. Regularly wash and press altar linens to keep them clean and presentable.
Converting to Catholicism in EU4: Strategies and Benefits
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
When preparing altar linens for storage, you should place the linen with the embroidered cross facing down and smooth out any creases. You can then begin to fold the linen, starting with the bottom third, then the top third, and finally the sides.
A corporal is a square linen that is folded inside-out. First, fold up the bottom third, then fold down the top third, and finally bring in the sides.
A purificator is a small linen used to dry holy vessels. It should be folded in thirds, bottom-up, then in half with the cross facing up.
Altar linens should be cleaned every two weeks. They are soaked in water twice, spot cleaned, and then laundered in a washing machine.
No, different types of altar linens need to be folded differently. However, most linens should be folded in thirds.
