St. John’s
Server Training
Picture and
Definition Guide
St. John, the Beloved Disciple, Pray for Us!
VESTMENTS:
THE ALB
The alb is a long, white linen liturgical vestment with tapered sleeves.
It is a garment (or robe) that is worn by the priest during the Holy
Mass. It symbolizes the innocence and purity that should adorn the
soul of the priest who ascends the altar. While it is white in the
Western Church, it can be of any color in the Eastern Church.
THE AMICE
The amice is a liturgical vestment consisting of an oblong piece of
white linen that is worn around the neck and shoulders and partly
under the alb.
THE COPE
"Cope" is Latin for "choir cape, black cape." It is a long black
liturgical mantle, open in front and fastened at the breast with a
band or clasp. Sometimes it has a hood. It was worn in choir during
the Divine Office by the clergy of cathedral churches and by many
religious, and is still retained by the Dominicans during winter
months.
THE CASSOCK
The cassock, also known as a soutane, comes in a number of styles or
cuts, though no particular symbolism attaches to these. It usually has
33 buttons (symbolic of the years of the life of Jesus) down the front.
There are two types of cassock: the ordinary cassock and the choir
cassock. A band cincture or fascia is also worn with both types of
cassocks. The ordinary cassock is the black cassock worn by most
clerics. Choir dress cassocks for bishops, protonotaries apostolic, and
honorary prelates are purple.
THE CHASUBLE
The chasuble is the vestment that is put on over all the others
during Liturgical services. Originally this was a very full garment,
shaped like a bell and reaching almost to the feet all the way round.
The Chasuble symbolizes the virtue of charity, and the yoke of
unselfish service for the Lord, which the priest assumes at
ordination.
THE CINCTURE
The cincture is the cord used as a belt to gird the Alb.
THE DALMATIC
The dalmatic is an outer, sleeved tunic that came to Rome from
Dalmatia, whence its name. It is worn in place of the chasuble, by
the deacon and sub-deacon during Solemn Mass.
THE HUMERAL VEIL
The Humeral Veil is worn so as to cover the back and shoulders
(where it gets its name) and its two ends hang down in front. To
prevent its falling from the shoulders, it is fastened across the chest
with clasps or ribbons attached to the border. The Humeral Veil is
worn by the priest or deacon in processions of the Blessed
Sacrament, in giving Benediction, in carrying the Host to its
repository on Holy Thursday, and bringing it back to the altar on
Good Friday. In processions of the Blessed Sacrament and at
Benediction given with the monstrance, only the hands are placed
under the humeral veil; in other cases, it covers the sacred vessel
which contains the Host. The Humeral Veil is usually and properly
some shade of white (from ivory to white is acceptable).
THE MANIPULE
The manipule is an ornamental vestment of colored silk or damask
over the left forearms. Originally this vestment was a handkerchief
carried in the left hand or thrown over the left arm. It symbolizes the
labor and hardship the priest must expect in his ardent apostolate.
THE STOLE
Roman magistrates wore a long scarf when engaged in their
official duties, just as our judges wear a court gown. Whenever a
priest celebrates Mass or administers the Sacraments, he wears
the stole as a sign that he is occupied with an official priestly duty.
THE SURPLICE
The surplice, like the rochet, is a knee-length, white vestment worn
over the choir cassock, but by priests, deacons, and seminarians
rather than bishops. It is typically simple in design, but can be very
fancy. It is distinct from the rochet not in the level of decoration, but
in the sleeve: the sleeve of a rochet, like an alb, fits flush against the
choir cassock; the sleeve of a surplice is fuller, and often bell-shaped.
Fiddle Back: Garment shaped like a fiddle
Fascia: Thick belt worn over the cassock
COLORS:
Green: Ordinary Time
White: Christmas/Easter/Special Celebrations, Solemnities, and Feasts
Red: Martyrs
Purple: Lent/Advent
Rose: Gaudete Sunday/Laetarae Sunday
Black: Funerals/All Soul
SANCTUARY ARTICLES:
Cruets: Holding the Water and Wine
Lavabo Bowl: The bowl that catches the
water when Father washes his hands
Finger Purifier Bowl: Small bowl Extra
Ordinary Ministers use to clean their fingers
after Holy Communion
Finger Towel: Small towel to dry fingers
Hand Towel: Medium towel for Father to dry
his hands
Credence Table: the small tables on the Main
and minor side of the altar (holding these
articles)
Presider’s Chair: Where Father sits
Server’s Chair: Where server’s sit
Cope Stand: Where the cope hangs
Altar: The table in the sanctuary where the
sacrifice at Mass is offered
Altar Cloth: The cloth that lays over the altar
Altar Cross: The little cross on the altar (NOT
the reliquaries)
Communion Paten: Hand-held paten server’s
use during communion
Candle Stands: Stands that hold the candle
sticks
Candelabra: a candle holder that holds more
than one candle
Candle Follower: Gold medal piece that sits
on top of the candle
Sanctuary Candle: The Candle that always
stays lit in the sanctuary
Sanctuary Bells: Hand-held bells on the floor
by the altar
Sacristy Bells: Bells on the wall by the
sacristy
Processional Cross: The wooden crucifix
carried into Mass by the Cross-Bearer
Processional Candles: Candles carried in to
Mass by the Candle-Bearers
Reliquaries: Crosses on the altar containing
relics of saints
Tabernacle: The box on the altar containing
the consecrated body of Christ
Tabernacle Veil: The sheer cloth that covers
the tabernacle
Ambo/Lector Stand/Podium: Where the
Gospel is read and where Lectors read the
readings
Baptismal Font: Wood box on Main side of
sanctuary used for baptisms
Paschal Candle: Large candle that stands
between the ambo and baptismal font
Votive Candle Stands: The stands that holds
the candles below Mary and Jesus statues
(blue and red)
Ambry: Box in wall on the Main side of the
Sanctuary containing oils
3 kinds of Oils: of the Sick, of Catechumens,
Chrism
SACRED VESSELS:
Monstrance: Word meaning, “to look at”
because we look at this when Jesus is in it
Luna: The small case holding the large
consecrated host that fits inside the
monstrance
Ciborium (Small Hosts): The gold cup with
the lid containing the small hosts
Aspergillum: Holds Holy Water that Father
uses to sprinkle the people
Communion Cups: Gold cups that
Extraordinary Ministers use to distribute the
Blood of Christ
Thurible: A vessel in which incense is burned
Boat: Small bowl that contains unburned
incense
Incense: What is burned inside the thurible
Charcoal: What burns the incense
DRESSING THE CHALICE:
Burse: A stiff pocked that carries the folded
corporal. The color matches the priest’s
vestments (sits on top of the veiled Chalice)
Corporal: Square, white linen cloth on which
the Host and Chalice are placed during Mass
(kept in the burse when not being used)
Chalice Veil: Cloth that covers the Chalice
(also matches the priest’s vestments)
*picture shown with burse on top
Chalice: A cup-shaped vessel used at Mass to
contain the Precious Blood of Christ
Pall: A sacred cloth covering (Square
cardboard cloth covering the Chalice at
Mass)
Paten (Large Hosts): Flat shaped plate used
to hold the Large Host
*Shown next to the Chalice
Purificator: Small white cloth marked with a
cross used by Priest or Extraordinary Minister
distributing the Precious Blood of Christ
SACRISTY ARTICLES:
Candle Lighters: Used to light the candles in
the sanctuary
Snuffer: Used to extinguish the candles in
the sanctuary
Tapers: White sticks (or wicks) that feed into
the candle lighters that you light
Lighters: Lighters used to light the candle
lighters (these are found in the sacristy)
Prie Deux (kneeler): wooden kneeler used in
confession or at weddings
Funeral Pall: Sacred cloth that goes over the
casket at a funeral
Pyx: Small container used to deliver
communion to our sick parishioners at home
VESTIBULE ARTICLES:
Collection Baskets: Used by the ushers at
Mass to collect the people’s offerings
Collection Box: Box (that looks like a treasure
box) that holds the money envelopes
Storage Ciborium: Ciborium containing extra
hosts
Silver Holy Water Font: Big Holy Water font
in the vestibule/foyer.
SPACES:
Choir Loft: Where the organ and piano player sits
Cry Room: The room at the bottom of the stairs by the bathroom
Vestibule/Foyer: The room in the back of church by the main doors
Confessionals: Small rooms where Father hears confessions (on minor
side of the church)
Nave: Everything in the church but the sacristy and sanctuary (pews,
vestibule, choir loft, etc.)
Pews: Where people sit during Mass
Modesty Screen: The solid piece of wood at the front of all the pews
(right before the sanctuary)
Kneelers: Padded boards in the pews where we kneel at Mass
Sanctuary: The area above the step in the front of the church (the altar,
albo/podium, etc.)
Main: the left side of church (when looking at the altar)
Minor: the right side of church (when looking at the altar)
Sacristy: the room behind the sanctuary
Sacrarium: the sink in the sacristy used to clean the Chalice
BOOKS:
Roman Missal: The most important book that Father uses during Mass
containing prayers
Missalette: Small books that the people use at Mass
Breviary: Liturgical book containing the Divine Office
Hymnal: The book of songs we sing from at Mass
Lectionary: The book used by lectors to do the readings at Mass
Book of the Gospels: The book used by Father to read the Gospel
Ordo: Small book explaining what prayers to do each day
Intercession Book: Lector’s guide book (small, maroon, 3-ring book)