Monstrance

The monstrance is an ornate receptacle used specifically to expose the Blessed Sacrament for adoration.

Cruet of water and flagon of wine

Cruets are small glass pitchers used to hold small amounts of water and wine, and flagons are larger pitchers used to hold the wine brought to the altar during the Presentation of the Gifts.

Water, lavabo, and finger towel

The priest uses these to wash his hands during the Preparation of the Gifts. The lavabo is also known as a finger bowl and is held under the priest's hands.

Tabernacle

A special receptacle used only to reserve, or hold, the consecrated hosts in a ciborium. Its candle should be lit whenever the Real Presence is inside.

Server's alb and cincture

Albs are long, white vestments worn by liturgical ministers: priests, deacons, servers, and masters of ceremony. Servers' albs, like this one, are belted with a cincture.

Credence table

A small table behind the screen which holds the sacred vessels.

Communion cups

Smaller and less ornate chalices used during the celebration of the Eucharist so that the entire congregation has the chance to drink the Blood of Christ.

Pyx

A pyx contains consecrated hosts so that they can be transported to the sick and homebound.

Chalice and purificator

The chalice is the ornate cup that is mainly used during Mass. The purificator is folded in halves and in thirds; it is used to wipe the lips of the chalice and communion cups.

Paten

Patens are similar to plates. We use them to hold communion bread for distribution.

Purificator (top) Finger towel (middle) Corporal (bottom)

Purificators are used to wipe the lips of the chalice and communion cups.

The priest uses a finger towel to dry his hands after the washing of the hands.

The corporal, always neatly ironed and twice-folded in thirds, is placed in the middle of the altar. The patens, chalices and communion cups are placed on the corporal, not directly on the altar or altar cloth.

Ambo

The pulpit where God's Word is proclaimed and homilies are preached.

Altar

The sanctuary is the part of the church designated by the altar platform. The altar, ambo and the presidential chair are all in this space. The altar is the table where we celebrate the Liturgy of the Eucharist.

Presider's chair and an additional seat

The presider's chair is where the priest sits during Mass as the president of the assembly. A concelebrating priest, assisting deacon, or master of ceremonies often has a seat near the chair.

Ambry: Oil of Catechumens, Oil of the Sick, Sacred Chrism

The ambry is the location in the back of the church where the sacred oils are housed. The Oil of Catechumens and Sacred Chrism are used in the initiation rites and the Oil of the Sick is used for Anointing of the Sick.

Baptismal Font

It is the ancient practice of the Church to baptise with flowing or "living" water, so the baptismal font near the front doors maintains flowing water inside the building.

Paschal candle

This large candle is kept near the baptismal font. It is lit for baptisms, funerals and during the Easter season. A new Paschal candle is consecrated every year at the Easter Vigil and is also known as the Easter candle.

Processional crucifix

The processional crucifix is an image of the crucified Christ which processes to and away from the altar ahead of the processional candles.

Lectionary (left), Book of the Gospels (middle), Sacramentary (right)

The Book of the Gospels processes in at the beginning of Mass. It contains all of the Gospel readings. It can have a red or a wooden cover.

The Lectionary contains the biblical readings for Mass. It is placed on the ambo before Mass.

The Sacramentary is the primary book used by the presider to celebrate the Mass. It contains the various prayers, order, and instructions, and is placed on the server's seats before Mass.

Sacramentary (top), Book of the Gospels (middle), Lectionary (bottom)

This angle clearly shows the tabs that make the Sacramentary easy to identify. The covers on the Sacramentary and Lectionary always match the color of the liturgical season.

Incense stand: thurible or censer (hanging) and boat (on shelf)

A thurible, or censer, is a metal container hanging from a chain. It holds hot charcoal to burn incense. It pairs with an incense boat, which holds granulated incense to be used in the censer.

Monstrance

The monstrance is an ornate receptacle used specifically to expose the Blessed Sacrament for adoration.

Cruet of water and flagon of wine

Cruets are small glass pitchers used to hold small amounts of water and wine, and flagons are larger pitchers used to hold the wine brought to the altar during the Presentation of the Gifts.

Water, lavabo, and finger towel

The priest uses these to wash his hands during the Preparation of the Gifts. The lavabo is also known as a finger bowl and is held under the priest's hands.

Tabernacle

A special receptacle used only to reserve, or hold, the consecrated hosts in a ciborium. Its candle should be lit whenever the Real Presence is inside.

Server's alb and cincture

Albs are long, white vestments worn by liturgical ministers: priests, deacons, servers, and masters of ceremony. Servers' albs, like this one, are belted with a cincture.

Credence table

A small table behind the screen which holds the sacred vessels.

Communion cups

Smaller and less ornate chalices used during the celebration of the Eucharist so that the entire congregation has the chance to drink the Blood of Christ.

Pyx

A pyx contains consecrated hosts so that they can be transported to the sick and homebound.

Chalice and purificator

The chalice is the ornate cup that is mainly used during Mass. The purificator is folded in halves and in thirds; it is used to wipe the lips of the chalice and communion cups.

Paten

Patens are similar to plates. We use them to hold communion bread for distribution.

Purificator (top) Finger towel (middle) Corporal (bottom)

Purificators are used to wipe the lips of the chalice and communion cups.

The priest uses a finger towel to dry his hands after the washing of the hands.

The corporal, always neatly ironed and twice-folded in thirds, is placed in the middle of the altar. The patens, chalices and communion cups are placed on the corporal, not directly on the altar or altar cloth.

Ambo

The pulpit where God's Word is proclaimed and homilies are preached.

Altar

The sanctuary is the part of the church designated by the altar platform. The altar, ambo and the presidential chair are all in this space. The altar is the table where we celebrate the Liturgy of the Eucharist.

Presider's chair and an additional seat

The presider's chair is where the priest sits during Mass as the president of the assembly. A concelebrating priest, assisting deacon, or master of ceremonies often has a seat near the chair.

Ambry: Oil of Catechumens, Oil of the Sick, Sacred Chrism

The ambry is the location in the back of the church where the sacred oils are housed. The Oil of Catechumens and Sacred Chrism are used in the initiation rites and the Oil of the Sick is used for Anointing of the Sick.

Baptismal Font

It is the ancient practice of the Church to baptise with flowing or "living" water, so the baptismal font near the front doors maintains flowing water inside the building.

Paschal candle

This large candle is kept near the baptismal font. It is lit for baptisms, funerals and during the Easter season. A new Paschal candle is consecrated every year at the Easter Vigil and is also known as the Easter candle.

Processional crucifix

The processional crucifix is an image of the crucified Christ which processes to and away from the altar ahead of the processional candles.

Lectionary (left), Book of the Gospels (middle), Sacramentary (right)

The Book of the Gospels processes in at the beginning of Mass. It contains all of the Gospel readings. It can have a red or a wooden cover.

The Lectionary contains the biblical readings for Mass. It is placed on the ambo before Mass.

The Sacramentary is the primary book used by the presider to celebrate the Mass. It contains the various prayers, order, and instructions, and is placed on the server's seats before Mass.

Sacramentary (top), Book of the Gospels (middle), Lectionary (bottom)

This angle clearly shows the tabs that make the Sacramentary easy to identify. The covers on the Sacramentary and Lectionary always match the color of the liturgical season.

Incense stand: thurible or censer (hanging) and boat (on shelf)

A thurible, or censer, is a metal container hanging from a chain. It holds hot charcoal to burn incense. It pairs with an incense boat, which holds granulated incense to be used in the censer.