Catholic Church Liturgical Year

Pectoral Cross

• Worn by a bishop, suspended by a cord or chain, and kept close to the heart
• Cord colors: scarlet and gold for a cardinal, green and gold for a bishop
• Height: around 6 inches

Liturgical Year

• Divided into seasons: Advent, Christmas, Lent, Easter, and Ordinary Time

Advent Season

• Beginning of the Church year
• Color: violet
• 4 weeks, including the 9 days of Simbang Gabi

Christmas Season

• Celebrates Jesus' birth, the Incarnation
• Color: white

Lenten Season

• Runs from Ash Wednesday to the Mass of the Lord's Supper
• Color: violet

Easter Triduum

• Highest point of the year
• Color: white, except red on Good Friday
• Covers the 3 days of the Passion and Resurrection of Christ

Easter Season

• Covers 50 days between Easter Sunday and Pentecost
• Color: white

Sundays in Ordinary Time

• No specific color designated

Episcopal Ring

• Received by a bishop during consecration
• Represents the bishop's office
• Used to wipe the chalice after receiving the Precious Blood

Stole

• Symbol of the clerical office, immortality, and the yoke of Christ
• Long, scarf-like vestment worn over the alb and under the dalmatic/chasuble
• Matches the liturgical color

Amice

• Symbol of the helmet of salvation
• Rectangular piece of white linen with two strings at the upper corners
• Worn underneath the alb to cover the neck

Chalice and Paten

• Used to hold the Precious Blood and consecrated bread during the Mass
• Chalice is a cup usually supported by a node and set on a base
• Paten is a plate on which the bread is placed

Ciborium

• A paten in the form of a chalice with a lid
• Used to contain the Hosts reserved in the tabernacle

Cruets and Pitcher and Basin

• Cruets hold the wine and water at the Mass
• Pitcher and Basin hold and catch the water for the washing of the hands of the presider

Communion Plate

• Used during communion

Corporal

• Sacred cloth of white linen, around 20 inches square
• Used to place the chalice, paten, and ciboria during the Mass
• Folded 3 times each way to form 9 equal squares when not in use

Pall

• A square of linen, stiffened with starch, cardboard, or plastic
• Set on the chalice to prevent dirt or insects from falling into it

Mitre

• Headdress of bishops, worn at liturgical functions
• Imitates the Old Testament priestly headcovering
• Can be precious, golden, or simple, depending on the occasion