From Father Zuhlsdorf’s blog, "What the Prayer Really Says"
Perhaps Fr. Selvester can explain the use of the embroidered pillow. I’m guessing the linen is either a corporal or pall? Palls (7" x 7") are placed over the chalice during communion and function to cover the Eucharistic elements during communion. Corporals (18" x 18") are used to catch any crumbs from the host during consecration. (Corporal < Corpus = body)
http://wdtprs.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/20121014-140016.jpg
Most Rev. Alexander K. Sample, Bishop of Marquette, MI. About his Coat of Arms (official web site).
Cheers!
—Guy
I’m intrigued by the way that the tressure has been depicted. Is this typical? I would have thought it would border the entire upper half of his personal arms.
The linen almost certainly is a pall. A corporal typically has a cross in the center and isn’t embroidered, especially for the old Tridentine mass since there’d be a concern that consecrated particles would get stuck in it and the rite calls for the corporal to be scraped.
David Pope;96134 wrote:
I’m intrigued by the way that the tressure has been depicted. Is this typical? I would have thought it would border the entire upper half of his personal arms.
It is generally customary for things like bordures, orles, and tressures to be cut off at the edge of an impalement, or if a chief is superimposed. The desirability of this is debatable at best, but it does have a pedigree.
Guy Power;96132 wrote:
Perhaps Fr. Selvester can explain the use of the embroidered pillow.
I assumed it must be a sort of portable kneeler, no?
The pillow is for the sedilla, or seat, upon which the celebrant of Mass sits. In former times it almost always took the form of a bench with a low back. The idea of this pillow being to fit in the small of the celebrant’s back. It doesn’t entirely make sense here because a bishop celebrating outside his cathedral would be seated on either a specially erected throne for the occasion or, as was the case at this Mass, on a faldstool which has no back. Still, I suppose it was given to him as a gesture. There is a company that makes these and they sent me a complimentary one which they also use as part of their advertising on their website. I keep it in my library and do not use it at Mass.
http://klavecentesca.com/images/kcFatherSylvesterArms.png
The linens are for the chalice and altar and are used during the Mass. But, it is worth noting that since they come into contact with the Sacred Species (i.e. the consecrated bread and wine which Catholics believe are the True Presence of Christ) it is not appropriate for them to be marked with such personal symbols as a coat of arms.
There is a great debate about whether or not it is even appropriate to put coats of arms on vestments for the same reason. It is argued by many that the sacred character of such items supersedes personal marks of identification. I’m not sure I agree with that 100%. I believe that some items are appropriate to have heraldry on them and other are not. I don’t think, however, that the linens like the corporal, the purificator, the pall and even the finger towel should be marked with an individual’s coat of arms.
All that being said…pretty stuff. The company that makes the custom embroidered stuff (and, no, I don’t get a kickback) can be found here:
Dcgb7f;96135 wrote:
The linen almost certainly is a pall. A corporal typically has a cross in the center and isn’t embroidered, especially for the old Tridentine mass since there’d be a concern that consecrated particles would get stuck in it and the rite calls for the corporal to be scraped.
Daniel, in the Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite or sometimes, more simply, just the "old Mass" the corporal isn’t really scraped. Rather, the celebrant simply moves the paten’s edge along the corporal to pick up any particles of the Host that may be lying there. But, it’s more of a ritual gesture rather than a functional one. I say Mass in that Form every Sunday and, believe me, embroidery on the corporal wouldn’t impede it. However, I agree with you that the more fanciful the corporal’s decoration the more likely particles could become stuck onto it so it wouldn’t be a good idea to embroider a corporal elaborately and this photo is certainly a pall.
gselvester;96143 wrote:
Daniel, in the Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite or sometimes, more simply, just the "old Mass" the corporal isn’t really scraped. Rather, the celebrant simply moves the paten’s edge along the corporal to pick up any particles of the Host that may be lying there. But, it’s more of a ritual gesture rather than a functional one. I say Mass in that Form every Sunday and, believe me, embroidery on the corporal wouldn’t impede it. However, I agree with you that the more fanciful the corporal’s decoration the more likely particles could become stuck onto it so it wouldn’t be a good idea to embroider a corporal elaborately and this photo is certainly a pall.
Thank you, Father, for going over that for everyone. I was aware of this being a ritual gesture (I’ve subdeaconed, MCed, and served enough EF masses to have had the chance to observe the whole ritual up close.), but I have seen some priests go at rather roughly… the poor altar sounded like a hammering board. In the interest of keeping my reply brief and for the sake of those who have never seen or will never see the ritual, I opted for the simplistic language a casual lay observer might likely use to describe this ritual gesture.
gselvester;96142 wrote:
...All that being said…pretty stuff. The company that makes the custom embroidered stuff (and, no, I don’t get a kickback) can be found here:
Thanks for the explanations, Father. By the way, I notice that another denizen of arcane knowledge (heraldry) has a sedilia back pillow:
Dcgb7f;96144 wrote:
Thank you, Father, for going over that for everyone.
You’re welcome.
Dcgb7f;96144 wrote:
...but I have seen some priests go at rather roughly… the poor altar sounded like a hammering board.
Then they’re doing it wrong.
Thank you Father Guy and Daniel. As a protestant, Roman Catholic traditions often baffle me and I’m always grateful for your informative explanations.
Might one ask how much such a pillow might cost? It might be a nice gift for the parish church, adorned with the parish arms…
Claus K Berntsen;96162 wrote:
Might one ask how much such a pillow might cost? It might be a nice gift for the parish church, adorned with the parish arms…
Their services (see item 4 on the page)
Notwithstanding the cost of the article you purchase, the first embroidered arms costs $100; thereafter:
an additional $20 for priestly arms
for papal arms add $60 for each additional embroidery
for cardinal’s arms add $50 for each additional embroidery
for archbishop’s arms add $40 for each additional embroidery
for bishop’s arms add $30 for each additional embroidery
for priestly arms add $20 for each additional embroidery
Quote:
By the way, I notice that another denizen of arcane knowledge (heraldry) has a sedilia back pillow:
Yes, I too received a free sample. Actually, the pillow seems a little small for a back support (or is my back too large to be supported by such a pillow?). I thought the pillow more likely to be used as a Missal stand, to support the book on the altar, though I haven’t tried it for that yet.
It’s meant to fit into the small of your back while seated on a sedilla.
