The Vested Chalice

Some of you may be accustomed to seeing the Chalice “vested” as it sits on the altar during Eucharist.  This refers to a tradition dating to medieval times when a veil was placed over the Chalice and Paten (plate) until ready to be used at Communion.  The veil protected the sacred vessels from dust and flies that were very prevalent in the churches of that time, but it was also a sign of the honor given to the vessels and the mystery and awe that is the Bread and Wine.  Many, if not most, liturgical churches follow this custom.

There is no great objection to this tradition, but the visible Chalice and Paten are powerful symbols, perhaps too powerful to place under a veil.  They are symbols that continually invite us to the Lord’s Table, the apex of our worship in the Eucharist.