The Resurrection of the Vesperale
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August 18, 2024The Vesperale (“evening”) Covering, usually wool felt, is placed, protectively, upon the Altar between Masses in order to stave off dust & candle wax. They, moreimportantly, indicate that the Altar is at rest and the Sanctuary “slumbers.”Our newly commissioned cloths are embellished with “Have Mercy on Us” (Sacred Heart); Pray for Us” (St. Joseph) and for the High Altar “Christ Our God to Earth Descendeth, Our Full Homage to Demand” and were chain stitched on an 1874 machine recently put back into service.At the 5-minute bell the servers light the candles then fold the felt from each end toward the center, like a scroll. The Vesperale is them removed to the Sacristy forthe duration of Mass and is replaced before the servers extinguish the candles.--Parish Bulletin, August 18, 2024.Image: "Vesperales." ©2024 St. Martha's Guild, St. John Cantius Church, Chicago, IL. For more information about Vesperales, please visit: https://www.stmarthasguild.com/vesperales
