A Glossary of Ecclesiastical Terms

The Papal Nuncio, Archbishop Antonio Mennini, blows inside an Amphora containing the Holy Oil at the Ordinariate Chrism Mass.

Amphora

An Amphora is a vessel used to store the Holy Oil used during the Chrism Mass on Maundy Thursday, the Thursday in Holy Week, which is consecrated and later used to anoint Catechumens, those who were about to become Christians, in Holy Baptism, to anoint the sick and at ordinations. Amphorae may also be used to store wine used at Holy Mass. Its origins are ancient. An Amphora - plural: amphorae - was a type of container of a characteristic shape and size, originating from as early as the Neolithic Period. Amphorae were used in vast numbers for the transport and storage of various products, both liquid and dry, but mostly for wine.

Altar frontal in tempera paint on wood panel and stucco depicting the life of St Martin - Catalonia, Spain c. 1250

Antependium

An antependium is the hanging in front of an altar, lectern or pulpit. It is usually made of textile but on occasions metalwork, stone or other material. Specifically, an antependium hangs down in front of whatever it covers, and is to be distinguished from the altar linens which are used in the service of the Eucharist, and an altar cloth which covers the top of the altar table (mensa). In earliest times an antependium was carved with Our Lord represented in the centre accompanied by angels, while the hand of the Father appeared above His head. This developed into fabric frontals which are ornamented either in the weave of the fabric, with embroidery or with orfrey braids which covers the entire front of the altar.

Gothic and Latin Chasubles

Chasuble

The name Chasuble is derived from the Latin for little house, is the outermost liturgical vestment worn over the alb and stole and changes color to reflect the Liturgical Year. Historically the liturgical garment represents the yoke of Christ and is a symbol of charity. There have been many forms of chasubles over the centuries. The earliest form of liturgical chasuble resembles the so-called monastic style, a full-cut roughly oval garment often falling to the celebrant's shoe tops and at times furnished with a hood. One of the most dominant styles was the so-called fiddleback, which appeared in the late 16th century.

This Cresset Stone has thirty cups and was used in the Priory Church at Brecon in Powys, Mid Wales.

Cresset Stone

A Cresset Stone is a medieval method of lighting, often found in monks' dormatories to allow the monks to see where they were going on dark mornings when they awoke to say the Monastic Vigil Offices. They were often a carved a hollowed-out stone which was filled with oil, into with a wick was placed. The word cresset comes from the old French craicet or craisset, a cup of metal or other material, fastened to a pole to form a portable lantern. It was also a common method of lighting churches in medieval times.

Cardinal Vincent Nichols, Archbishop of Westminster, with his crosier.

Crosier

The Crosier is the pastoral staff of a bishop, shaped like a shepherd's crook as a bishop is the shepherd of the people of his diocese. It is a sign of his pastoral function within his diocese. The pointed ferrule at the base symbolizes the obligation of the bishop to goad the spiritually lazy, while the crook at the top, his obligation to draw back those who stray from the faith, and the staff itself, his obligation to stand as a firm support for the faithful.

The Facsia as worn by Pope Benedict XIV, a Cardinal and a Priest

Fascia

The fascia is a sash worn by clerics and seminarians with the cassock in the Roman Catholic Church, in the Anglican Church, and, in certain cases, in Methodism. It is not worn as a belt but is placed above the waist between the navel and the breastbone (sternum). The ends that hang down are worn on the left side of the body and placed a little forward but not completely off the left hip. The Pope's fascia is white and the fascia worn by cardinals is scarlet-red watered silk. Fascia of purple watered silk are worn by nuncios within the territories assigned to them. Black fascia are worn by priests, deacons, seminarians, and acolytes.

Bishop Michael Campbell OSA, Bishop of Lancaster, at St Pius X Prep School.

Ferrule

Technically a Ferrule, corruption of Latin viriola a small bracelet of ferrum, iron, is a narrow circular ring or cap made from metal, which strengthens the end of a handle, stick, or tube and prevents it from splitting. Rubber Ferrules can be found at the end of walking sticks. In ecclesiastical terms, a Ferrule forms part of a bishop's crosier. The pointed ferrule at the base of the crosier symbolizes the obligation of the prelate to goad the spiritually lazy, and the crook at the top, his obligation to draw back those who stray from the faith.

Bishop Wim Eijk, Metropolitan Archbishop of Utrecht, and some canons wearing mozzettas over rochets trimmed with lace

Mozzetta

An elbow length cape which falls on the shoulders and is worn over a rochet as a sign of authority. One of the traditional liturgical vestments for some priests, canons, abbots, bishops, archbishops, cardinals, and the pope when in choir dress, typically worn during public prayer and when not celebrating or concelebrating the Eucharist, the color of the mozzetta matches the rank of the cleric – purple or amaranth for bishops and archbishops and scarlet for cardinals, for example.