What Is a Chalice Veil?
A chalice veil — also called a chalice cover — is a square piece of fabric used to cover the chalice when it is not in use during Mass. It is part of the complete chalice set, which typically includes the veil, burse, corporal, purificator, and pall.
The veil is a decorative covering used in the Catholic and Orthodox liturgy to cover the chalice before the Eucharistic liturgy begins. Our chalice veils measure 50 × 50 cm (19.7 in), 51 × 51 cm (20.1 in), or 60 × 60 cm (23.6 in), depending on the model.
Liturgical Significance
The chalice veil serves as a sign of reverence for the sacred vessel that will hold the Precious Blood of Christ. By covering the chalice before and after the consecration, the veil reminds us of the hidden nature of Christ's presence in the Eucharist.
The General Instruction of the Roman Missal treats the veiling of the chalice as a praiseworthy practice and notes that the veil may be either the color of the day or white (GIRM, no. 118).
Colors and the Liturgical Year
The veil should have the same color as the celebrant's vestments, so it follows the liturgical color of the season. Our chalice veils come in ecru, red, green, purple, pink-purple, black, and blue-silver tones, some with gold accents. The satin veils with gold embroidery include four liturgical colors: green, red, purple, and ecru.
Materials and Design
Our chalice veils are made of synthetic fabric or satin. The satin models are decorated with gold embroidery and finished with gold lace; most of them come packed in an elegant box. Several veils carry a cross or a Marian symbol in embroidery.
Chalice Veil vs. Chalice Pall
The veil is not the same as the chalice pall. A chalice pall is a stiffened square — traditionally stiffened card covered with white linen — placed over the chalice during Mass to protect the Precious Blood from dust and insects. The veil, by contrast, covers the whole chalice when it is not in use. We stock embroidered chalice palls separately, from $16, including white chalice palls.
Chalice Veil and Burse Sets
A chalice veil can be paired with a matching burse — the stiffened square case in which the folded corporal is carried to and from the altar. Our purple bursa set combines a chalice veil (51 × 51 cm (20.1 in)), a burse (18 × 18 cm), and a maniple (43 cm); all pieces are lined and wrinkle-resistant. You can also complete the chalice with a liturgical burse or a chalice linen set in the same liturgical color. For the altar itself, see our embroidered altar tablecloths.
Caring for a Chalice Veil
For washing, storage, and repair guidance, see our care guides: How to Wash Liturgical Linens, How to Care for Embroidered Vestments, and How to Store Sacred Vessels Safely.
Chalice Veil, Paten, Pall, and Burse: How the Pieces Work Together
The chalice veil is one piece of a larger set of liturgical linens and vessels. The chalice holds the wine; the paten holds the host; the chalice pall is the stiffened square placed over the chalice during Mass; the burse carries the folded corporal; and the corporal itself is spread on the altar under the chalice and paten. The veil covers the chalice and paten before the Eucharistic liturgy begins and may be replaced after Communion.
At the Offertory the priest or altar server removes the veil so the chalice can be prepared. The pall then protects the Precious Blood during the Canon, while the purificator is used for the ablutions after Communion. A complete chalice linen set coordinates the veil, burse, pall, corporal, and purificator in the same fabric and liturgical color.
In the Ordinary Form the veiling of the chalice is a praiseworthy practice rather than a strict requirement (GIRM, no. 118). In the Extraordinary Form it is customary to carry the veiled chalice to the altar and to remove the veil at the Offertory. Either way, the veil is a sign of reverence for the vessels that will hold the Body and Blood of Christ.
When Is the Chalice Veil Used?
Before Mass the chalice, paten, pall, corporal, and purificator are prepared on the credence table. The veil is placed over the chalice and paten, and the burse may rest on top. The veiled chalice is then carried to the altar or placed on it before the celebration begins.
At the Offertory the veil is removed and set aside. After Communion the chalice may be covered again, especially when it remains on the altar or is carried back to the credence table. The veil should match the liturgical color of the day or be white; GIRM 118 allows either option. A sacristy that keeps veils in green, red, purple, and ecru can cover the whole liturgical year without improvising.
Chalice Veil, Pall, Burse, Corporal, and Purificator Compared
| Item | Purpose | Typical size | Material | When used |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chalice veil | Covers the chalice and paten before the Eucharistic liturgy | 50 × 50, 51 × 51, or 60 × 60 cm | Synthetic fabric or satin; gold embroidery optional | Before Mass and, if desired, after Communion |
| Chalice pall | Stiffened square that protects the Precious Blood | About 15–18 cm square | Linen or cotton over a stiff insert | During the Canon and Communion |
| Burse | Holds the folded corporal | About 18 × 18 cm | Fabric matching the veil | Carried to and from the altar |
| Corporal | Square linen on which the chalice and paten rest | About 50–60 cm square | White linen | During Mass |
| Purificator | Wipes the chalice after Communion | About 30 × 50 cm, folded | White linen | Communion and ablutions |
The veil is not the same item as the pall or the burse. The pall is small and stiffened; the burse is a case for the corporal; the veil is the large square cover for the veiled chalice. A matching chalice linen set keeps all the pieces in one liturgical color.
How to Choose a Chalice Veil
Measure the chalice before choosing a veil. A 50 × 50 cm veil suits many parish chalices; a 60 × 60 cm veil gives more coverage for a taller chalice or a wider paten. The veil should cover the chalice and paten without dragging on the altar or catching under the burse.
For ordinary use, a synthetic fabric veil is durable and easy to care for. Satin veils with gold embroidery and lace are a better choice for solemnities, and a matching burse and maniple complete the set. If you serve more than one parish, choose a set in the main liturgical colors rather than a single white veil.
How to Store a Chalice Veil
Store the veil flat or rolled around a padded tube. Avoid hanging it on a sharp hook that can pull the embroidery or leave a crease in the satin. Keep it away from damp sacristy walls and from direct contact with incense residue.
Press the veil on the reverse with a cool iron, using a pressing cloth over embroidery and lace. For washing and stain removal, follow the care guide for the fabric and the general liturgical linen washing guide.
What is a chalice veil called?
It is usually called a chalice veil, or a chalice cover. In the Catholic and Orthodox liturgy it is the decorative square cloth laid over the chalice before the Eucharistic liturgy begins.
What is the cloth that covers the chalice?
The cloth that covers the chalice is the chalice veil — a square fabric cover measuring 50 × 50 cm (19.7 in), 51 × 51 cm (20.1 in), or 60 × 60 cm (23.6 in) in the models we stock. The pall, a stiffened square, is placed over the chalice during Mass.
What color should a chalice veil be?
The veil should match the liturgical color of the celebrant's vestments. The General Instruction of the Roman Missal notes that the chalice veil may be either the color of the day or white (GIRM, no. 118).
What is the difference between a chalice veil and a chalice pall?
The pall is a stiffened square placed over the chalice during Mass to protect the Precious Blood from dust and insects; the veil covers the whole chalice when it is not in use. We stock both — embroidered palls from $16 and chalice veils from $20.
What size is a chalice veil?
In our store, chalice veils measure 50 × 50 cm (19.7 in) or 60 × 60 cm (23.6 in); the veil in the purple burse set measures 51 × 51 cm (20.1 in).
What material are chalice veils made of?
Our chalice veils are made of synthetic fabric or satin. The satin models feature gold embroidery and are finished with gold lace.
Do you sell chalice veils with a matching burse?
Yes — the purple bursa set combines a chalice veil (51 × 51 cm), a burse (18 × 18 cm), and a maniple (43 cm), all lined and wrinkle-resistant. Matching burses are also available separately in our burse collection.
How much do chalice veils cost?
Chalice veils at Best Catholic Shop range from $20 for the classic synthetic-fabric veils to $133 for the complete purple set with veil, burse, and maniple.
Can a chalice veil be embroidered with a cross?
Yes — several of our satin veils are decorated with a cross and gold embroidery, and one synthetic model carries a Marian symbol. The satin cross veils include four liturgical colors: green, red, purple, and ecru.
What is the chalice veil used for?
The chalice veil covers the chalice and paten before the Eucharistic liturgy begins. It is a sign of reverence for the vessels that will hold the Body and Blood of Christ, and it may be the color of the day or white (GIRM, no. 118).
When is the chalice veil removed?
The veil is typically removed at the Offertory, when the priest prepares the chalice. After Communion the chalice may be covered again, depending on local custom and whether the vessels remain on the altar.
Do Orthodox Christians use a chalice veil?
Yes, but the terms differ. The Orthodox liturgy uses the aer, a large cloth that covers both the diskos and the chalice, and a smaller diskos veil. The Latin chalice veil is a square cover for the chalice and paten.
Can a chalice veil be washed?
Yes. Follow the care label and wash the veil gently by hand in lukewarm water with a mild detergent. Rinse thoroughly, air dry, and press on the reverse. For embroidered or satin veils, use a pressing cloth and avoid direct heat on the embroidery.
Related: Chalice veils can be made to match our Marian chasubles — in the same fabric and embroidery.
For the ambo and lectern, see our embroidered lectern and pulpit covers.
The chalice veil completes the traditional set: see our Roman chasubles.
For the reserved ciborium, see our embroidered ciborium veils — 27 designs from $40.
Read more: What Is a Chalice Veil? Definition, Purpose, and GIRM 118.
Related reading: Chalice Veil Colors and the Liturgical Year · Chalice Veil vs. Burse · Chalice Veil Size Guide · Catholic vs. Orthodox Chalice Veil · Humeral veils for Benediction.
