What Is a Violet (Purple) Chalice Pall?
A violet chalice pall is a stiffened square placed over the chalice during Mass in Advent and Lent, and at funerals where violet is chosen. It belongs to the chalice linens together with the corporal and the purificator, and it protects the Precious Blood from dust and insects. Traditionally a chalice pall is a square of linen stiffened with card or plastic; our violet and purple palls are made of 100% cotton or jacquard fabric, with a stiffening panel inside. The collection counts 13 embroidered designs in 17 × 17 cm, 18 × 18 cm and 20 × 20 cm, priced from $16 to $20.
Violet vs Purple: Is There a Difference?
In the liturgy the proper term is violet — the penitential color of Advent and Lent. In the shop, several palls are listed as purple; it is the same deep blue-purple family, and many sacristies use the two names interchangeably. If you are looking for a purple chalice pall for Advent or Lent, this violet collection is the right place: the designs, sizes and prices are the same. The color is not a different liturgical color — it is the same violet under a different name.
When Is a Violet Chalice Pall Used?
A violet pall is used whenever Mass is celebrated in violet vestments: throughout Advent, throughout Lent, at Reconciliation services, and at Masses for the Dead where violet is chosen. The General Instruction of the Roman Missal (no. 346) directs that violet is used in Advent and Lent and may also be worn in Offices and Masses for the Dead. In the United States, white or black may also be used at funerals, but violet remains a common choice.
Because violet appears twice in the liturgical year, a violet pall is a working piece rather than an occasional one. Many sacristies keep two or three: one for the main chalice, one as a spare, and one for a smaller chalice used at weekday Masses. If your parish also uses black or white at funerals, see the black chalice palls and white chalice palls.
Materials: Cotton, Jacquard and Brocade
The 13 violet and purple palls are not all made of the same fabric. Ten are 100% cotton, two are jacquard, and one is finished with a gold brocade lace trim. The cotton palls are soft, matte and easy to care for; the jacquard palls have a woven pattern and a removable stiffening panel; the brocade-trimmed pall has a golden IHS monogram and a decorative edge. The table below shows the spread.
| Material | Designs | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 100% cotton | 10 | Several designs have delicate lace edging; soft matte finish. |
| Jacquard fabric | 2 | Woven pattern, gold liturgical embroidery, removable stiffening panel. |
| Brocade trim | 1 | Golden IHS monogram and gold brocade lace trim; see the product page for the base fabric. |
Sizes: 17, 18 and 20 cm
Most violet palls are 18 × 18 cm (7.1 × 7.1 in), the common American size. Four designs are 20 × 20 cm (7.9 × 7.9 in) for wider chalices, and one is 17 × 17 cm (6.7 × 6.7 in). The rule is simple: the pall must cover the outer rim of the chalice completely and lie flat, with no overhang that could catch on the veil or on the priest's hands. If your chalice has a wide bowl or a decorative rim, choose the 20 cm size.
| Size | Designs | Inches | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| 17 × 17 cm | 1 | 6.7 × 6.7 in | Smaller chalices and travel sets. |
| 18 × 18 cm | 8 | 7.1 × 7.1 in | Standard parish chalices. |
| 20 × 20 cm | 4 | 7.9 × 7.9 in | Wide bowls and decorative rims. |
The Stiffening Insert and How to Care for It
Every pall is built around a stiffener — a stiff square of card or plastic that gives the fabric its flat shape. On the two jacquard designs (the purple cross and the purple pall with gold trim) the panel slides out from the bottom before washing. The other palls are stiffened as well; check the individual product page before washing, because not every design has a removable panel. Never force a panel out: if the description does not say it is removable, treat the pall as a fixed piece and spot-clean it instead.
Designs and Symbols
The collection carries the symbols most often found on violet palls: the IHS monogram, the cross, the Fish, the chalice with grapes, the P with candles, the P with the Sacred Heart and Crown of Thorns, and Jesus with a crown. One design is plain violet. IHS — the monogram of the name of Jesus — appears on two palls, including one with the boat of Peter. The cross appears in four versions, from a simple embroidered cross to a jacquard cross and a cross with gold trim.
| Design | Designs | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| IHS monogram | 2 | Includes IHS with the boat of Peter. |
| Cross | 4 | Includes jacquard and gold-trim crosses. |
| Fish | 2 | Early Christian symbol of Christ. |
| Chalice and grapes | 1 | Eucharistic motif. |
| P with candles | 1 | Monogram of Christ with candles. |
| P with Sacred Heart and Crown of Thorns | 1 | Passion and Eucharistic devotion. |
| Jesus with crown | 1 | Christ the King motif. |
| Plain violet | 1 | Understated, no motif. |
Chalice Pall vs Funeral Pall
The word “pall” names two different things. A chalice pall is the small stiffened square — about 17–20 cm — that covers the chalice at Mass. A funeral pall is the large cloth, often 8 × 12 feet or more, that covers a casket at a Catholic funeral; it is a sign of baptismal equality. If you are looking for the cloth that covers a coffin, a chalice pall is not the right item. If you are looking for the square that covers the chalice, you are in the right place. The same distinction applies to the pallium, the woolen band worn by archbishops, which is a third, unrelated item.
How to Choose a Violet Pall
Choose the size first: measure the outer rim of your chalice, then pick 17, 18 or 20 cm. Choose the material second: cotton for a soft matte finish, jacquard for a woven pattern and a removable panel, brocade trim for a more decorative edge. Choose the design third: a cross or IHS for ordinary parish use, the Fish or the chalice with grapes for a Eucharistic focus, the Sacred Heart for Passiontide and funerals. If you need a coordinated set for the whole year, the full chalice pall collection also carries sets of four and six pieces, and the chalice linen sets combine the pall with the corporal, purificator and veil.
Care and Washing
Remove the stiffening panel if the product page says it is removable. Hand-wash the cover in lukewarm water with a mild detergent, rinse thoroughly, and iron while slightly damp on the reverse. Do not use bleach or starch. Store the pall flat, not folded, so the square keeps its shape. If the pall has touched the Precious Blood, rinse it first in a sacrarium or over a drain that goes into the ground, as the Church asks for linens that have been in contact with the Eucharist. For step-by-step instructions, see our guides to washing liturgical linens and what a chalice pall is.
For Priests, Sacristans and Parishes
The pall is handled by the priest at Mass and prepared by the sacristan or altar server who dresses the chalice. A parish that uses violet through Advent and Lent, and again at funerals, will usually want more than one piece: a main pall, a spare, and a smaller size for a second chalice. The 13 designs in this collection make it possible to keep one look for the main altar and a simpler piece for weekday Masses. For a coordinated sacristy, pair the violet pall with the corporal, the purificator and the chalice veil, or order them together in a chalice linen set. A violet pall also makes a practical gift for an ordination, a new parish, or a sacristy that needs a spare.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a violet chalice pall?
A violet chalice pall is a stiffened square placed over the chalice during Mass in Advent and Lent, and at funerals where violet is chosen. It protects the Precious Blood from dust and insects and belongs to the chalice linens together with the corporal and the purificator.
Is violet the same as purple?
In the liturgy the proper term is violet. Several of our palls are listed as purple — it is the same deep blue-purple family. The designs, sizes and prices are the same, so a purple chalice pall for Advent or Lent can be ordered from this violet collection.
When is a violet chalice pall used?
Violet is used throughout Advent and Lent, at Reconciliation services, and at Masses for the Dead where violet is chosen. The General Instruction of the Roman Missal (no. 346) directs that violet is used in Advent and Lent and may also be worn in Offices and Masses for the Dead.
Can a violet chalice pall be used at a funeral?
Yes. Violet is one of the colors permitted for funerals and Masses for the Dead. In the United States, white or black may also be chosen instead; if your parish uses black at Requiem Masses, see our black chalice palls.
What size violet chalice pall do I need?
Measure the outer rim of your chalice. Our violet palls come in 17 × 17 cm (6.7 in), 18 × 18 cm (7.1 in) and 20 × 20 cm (7.9 in). The 18 cm size is the standard for most parish chalices; choose 20 cm for a wide bowl or a decorative rim.
What are violet chalice palls made of?
Ten of the 13 designs are 100% cotton, two are jacquard fabric, and one is finished with a gold brocade lace trim. The cotton palls are soft and matte; the jacquard palls have a woven pattern and a removable stiffening panel.
Do violet chalice palls have a removable insert?
The two jacquard designs — the purple cross and the purple pall with gold trim — have a stiffening panel that slides out from the bottom. The other palls are stiffened as well, but not every design has a removable panel; check the individual product page before washing.
Can a violet chalice pall be washed and ironed?
On the two jacquard designs with a removable panel, the cover can be washed and ironed after the panel is removed. For the cotton palls, hand-wash in lukewarm water with mild detergent, rinse well, and iron while slightly damp on the reverse. Do not use bleach or starch.
What symbols are embroidered on violet chalice palls?
The collection includes the IHS monogram, the cross, the Fish, the chalice with grapes, the P with candles, the P with the Sacred Heart and Crown of Thorns, Jesus with a crown, and one plain violet design.
What is the difference between a chalice pall and a funeral pall?
A chalice pall is the small stiffened square — about 17–20 cm — that covers the chalice at Mass. A funeral pall is the large cloth that covers a casket at a Catholic funeral. They share a name but are different items.
Is a chalice pall the same as a chalice veil?
No. The chalice veil is the large draped cloth that covers the whole chalice outside the Eucharistic Prayer. The pall is the small stiffened square that rests on the cup during Mass. Both can be ordered together in a chalice linen set.
Who uses a violet chalice pall?
The priest uses the pall at Mass; the sacristan or altar server prepares it when dressing the chalice. It is also a practical gift for an ordination, a new parish, or a sacristy that needs a spare.
Are violet chalice palls available as a set?
This collection lists the 13 violet and purple palls individually. The full chalice pall collection also carries coordinated sets of four and six pieces for the whole liturgical year, and the chalice linen sets combine the pall with the corporal, purificator and veil.
Related reading: What Is a Chalice Pall? Meaning, Sizes, and Use at Mass, What Is a Chalice Veil?, Chalice Veil Size Guide, Chalice Veil Colors and the Liturgical Year, and Purificator vs Corporal vs Finger Towel.
