What Is a Black Chalice Pall?
A black chalice pall is a stiffened square of fabric placed over the chalice cup during Mass. Like every chalice pall, it covers the Precious Blood and protects it from dust and insects; the black color gives it the sober tone proper to Masses for the Dead. It is not the large funeral pall that covers a coffin — the chalice pall is a small liturgical linen, usually 16–20 cm square, used at the altar.
Our black collection includes 12 embroidered designs in two sizes. Nine palls measure 20 × 20 cm (7.9 × 7.9 in); three measure 16 × 16 cm (6.3 × 6.3 in). Prices range from $16.50 to $20. Most are 100% cotton; three are jacquard with a gold brocade border and metallic-thread embroidery.
When Is Black Used in the Catholic Church?
Black belongs to the Masses for the Dead. The General Instruction of the Roman Missal (no. 346) provides that violet is used in Advent and Lent and may be worn at Masses for the Dead, and that in the United States white or black may also be used at funerals and other Offices and Masses for the Dead. Black is the traditional Requiem color; in the older Roman Missal it was also worn on Good Friday. Many parishes bring out black vestments and black chalice linens on All Souls' Day, November 2, and at funerals throughout the year.
Local custom matters. In some dioceses black is common; in others violet or white is preferred. The safe rule is to follow the vestments used by the celebrant and the liturgical norms of the place.
Black Chalice Palls for Requiem Masses, Funerals, and All Souls' Day
A Requiem Mass is the Mass offered for a deceased person. The black pall helps the altar linens match the black vestments and the mood of the rite. It is also appropriate at funeral Masses where black is used, at Masses for the Dead, and on All Souls' Day. For parishes that serve many funerals, a small stock of black palls is practical: one can be in use while another is being laundered.
If your parish normally uses violet at funerals, see our violet chalice palls. If white is customary, see the white chalice palls. The full range is in the chalice pall collection.
Two Sizes: 20 × 20 cm and 16 × 16 cm
Size is mostly a matter of the chalice and the local sacristy's preference. The 20 × 20 cm (7.9 × 7.9 in) pall is the standard size for most parish chalices and covers the cup generously. The 16 × 16 cm (6.3 × 6.3 in) pall is a smaller option for compact chalices, travel sets, and chapels where space is tight.
Both sizes are stiffened. The stiffening keeps the pall flat and square on the chalice, so it does not sag into the cup. On the jacquard models the stiffening panel can be removed from the bottom before washing.
Cotton and Jacquard: Choosing the Right Material
Most of our black palls are 100% cotton. Cotton is matte, crisp, and traditional; it takes embroidery cleanly and is easy to care for. The three jacquard palls (16 × 16 cm) have a patterned woven ground, a gold brocade border, and embroidery worked in metallic thread. They are a little more decorative and suit solemn Requiem Masses and funerals.
Traditionally the chalice pall is made of linen. Our black collection uses cotton and jacquard because they hold a crisp edge, wash well, and keep their shape. If you are looking for the traditional linen look, compare the white and ecru collections; for black, cotton is the closest everyday choice.
Symbols Embroidered on Black Chalice Palls
The symbols on a black pall are not decoration for its own sake. They point to the Eucharist and to the hope of the resurrection:
- IHS — the monogram of the Holy Name of Jesus. Several of our black palls carry it, including one with ears of wheat and one with a decorative ornament.
- The Jerusalem Cross — five crosses, one large and four small, a symbol of the Holy Land and of the Church spread to the four corners of the earth.
- Alpha and Omega — the beginning and the end, a reference to Christ in the Book of Revelation.
- The Lamb of God — the Agnus Dei, the sacrificial Lamb of the Eucharist.
- The cross — a simple embroidered cross or a decorative cross with gold rays, the central sign of the Passion and Resurrection.
The Pall Cover and the Stiffening Insert
A chalice pall has two parts: the fabric cover and the stiff insert. The cover is the embroidered square; the insert is the firm panel that gives it shape. On some palls the insert is sewn in; on others it slides out from the bottom. A removable insert makes washing easier and helps the pall dry flat. When you order a black pall, check whether the insert is removable if you plan to wash it often.
How to Care for a Black Chalice Pall
Remove the stiffening panel if it is removable. Wash the fabric gently, following the care label, and avoid bleach and harsh detergents. Rinse well, press the water out without twisting, and dry flat. Iron on the reverse while the fabric is slightly damp; a pressing cloth protects the embroidery and the metallic thread. Store the pall flat or rolled, not folded sharply, so the embroidery does not crease.
For more detailed instructions, see our guide How to Wash Liturgical Linens.
Black Palls and the Chalice Linens
At Mass the pall is used with the other altar linens: the corporal under the chalice, the purificator for wiping the cup, and the chalice veil over the vessels before the offertory. For parishes that serve many funerals, a coordinated chalice linen set keeps the sacristy organized and the altar consistent.
If you are unsure what the difference is between the pall, the purificator, and the corporal, see Purificator vs Corporal vs Finger Towel.
Buying Guide for Parishes and Priests
Choose the size to match your chalice: 20 × 20 cm for most parish chalices, 16 × 16 cm for smaller cups and travel sets. Choose the material by how the pall will be used: cotton for everyday Requiem Masses and easy care, jacquard for more solemn occasions. Choose the symbol to match the vestments and the church's iconography; IHS and the Jerusalem Cross are the most common on black palls. For a parish, order at least two so one can be in use while the other is cleaned. A black pall also makes a practical gift for a priest, a sacristan, or a parish starting a funeral ministry.
If you need a different color, the full pall collection includes white, red, violet, green, rose, gold, blue, and ecru. For a complete set, start with the chalice linen sets.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Is a Black Chalice Pall?
A black chalice pall is a stiffened square of fabric, usually 16–20 cm, placed over the chalice cup during Mass. It protects the Precious Blood from dust and insects and is finished in black for Requiem Masses, funerals, and All Souls' Day.
When Is a Black Chalice Pall Used?
At Requiem Masses, funeral Masses where black vestments are used, Masses for the Dead, and on All Souls' Day. In the older Roman Missal black was also used on Good Friday.
Is Black Still Allowed in the Catholic Church?
Yes. The General Instruction of the Roman Missal allows violet at Masses for the Dead and, in the United States, also white or black at funerals and other Offices and Masses for the Dead. Black remains the traditional Requiem color.
What Does GIRM 346 Say About Black Vestments?
GIRM 346 gives violet as the color for Advent, Lent, and Masses for the Dead, and permits white or black in the United States at funerals and Masses for the Dead. Local custom and the diocesan norms should be followed.
What Is the Difference Between a Chalice Pall and a Funeral Pall?
A chalice pall is a small square, 16–20 cm, that covers the chalice at Mass. A funeral pall is the large cloth that covers the coffin. They share the word "pall" but serve different purposes.
What Sizes Are Black Chalice Palls?
Our black palls come in 20 × 20 cm (7.9 × 7.9 in) and 16 × 16 cm (6.3 × 6.3 in). The larger size fits most parish chalices; the smaller size suits compact chalices and travel sets.
What Materials Are Black Chalice Palls Made Of?
Nine of our black palls are 100% cotton; three are jacquard with a gold brocade border and metallic-thread embroidery. All are stiffened; the jacquard models have a removable panel for washing.
What Symbols Are Embroidered on Black Chalice Palls?
IHS, the Jerusalem Cross, Alpha and Omega, the Lamb of God, and decorative crosses. The symbol should match the vestments and the church's iconography.
Does a Black Chalice Pall Have a Removable Insert?
Some do. The jacquard 16 × 16 cm palls have a stiffening panel that can be removed from the bottom before washing. Check the product description for each pall.
How Do You Clean and Iron a Black Chalice Pall?
Remove the insert if possible, wash gently, avoid bleach, dry flat, and iron on the reverse with a pressing cloth. Follow the care label and do not iron directly over metallic embroidery.
Can a Black Chalice Pall Be Used on All Souls' Day?
Yes. All Souls' Day, November 2, is one of the most common occasions for black vestments and black chalice linens in parishes that use the traditional Requiem color.
What Should a Black Pall Be Paired With at Requiem Mass?
With a corporal, a purificator, and a chalice veil. A coordinated chalice linen set keeps the altar consistent and makes storage easier for parishes that serve many funerals.
Are Black Chalice Palls a Good Gift for a Priest?
Yes. A black pall is a practical gift for a priest, a sacristan, or a parish starting a funeral ministry, especially when paired with a chalice linen set.
Related Reading
Learn more in What Is a Chalice Pall? Meaning, Sizes, and Use at Mass, How to Wash Liturgical Linens, and Purificator vs Corporal vs Finger Towel.
