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.
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.
For the ambo and lectern, see our embroidered lectern and pulpit covers.
The chalice veil completes the traditional set: see our Roman chasubles.
