What Is a White Chalice Pall?
A white chalice pall is a small stiffened square that rests on top of the chalice during the celebration of Mass. Its task is practical: it covers the cup and keeps dust and insects away from the Precious Blood. The classic pall is a square of linen, traditionally white, stiffened with starch, cardboard or plastic (EWTN). White is the natural color of the pall because the pall belongs to the chalice linens — the same family as the corporal and the purificator. Our white chalice palls are embroidered with crosses, IHS monograms, Marian symbols and other sacred designs; all 24 are cut as 17, 18 or 20 cm squares.
Why Is the Chalice Pall White?
White is the traditional color of the chalice pall because the pall belongs to the linen family of the altar — the same family as the corporal and the purificator. The classic pall is a square of linen, traditionally white, stiffened with starch, cardboard or plastic, as the EWTN Catholic Q&A on the chalice pall explains. Even palls finished in a seasonal color can keep a square of white linen attached to the underside (EWTN). Our white palls keep the classic look: white fabric with embroidery on top; several designs are finished with white lace or gold brocade lace.
When Is a White Chalice Pall Used?
In the Roman Rite, white vestments are worn in the Easter and Christmas seasons; on celebrations of the Lord other than his Passion; on feasts of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Holy Angels, and saints who were not martyrs; and on All Saints (November 1), the Nativity of St. John the Baptist (June 24), St. John the Evangelist (December 27), the Chair of St. Peter (February 22) and the Conversion of St. Paul (January 25) — as set out in the General Instruction of the Roman Missal (GIRM, no. 346). White is also the largest color group in our pall collection — 24 white designs, compared with 19 green, 13 violet and 12 red palls.
Sizes of White Chalice Palls
Our white chalice palls come in three square sizes: 17 × 17 cm (6.7 in), 18 × 18 cm (7.1 in) and 20 × 20 cm (7.9 in). The 17 cm group counts 6 designs, the 18 cm group 8 designs, and the 20 cm group 10 designs — the largest selection of the three. For a safe fit, the pall should cover the chalice opening completely and rest flat on the rim.
Materials, Stiffening and Embroidery
15 of the 24 designs are made of 100% cotton; 2 more use jacquard fabric. The embroidery on several designs is worked in metalized thread or gold liturgical embroidery, and the edges are finished with white lace or gold brocade lace. 4 designs have a stiffening panel that can be pulled out from the bottom — the Crowned Heart, the jacquard cross, the gold IHS and the cross with gold trim — and these palls can be washed and ironed.
White Chalice Pall Designs and Symbols
The designs embroidered on our white palls include the IHS monogram, the cross, the Marian “M”, the Crowned Heart, the Lamb, the “Fish”, Alpha and Omega, the Sacred Heart with the Crown of Thorns, and the P with grapes. IHS — the monogram of the name of Jesus — is the largest group, with 8 designs; crosses come next, in 6 styles including a jacquard model and a cross with gold trim. 3 palls carry a Marian symbol for the Blessed Virgin Mary, and the Lamb (Agnus Dei) and “Fish” designs are traditional images of Christ.
White Chalice Pall Prices
The 24 white chalice palls are priced from $15 to $25. The table shows how the 24 designs spread across the price points — most of them (21 of 24) sit between $16 and $20.
| Price | Designs |
|---|---|
| $15 | 2 |
| $16 | 7 |
| $18 | 4 |
| $19 | 1 |
| $20 | 9 |
| $25 | 1 |
Caring for a White Chalice Pall
A white pall is easy to keep clean. On the 4 designs with a removable stiffening panel — Crowned Heart, jacquard cross, gold IHS, cross with gold trim — the panel can be pulled out from the bottom, and the product descriptions note that these palls can be washed and ironed. For step-by-step instructions on liturgical linens, see our guides: How to Wash Liturgical Linens and the complete liturgical linen care guide.
White Pall, Chalice Veil, Purificator and Corporal: How the Linens Work Together
A chalice pall is never used alone. Around it sits a small family of altar linens and covers. The chalice veil covers the chalice before the Eucharistic liturgy begins; the corporal is the white square spread on the altar, under the chalice and paten; the purificator wipes the chalice after Communion; and the pall itself rests on the cup during the celebration. The veil and the pall are different items: the veil covers the whole chalice before the Eucharistic liturgy begins, while the pall is the small stiffened square used during Mass. All of these pieces — together with the burse, which carries the folded corporal — can be ordered as one coordinated chalice linen set. Our full pall collection carries palls in white, ecru, red, green, violet, black, pink, gold and blue.
Frequently Asked Questions About White Chalice Palls
What is a pall in church?
In the church, “pall” usually means the chalice pall — the stiffened square placed on the chalice at Mass (Latin: palla). The same word also names the funeral pall, the large cloth that covers a casket at a Catholic funeral; the two are different items.
What size white chalice pall do I need?
Our white palls measure 17 × 17 cm, 18 × 18 cm or 20 × 20 cm. Measure the rim of your chalice — the pall should span the opening fully and sit flat. The 20 cm size is the largest group in the collection, with 10 designs.
What are white chalice palls made of?
Most designs — 15 of 24 — are made of 100% cotton; 2 use jacquard fabric. Several are decorated with metalized-thread embroidery and trimmed with white lace or gold brocade lace, and 4 designs have a stiffening panel that slides out from the bottom for washing.
Can a white chalice pall be washed and ironed?
Yes — on the 4 designs with a removable stiffening panel (Crowned Heart, jacquard cross, gold IHS, cross with gold trim), the product descriptions note that the pall can be washed and ironed; slide the panel out first. See our liturgical linen washing guide for step-by-step care.
What symbols are embroidered on white chalice palls?
The white collection includes the IHS monogram, crosses in several styles, the Marian “M”, the Crowned Heart, the Lamb (Agnus Dei), the “Fish”, Alpha and Omega, the Sacred Heart with the Crown of Thorns, and the P with grapes. IHS is the largest group, with 8 designs.
Is a white chalice pall the same as a chalice veil?
No. The chalice veil is the large cloth that covers the whole chalice before the Eucharistic liturgy begins; the pall is the small stiffened square that rests on the cup during Mass. We stock chalice veils and palls separately, and both can be ordered together in a chalice linen set.
