Questions on the wine used at Mass, humeral veil
by Father John Ludwig | October 28, 2024
Q. Is the wine used at Mass supposed to be a particular color? Red wine, white wine, rose-colored wine? Some have suggested that it should be red to symbolize blood. And are there specific kinds of wine that can be used? -M.A., Clive
A. The color is not regulated. It can be white, rose, or red. It must be grape wine, not any other fruit. Also, it is not to have any additives or flavors or carbonation. The Church uses grape wine because that was also the wine that the Lord and his disciples used. Some national conferences of bishops may have some additional regulations or specifications. Also, some dioceses make certain stipulations. The main point is that the wine we use should be pure and unadulterated grape wine. (For what it’s worth, most wine sommeliers would also concur with that.)
Q. What is the term for the special cloth the priest uses during Benediction? - T.C., Anita
A. It’s called a humeral veil. It’s one of the liturgical vestments of the Roman Rite, also used in some Anglican and Lutheran churches. It consists of a piece of cloth, often of silk, draped over the shoulders and down the front. At the ends there are sometimes pockets in the back for hands to go into so that the wearer can hold items without touching them with the hands.
The origins of the humeral veil can be traced to the 7th century, to a smaller cloth called the “Sindon” which was used to cover the hands while holding consecrated objects during Mass. The humeral veil is of the liturgical color of the day on which it is used, or else is white or cloth of gold.
The humeral veil is most often seen during the liturgy of Exposition and Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament. When priests or deacons bless the people with the Blessed Sacrament in the monstrance, they cover their hands with the ends of the veil so that their hands do not touch the monstrance as a mark of respect for the sacred vessel and as an indication that it is Christ sacramentally present in the Eucharistic species who blesses the people and not the minister.
The humeral veil is also seen on Holy Thursday at the Mass of the Lord’s Supper. It is used when the Ciborium containing the Blessed Sacrament is taken in procession to the place of reservation, and again when it is brought back to the altar without solemnity during the Good Friday service.
The humeral veil when used at Benediction is white (gold and silver may also be used for Benediction). On Good Friday, a red humeral veil may be used.
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