Not a Chore, but an Offering of Service to God
“Let all things be done decently and in order.” – 1 Corinthians 14:40, AKJV
Preparing the Sanctuary for Holy Mass is not a chore to be completed before worship begins. It is itself an act of service and an offering to God.
The man entrusted with this responsibility is preparing the place where the People of God will gather to worship Jesus and where the Holy Eucharist will be celebrated. Every action therefore matters—cleaning, arranging, vesting the Lord’s Table, preparing the candles, placing the sacred vessels and making ready the Lavabo.
Nothing should be done casually. There should be no blemish in anything we knowingly do in preparing for worship.
WHAT JESUS READ
The reverence with which we prepare the Sanctuary has its roots in the Scriptures that Jesus Himself read.
God commanded Moses:
“And let them make me a sanctuary; that I may dwell among them.” – Exodus 25:8, AKJV
The Tabernacle was not prepared carelessly. Its furnishings, vessels, lamps and appointments were prescribed for the worship of God.
The Old Testament therefore establishes a principle that remains important for Christian worship:
That which is set apart for the worship of God should be prepared with care, reverence and order.
The same principle is seen in the preparation of the sacred lamps:
“And thou shalt command the children of Israel, that they bring thee pure oil olive beaten for the light, to cause the lamps to burn always.” – Exodus 27:20, AKJV
This is part of the biblical inheritance that Jesus knew and read.
WHAT JESUS TAUGHT
Jesus did not reject the Scriptures He had received. He declared:
“Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.” – St. Matthew 5:17, AKJV
There is therefore a clear continuum:
WHAT JESUS READ → WHAT JESUS TAUGHT → WHAT WE DO
Jesus also taught:
“He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much.” – St. Luke 16:10, AKJV
What may appear to be a small task—cleaning a surface, folding a linen, polishing a vessel, positioning a candle—is nevertheless an opportunity for faithfulness in the service of God.
And Jesus teaches us the spirit in which such service should be performed:
“And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men.” – Colossians 3:23, AKJV
PREPARING THE SANCTUARY
The Sanctuary should be prepared quietly, carefully and prayerfully.
It should be clean, orderly and free from anything unnecessary or distracting.
The preparation should include the proper arrangement of:
• the Lord’s Table and its coverings;
• the Altar Cross;
• the six Altar candles;
• the seventh candle when the Diocesan Bishop is present;
• the sacred Eucharistic vessels;
• the Eucharistic linens;
• the Lavabo bowl;
• the water jug or ewer; and
• the Lavabo towel.Every item should be examined before Mass.
Nothing should be knowingly presented in a stained, damaged, dirty or otherwise unworthy condition.
VESTING THE LORD’S TABLE
As part of preparing the Sanctuary, the Lord’s Table is properly vested for the celebration of the Holy Eucharist.
Beginning with the clean marble surface, the protective covering is carefully laid, followed by the white Altar cloth and the fine linen, according to the ceremonial practice of the Church.
Each cloth should be:
• Clean.
• Properly laundered.
• Carefully arranged.
• Free from stains.
• Free from tears.
• Free from visible blemishes.The preparation of the Lord’s Table is therefore not simply arranging cloths upon a table. It is part of preparing the Sanctuary for the worship of Jesus.
THE CROSS
The Altar Cross should be placed prominently and centrally.
The Cross should never become lost among the other appointments of the Sanctuary.
“For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified.” – 1 Corinthians 2:2, AKJV
Everything in the Sanctuary should ultimately direct our attention towards Jesus.
THE SIX AND SEVENTH CANDLES
The normal arrangement is six candles—three on either side of the Cross.
Their light recalls the words of Jesus:
“I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.” – St. John 8:12, AKJV
When the Diocesan Bishop is present, a seventh candle is added according to the ceremonial custom of the Church as a visible sign of episcopal presence.
The candles should be clean, securely positioned and ready for lighting.
Their purpose is not decoration. Their light points us towards Jesus, the Light of the World.
THE SACRED VESSELS
The sacred vessels required for Holy Mass should be prepared beforehand.
They should be clean, polished, spotless and free from damage or blemish.
They should be handled with care and placed according to the order of the liturgy.
The Old Testament gives us the foundation for this reverence towards things appointed for divine worship:
“And all the vessels of the tabernacle in all the service thereof… shall they bear.” – Numbers 4:32, AKJV
What is appointed for God’s service should never be treated as an ordinary object.
THE LAVABO
The Lavabo bowl, water jug and towel should be prepared and ready at the appointed place.
The biblical foundation is found in Psalm 26:
“I will wash mine hands in innocency: so will I compass thine altar, O LORD.” – Psalm 26:6, AKJV
The washing of the Priest’s hands accompanies the prayer for cleansing and humility before approaching the sacred mysteries.
“Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.” – Psalm 51:2, AKJV
The bowl, jug and towel should therefore be clean, spotless and properly prepared.
THE FINAL INSPECTION
Before the Sanctuary is considered ready for Holy Mass, nothing should be assumed.
The man entrusted with its preparation should make a final inspection:
1. Is the Sanctuary clean?
2. Is the Lord’s Table properly vested?
3. Are the linens spotless?
4. Is the Cross correctly positioned?
5. Are the six candles properly arranged?
6. Is the seventh candle present when the Diocesan Bishop is celebrating?
7. Are the sacred vessels clean and ready?
8. Is the Lavabo bowl, water jug and towel prepared?
9. Is everything in its proper place?
10. Is there anything unnecessary, untidy or distracting?Only when the Sanctuary has been carefully inspected should the preparation be considered complete.
NO BLEMISH IN OUR PREPARATION
The prophet Malachi gives us a searching warning about offering what is defective to God:
“And if ye offer the blind for sacrifice, is it not evil? and if ye offer the lame and sick, is it not evil?” – Malachi 1:8, AKJV
The principle reaches beyond the physical condition of the things we prepare.
There should be no blemish in our attitude, our diligence or our actions when preparing for worship.
This does not mean that human beings can achieve absolute perfection. It means that carelessness, neglect, indifference and “good enough” should never be our standard when we knowingly prepare for the worship of God.
We give our best because we are preparing for Almighty God.
NOT A CHORE — AN OFFERING
The man who prepares the Sanctuary should never think:
“This is merely a job that must be finished before Mass.”
RATHER:
“I am preparing the Sanctuary for the worship of the Omnipotent God.”
The time spent cleaning, arranging, polishing, folding, carrying and preparing may appear insignificant in the eyes of others.
But God sees the heart with which it is done.
“And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men.” – Colossians 3:23, AKJV
The Old Testament gives us the foundation.
Jesus read those Scriptures.
Jesus taught their fulfilment.
The Church continues that reverence in its worship.
• WHAT JESUS READ.
• WHAT JESUS TAUGHT.
• WHAT WE DO.Therefore, preparing the Sanctuary for Holy Mass is not a chore.
It is a ministry.
It is a privilege.
It is an offering of service to God.
And there should be no blemish in anything we knowingly do in preparing for worship.
“Let all things be done decently and in order.” – 1 Corinthians 14:40, AKJV
Cecil K. Dewars