Nothing should be placed on the Altar itself but the _Altar-desk_, for holding the book of the Altar-service, and the Altar-vessels. These are usually the _paten_, or plate for holding the bread at the Celebration, and the _chalice_, the cup for the wine. There is sometimes a spoon with a perforated bowl to use in case any foreign substance is found in the chalice. If possible these vessels should be of precious metal. They are sometimes adorned with jewels. {40} A rubric directs that at the time of the Communion the Altar shall be covered with a "fair white linen cloth" ("fair," that is, not only clean, but beautiful). Another "fair linen cloth," commonly called the "linen chalice veil," is also directed to be used for covering the consecrated elements after the communion of the people. To these custom has added other convenient and seemly appointments of linen and silk. The "chalice veil" is a square of silk, embroidered and often fringed, used to cover the vessels before the consecration. The "pall" is a square of cardboard covered with linen, used to cover the chalice during the Celebration. The "corporal" is a square of linen spread upon the Altar at the Celebration, upon which the vessels are placed. The "purificators" are small napkins of linen for cleansing the vessels after the service. The "burse" is a square, stiff pocket of silk over cardboard, in which the Altar-linen is carried to and from the Altar. The color of the chalice veil and the burse follows that of the season. The linen pieces are always white. They are supposed to represent the cloths {41} which were wound around our Lord's sacred body and wrapped about His head at His burial. You will see the reason for thus making the Altar a place of dignity and beauty, and for these various provisions for reverence in the sacred rite celebrated there, if you will recall what we have already seen of its meaning. We show honor to and reverence the Altar and its worship as the place and the performance of the highest act of divine worship, in which, by the ministry of His Church and according to His own appointment, "a continual remembrance of the sacrifice of the death of Christ" is "celebrated and made before the Divine Majesty," and as the place where God "vouchsafes to feed us with the spiritual food of the most precious Body and Blood of His Son our Saviour Jesus Christ." All is done for His honor. "'Tis for Thee we bid the frontal Its embroidered wealth unfold; 'Tis for Thee we deck the reredos With the colors and the gold; Thine the floral glow and fragrance, Thine the vesture's fair array, Thine the starry lights that glitter Where Thou dost Thy light display."