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Why linen? Why not use some of the new, easy care, “miracle” fabrics for our fair linens, purificators, palls, and corporals? Is there a reason to use linen?

A reason, yes. A rule or requirement, no.

The reason is simple: our desire to use the finest, most beautiful materials available at God's altar. Beauty is not necessary. Beauty is not always even efficient. When we prepare God's altar, we are beyond the category of necessary and efficient. We do all for the utter joy of serving our Lord.

We are in error when we call the man-made fabrics “miracle fabrics.” The true miracle fabrics were made by God Himself. They are wool, cotton, silk—and linen. In recent years some parishes have turned to the easy care, man-made fabrics for use on the altar. They are finding that these fabrics stretch out of shape, are not absorbent, hold stains and, oddly, hold wrinkles, too. The lower cost of these fabrics is proving to be money ill spent.

Linen is a joy to use and to behold. Linen launders superbly. Few things can compare with a beautifully laundered and ironed fair linen. Always rinse the holy linens before laundering. It is traditional to pour this first rinse water down the piscina or onto the ground. A moment's reflection on the fact that these wine stains are the precious Blood of Jesus will speak to the reason.

Can we use materials other than linen on the altar? We can, as the rubric on page 406 of our Book of Common Prayer states, “…a clean white cloth.”

Scripture says, “Joseph took the body and wrapped it in a clean linen cloth” (Matthew 27:59; see also John 19:40, Luke 23:53, Mark 15:46). Our Lord's body was wrapped in linen before it was placed in the sepulcher and all our holy linens remind us of this when we use them. Linen is the traditional fabric used at the altar. It is beautiful and its history is deep in the Scriptures. Let us give God's altar the best, the finest in whatever is used on it and in the loving service that we render our Precious Savior.

Adapted from an article by Marty Thompson of St. Patrick's Church in Atlanta, which came to me by way of Florence Joseph, who has served as a directress also.