The sacristy is a service room used primarily for priests to vest, but it serves many other important purposes. Here’s what it is used for and why it is so significant.
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Churches, whether small or large, require service rooms. Most often, these rooms are located within the church itself, behind the main altar, but in larger and more complex places of worship, they can be separate and even situated in other buildings. The most common of these rooms, present in all churches, is the sacristy (or vestry), a space found wherever the Liturgy is celebrated. It is not only used for priests to prepare before Mass but also serves as a storage area for liturgical vestments, sacred objects, and, in some cases, parish registers.
However, the sacristy should not be thought of merely as a changing room or storage area. While it is true that the priest presiding over the service, along with deacons and acolytes, uses the sacristy to vest and store chasubles, amices, stoles, maniples, copes, and cinctures in preparation for the next celebration, it is also true that unconsecrated hosts and wine, as well as chalices, patens, ciboria, monstrances, and other liturgical accessories, are kept here.
The sacristy is also a space where sacred objects—blessed or consecrated items, or those that have come into contact with consecrated species—are handled and washed at a special sink. These include liturgical linens such as the corporal, pall, purificator, and towel, as well as sacred vessels like chalices and monstrances used during the Consecration.
From the chalice cover to the corporal, all the tissues of the liturgy
Mass services are always present in religious celebrations. Let’s get to know them better and discover how beautiful they can be.
Sacristy or Vestry?
Both terms are correct. “Sacristy” is the more commonly used form and derives from “vestry“, which in turn comes from the Latin “sacrista”, related to “sacer” (“sacred”).
Where Is the Sacristy Located in a Church?
Originally, the room attached to a church and used for priests to vest and store furnishings and utensils was called the “diaconicon”, while Eucharistic offerings were prepared in the “prothesis”. In early Christian basilicas, these two areas were known as “pastophoria” and were located on opposite sides of the apse.
Later, during the Renaissance, the sacristy became an independent space, often designed to hold architectural significance and adorned with frescoes and furnishings of immense artistic value. Consider the two sacristies of the Basilica of San Lorenzo in Florence, designed by Brunelleschi and Michelangelo.
What Is Found in a Sacristy?
In addition to the aforementioned sink, sacristies sometimes house systems for programming the bells or accessing the bell tower. Typically, there are cupboards and cabinets for storing vestments and furnishings, which in older churches can be valuable antique pieces.
What Happens in a Sacristy?
The sacristy is where preparations are made for religious services. Liturgical objects are cleaned before and after Mass, sacred vestments and priests’ attire are stored, and unconsecrated hosts and wine are kept. Often, parish registers are also stored here.
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Who Is the Sacristan?
The sacristan is the person responsible for the sacristy. Historically, sacristans were required to be priests themselves, as they handled sacred vessels, vestments, and various aspects of liturgical celebrations. Their duties were once divided among porters (“ostiarii”), treasurers, and “mansionarii” (caretakers).
A sacristan’s responsibilities extend beyond the sacristy. They must welcome the faithful, prepare the church for various occasions, celebrations, and festivals, set up everything needed for services, maintain order, and ring the bells. In the past, they were often assisted by a deputy sacristan (“custos”).
To become a Sacristan, since the Council of Trent, the role of the sacristan has been open to laypeople. Sacristans are expected to be honest and reliable, with a willingness to engage in community life and a particular aptitude for working with children, the elderly, and the disabled. Carpentry skills are often desirable, given the maintenance needs of a church. This is not an ordinary job—it requires liturgical, moral, and spiritual training, as well as the practice of spiritual exercises.
In many cases, sacristans live within the church premises, in accommodation provided by the parish. Among their duties are opening the church doors and welcoming the faithful, including those who come not only to pray but especially those in need. For this reason, the work of a sacristan is almost like a mission.
5 June 2024
