Humeral veil

The Segensvelum, also called Schultervelum, is a rectangular cloth which is placed the priest or deacon to the sacramental blessing to the shoulders.

Most the velum is made of rich fabrics, decorated with embroidery or braid and often made in the same way as the smoke coat. The Segensvelum is carried in Eucharistic devotions with solemn blessings and processions with the Blessed Sacrament.

The inside of the velum is lined with a thin cloth, and it left and right are sewn pockets into which the carrier of the monstrance puts his hands so it does not touch the monstrance with his bare hands but with the fabric. This can be understood as a sign of reverence. It also prevents the most part touching the mostly manufactured from precious metals such as silver or gold precious liturgical objects and vessels with bare hands and thus tarnishing the touched points.

On one side of the velum two wider straps are sewn at the ends of a sometimes very elaborately decorated shutter is mounted so that the veil can not fall down. The Schultervelum is folded to the priest or the deacon to the sacred blessings and for carrying the monstrance and then removed again.

Schultervela the same type, but which are not used for sacramental blessing bear the altar ( Signiferi ) at Pontifikalämtern that hold this insignia during the time in which the bishop or archbishop stores rod and miter and by wearing the Vela also tarnishing prevent the rod or spots on the miter.