The proper altar cloth is important for all altars. The Tridentine instructions were very clear, not so much for the Modern Liturgies, which is par for the course, unfortunately.
Altars are works of art and the clothing of the altar should enhance not obscure the altar, unless the altar is a box of some kind and not considered a work of art.
Cloths should fit the altar perfectly also, be properly ironed and hang properly. Altar cloths that are cheap, try to approximate banal, secular table cloths used on the kitchen table or in the dining room should not be used. Let me repeat that, should not be used!
Here’s what I mean.
This is a scandal of an altar cloth at St. Joseph Church in Macon. It hides the capitals on the pillars of the altar and partially hides the “Lamb of God” on the facade! Why, o why, especially when they have exquisite altar cloths in the sacristy measured exactly for that altar and scrupulously measured so as not to hide capitals or the “Lamb of God!”
These cloths were scrupulously designed for this altar. Please note that one can see the artistic capitals and the “Lamb of God” on the facade is not obscured!
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