purificator

American  

[pyoor-uh-fi-key-ter] / ˈpyʊər ə fɪˌkeɪ tər /

noun

Ecclesiastical.

1. the linen cloth used by the celebrant for wiping the chalice after each communicant has drunk from it.

2. a sponge wrapped in cloth used by the celebrant for wiping the hands.

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purificator British  

/ ˈpjʊərɪfɪˌkeɪtə /

noun

1. Christianity a small white linen cloth used to wipe the chalice and paten and also the lips and fingers of the celebrant at the Eucharist

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Etymology

Origin of purificator

1850–55; < Latin pūrificā ( re ) to purify + -tor -tor

Example Sentences

From a piece of cloth, I made a purificator and the other holy cloths, all tiny.

From Time Magazine Archive

The priest replaced the purificator, paten, and pall upon the chalice; once more pinched the two large folds of the veil together, and laid upon it the burse containing the corporal.

From Abbe Mouret's Transgression by Zola, Émile

The purificator is a small towel, which serves to wipe the chalice and the hands and mouth of the priest, after he has received the B. Sacrament.

From The Ceremonies of the Holy-Week at Rome by Baggs, Charles Michael

Across the cup he laid a clean purificator, and on this set the silver-gilt paten, with the host in it, which he covered with a small lawn pall.

From Abbe Mouret's Transgression by Zola, Émile

He takes the chalice—that is, the long silver or gold goblet—out of its case; then he covers it with a long, narrow, white linen cloth called a purificator.

From Baltimore Catechism, No. 4 An Explanation of the Baltimore Catechism of Christian Doctrine by Kinkead, Thomas L.