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 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.

Then, slipping it on to the edge of the corporal without touching it with his fingers, he took up the chalice and carefully wiped it with the purificator.

From Abbe Mouret's Transgression by Zola, Émile