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

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.

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

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

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