Corporal (liturgy)

Corporal is a special cloth that is used in the church during the Mass to hold the "host," which is a small piece of bread that Catholics believe becomes the body of Jesus Christ.

When the priest prepares the altar during the Mass, he first places the corporal on it. Then, he lays the chalice and the paten (a plate that holds the bread) on top of the corporal.

This is done because during the Mass, when the priest consecrates the host, Catholics believe that it actually becomes the body of Jesus. So, the corporal is there to catch any particles of the host that might fall. It's important that none of the host is lost or left on the altar, because it is believed to be the real presence of Christ.

After the Mass, the corporal is carefully folded and put in a special container called a burse. It is then taken to be washed, dried, and pressed, so that it can be used again at the next Mass.

In summary, the corporal is a special cloth used during Mass to catch any particles of the host that might fall. It's an important part of the Catholic liturgy, and it helps to ensure that the real presence of Christ is respected and protected.