E SACRIFICE OF THE MASS

20 THE COLOURS OF THE VESTMENTS.
to prevent dust or flies from falling into the Precious
Blood. Originally the corporal was larger than at
present, and acted as a pall, being folded back over the
chalice.
The purificator is an oblong piece of linen cloth,
stretched over the mouth of the chalice, and it is used
to wipe the mouth, the chalice, and the paten.
Corporal and pall are blessed ; the purificator need
not be blessed.
The chalice is the cup used in Mass for the wine
which is to be consecrated. The rubrics of the Missal
require that it should be of gold or silver, or at least
have a silver cup gilt inside. The chalice is conse
crated by the Bishop, who anoints the interior of the
chalice with chrism, using at the same time the
prayers prescribed by
the Ritual.
The paten is a plate used from the earliest times
to receive the Host consecrated at Mass. The side
on which the Host rests must be gilt. The paten is
also consecrated by a Bishop.
THE COLOURS OF THE VESTMENTS.
The Church uses five colours at Mass white, red,
green, violet, black.
White is used on all great feasts of the year with
the single exception of Pentecost (when red is pre
scribed in memory of the tongues of
that day descended on the Apostles),
fire which on
and for Con
fessors, Virgins, and the Mother of God.
Red is worn for Pentecost, for Holy Innocents,