What is a corporal?

The corporal is a small square piece of white cloth that is placed on top of the altar during the Liturgy of the Eucharist. The paten and chalice are placed on top of the corporal for the Liturgy of the Eucharist.

Julianne E. Wallace is the director of campus ministry at Alvernia University in Reading, Pennsylvania. She is currently working on a D.Min. in Educational Leadership from Virginia Theological Seminary. She earned an M.T.S. in Word and Worship from the Washington Theological Union in Washington, D.C. and a B.A. in Music Performance from the University of Mary Washington in Virginia. Julianne is passionate about sharing the joy of liturgy with others and helping everyone to worship well.