Catholic Dictionary

Find accurate definitions of over 5,000 Catholic terms and phrases (including abbreviations). Based on Fr. John Hardon's Modern Catholic Dictionary, © Eternal Life. Used with permission.

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PALL

A sacred covering. Most commonly, a pall is the stiff square cardboard covered with lined, spread over the top of the chalice at Mass; also a clothe covering, ornamented or plain, placed over the coffin at funeral Masses and over the catafalque at later requiem Masses for the dead; a veil partially covering the bride and groom in marriages of the Mozarabic rite; and a veil placed over the nun at profession ceremonies to some contemplative enclosed orders. (Etym. Latin pallium, cloak.)