Ciborium veil

The ciborium is a goblet-like metal vessel with a cover, used in the Roman Catholic Church and some others to hold the consecrated hosts of the Eucharist when, for instance, it is stored in the tabernacle or when communion is to be distributed.

It may be veiled with a cloth cover. This was formerly required but is now optional.

In part, it signals that the ciborium actually contains the consecrated Eucharist at the moment.