The paten, a sacred object used in Catholic worship, is a small, shallow dish typically made of metal. Its primary use in liturgy is to hold the consecrated bread during the Eucharist. The paten's simple design belies its profound symbolic meaning; it represents the body of Christ. During the Mass, the priest places the host, or consecrated bread, upon the paten. Its presence is crucial to the ritual, representing the centerpiece of the Catholic worship service.