Q. 1. What is the purpose of the "Altar cloth?"

A. 1. The "Altar cloth" in the Catholic Church is used as a sign of respect towards the holiness of the Altar. Because many altars are made of wood and are often ornate and unique, cloth may then be used to protect the altar surface. In other cases, the cloth serves to beautify a rather mundane construction underneath.

In the early 20th century the Roman Catholic Church considered only linen or hemp to be acceptable as material for altar cloths, although in earlier centuries silk or cloth of gold or silver were used.

[Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Altar_cloth]