Altar Vessels

The chalice is the cup in which the wine and water of the
Eucharistic Sacrifice is contained. It should be either of gold,
or of silver with the cup gilt on the inside or it may have a cup
only of silver, gilt on the inside; in which case the base and
stem may be of any metal, provided it be solid, clean, and
becoming (Miss. Rom., Ritus celebr., tit. i, n. 1). According to
the Roman Missal (De Defectibus, tit. x, n. 1) it may be also made
of stannum (an alloy of tin and lead), with the cup gilt on the
inside, but authors permit this only by way of exception in case
of extreme poverty. Chalices made of glass, wood, copper, or brass
are not permitted, and cannot be consecrated by the bishop (Cong.
Sac. Rit., 16 September, 1865). The base may be round, hexagonal,
or octagonal, and should be so wide that there is no fear of the
chalice tilting over. Near the middle of the stem, between the
base and the cup, there should be a knob, in order that the
chalice, especially after the Consecration, when the priest has
his thumb and index finger joined together may be easily handled.
This knob may be adorned with precious stones but care should be
taken that they do not protrude so far as to hinder the easy
handling of the chalice. The base and cup may be embellished with
pictures or emblems, even in relief, but those on the cup should
he about an inch below the lip of the chalice. The cup should be
narrow at the bottom, and become gradually wider as it approaches
the mouth. The rounded or turned-down lip is very unserviceable.
The height is not determined, but it should be at least eight
inches.

Patens

The paten is a vessel of the altar on which the altar-bread is
offered in the Holy Sacrifice. It should be made of the same
material as the chalice, and if it is made of anything else than
gold it should be gilt on the concave side. Its edge ought to be
thin and sharp, so that the particles on the corporal may be
easily collected. It should not be embellished, at least on the
concave side, in any manner; however, one small cross may be set
near its edge to indicate the place on which it is to be kissed by
the celebrant. Any sharp indentation on the upper side prevents
its being easily cleaned. Those having a plain surface throughout,
with the gradual slight depression towards the centre, are the
most serviceable. By a decree of the Cong. Sac. Rit., 6 December,
1866, Pope Pius IX allowed chalices and patens to be used which
were made of aluminium mixed with other metals in certain
proportions given in the "Instructio", provided the whole surface
was silvered, and the cup gilt on the inside, but this decree is
expunged from the latest edition of the Decrees. Both the chalice
and the paten, before they can be used at the Sacrifice of the
Mass, must be consecrated by the ordinary, or by a bishop
designated by him. Only in exceptional cases can a priest, who has
received special faculties for doing so from the Holy See,
consecrate them. By virtue of Facultates Extraordinariae C, fac.
vi, the bishops of the United States may delegate a simple priest.
The mere fact of celebrating the Holy Sacrifice with an
unconsecrated chalice and paten can never supply the place of this
rite, specially ordained by the Church.

Loss of Consecration

The chalice loses its consecration when it becomes unfit for the
purpose for which it is destined. Hence it becomes devoid of
consecration: (1) when the slightest break or slit appears in the
cup near the bottom. This is not the case if the break be near the
upper part, so that without fear of spilling its contents
consecration can take place in it. (2) When a very noticeable
break appears in any part, so that it would be unbecoming to use
it. (3) When the cup is separated from the stem in such a manner
that the parts could not be joined except by an artificer, unless
the cup was originally joined to the stem, and the stem to the
base, by means of a screwing device. If, however, to the bottom of
the cup a rod is firmly attached which passes through the stem to
the base, under which is a nut used to hold the different parts
together, then, if this rod should break, tutius videtur to
reconsecrate it. (4) When it is regilt (Cong. Sac. Rit., 14 June,
1845). A chalice does not lose its consecration by the mere
wearing away of the gilding, because the whole chalice is
consecrated; but it becomes unfit for the purpose of consecrating
in it, for the rubric prescribes that it be gilded on the inside.
After being regilt, the celebrating of Mass with the chalice
cannot supply its consecration (St. Lig., bk. VI, n. 380). The
custom of desecrating a chalice, or other sacred vessel, by
striking it with the hand or some instrument, or in any other
manner, before giving it to a workman for regilding, is positively
forbidden (Cong. Sac. Rit., 23 April, 1822). By making slight
repairs upon the chalice or paten the consecration is not lost.
The Sacred Congregation of the Holy Office in 1874 decided that a
chalice loses its consecration if it is employed by heretics for
any profane use, e.g. for a drinking cup at table. The paten loses
its consecration: (1) When it is broken to such an extent that it
becomes unfit for the purpose for which it is intended, e.g. if
the break be so large that particles could fall through it. (2)
When it becomes battered to such an extent that it would be
unbecoming to use it. (3) When it is regilt. A chalice which
becomes unserviceable is not to be sold, but should, if possible,
be used for some sacred purpose.

Ciborium

The ciborium is an altar-vessel in which the consecrated particles
for the Communion of the laity are kept. It need not necessarily
be made of gold or silver, since the Roman Ritual (tit. cap. i, n.
5) merely prescribes that it be made ex solida decentique materia.
It may even be made of copper provided it be gilt (Cong. Sac.
Rit., 31 August, 1867). If made of any material other than gold,
the inside of the cup must be gilt (Cong. Episc. et Reg., 26 July,
l588). It must not be made of ivory (ibid.) or glass (Cong. Sac.
Rit., 30 January, l880). Its base should be wide. its stem should
have a knob, and it may be embellished and adorned like the
chalice (vide supra). There should be a slight round elevation in
the centre, at the bottom, in order to facilitate the taking out
of the particles when only a few remain therein. The cover, which
should fit tightly, may be of pyramidal or a ball shape, and
should be surmounted by a cross. The ciborium ought to be at least
seven inches high. It is not consecrated, but only blessed by the
bishop or priest having the requisite faculties according to the
form of the "Benedictio tabernaculi" (Rit. Rom., tit. iii, xxiii).
As long as the Blessed Sacrament is reserved in it, the ciborium
must be covered with a veil of precious material of white colour
(Rit. Rom., tit. iv, 1, n. 5), which may be embroidered in gold
and silver and have fringes about the edges. When it does not
actually contain the Blessed Sacrament, this veil must be removed.
Hence, after its purification at Mass, or when filled with new
particles to be consecrated, it is placed on the altar, the veil
cannot be put on it. Even from the Consecration to the Communion
it remains covered. Just before placing it in the tabernacle after
Communion the veil is placed on it. It is advisable to have two
ciboria as the newly consecrated particles must never be mixed
with those which were consecrated before. In places in which Holy
Communion is carried solemnly to the sick, a smaller ciborium of
the same style is used for this purpose. The little pyx used for
carrying Holy Communion to the sick is made of the same material
as that of which the ciborium is made. It must be gilt on the
inside, the lower part should have a slight elevation in the
centre, and it is blessed by the form "Benedictio tabernaculi"
(Rit. Rom., tit. viii, xxiii). The ciborium and pyx lose their
blessing in the same manner as the chalice loses its consecration.

Ostensorium

The ostensorium (ostensory, monstrance) is a glass-framed shrine
in which the Blessed Sacrament is publicly exposed. It may be of
gold, silver, brass, or copper gilt (Cong. Sac. Rit., 31 August,
1867). The most appropriate form is that of the sun emitting its
rays to all sides (Instructio Clement., 5). The base should be
wide, and at a short distance above it there should be a knob for
greater ease in handling. The ostensorium must be surmounted by a
cross. (Cong. Sac. Rit., 11 September, 1847). It should not be
embellished with small statues of saints, as these and the relics
of saints are forbidden to be placed on the altar during solemn
Benediction. At the sides of the receptacle in which the lunula is
placed it is appropriate to have two statues representing adoring
angels. In the middle of the Ostensorium here should be a
receptacle of such a size that a large Host may be easily put into
it; care must be taken that the Host does not touch the sides of
this receptacle. On the front and back of this receptacle there
should be a crystal, the one on the back opening like a door, when
closed, the latter must fit tightly. The circumference of this
receptacle must either be of gold or, if of other material, it
should be gilt and so smooth and polished that any particle that
may fall from the Host will be easily detected and removed. The
lunula must be inserted and recovered without difficulty, hence
the de need for keening it in an upright position should be
construed with this end in view. The ostensorium need not
necessarily be blessed, but it is better that it should be. The
form "Benedictio tabernaculi" (Rit. Rom., tit. viii, xxiii) or the
form "Benedictio ostensorii" (Rit. Rom., in Appendice) may be
used. When carried to and from the altar it ought to be covered
with a white veil.

The lunula (lunette) is made of the same material as the
ostensorium. If it be made of any material other than gold, it
must be gilded (Cong. Sac. Rit., 31 August, 1867). In form it may
be either of two crescents or of two crystals encased in metal. If
two crescents be used, the arrangement should be such that they
can be separated and cleaned. Two stationary crescents, between
which the Sacred Host is pressed, are, for obvious reasons, not
serviceable. If two crystals are used it is necessary that they be
so arranged that the Sacred Host does not in any way touch the
glass (Cong. Sac. Rit., 14 January, 1898). The ostensorium,
provided it contains the Blessed Sacrament, may be placed in the
tabernacle, but then it should be covered with a white silk veil.
(Recent authors say that since the ostensorium is intended merely
ad monstrandam and not ad asservanduam SS. Eucharistiam it should
not be placed in the tabernacle.) When the Blessed Sacrament is
taken out of the ostensorium after Benediction it may or may not
be removed from the lunula. If it is removed it should, before
being placed in the tabernacle, be enclosed in a receptacle,
called the repository (custodia, repositorium, capsula), which is
made like the pyx, used in carrying Holy Communion to the sick,
but larger, and may have a base with a very short stem. If the
Blessed Sacrament be allowed to remain in the crescent-shaped
lunula both It and the lunula may be placed in the same kind of
receptacle, or in one specially made for this purpose, having a
device at the bottom for keeping the Sacred Host in an upright
position. The latter may have a base and short stem, and a door,
which fits tightly, on the back part, through which the lunula is
inserted. This receptacle is made throughout of silver or of other
material, gilt on the inside, smooth and polished, and surmounted
by a cross. No corporal is placed in it. If the lunula be made of
two crystals, encased in metal, it may, when containing the
Blessed Sacrament, be placed in the tabernacle without enclosing
it in a custodia. If the host be placed before the Consecration in
the lunula made of two crystals, the latter must be opened before
the words of Consecration are pronounced. The lunula and custodia
are blessed with the form "Benedictio Tabernaculi" (Rit. Rom.,
tit. viii, xxiii) by a bishop or by a priest having the faculty.
They lose their blessing when they are regilt, or when they become
unfit for the use for which they are intended. All the sacred
vessels, when not actually containing the Blessed Sacrament,
should be placed in an iron safe, or other secure place, in the
sacristy, so as to be safeguarded against robbery or profanation
of any kind. Each ought to be placed in its own case or covered
with a separate veil, for protection against dust and dampness.

A.J. SCHULTE
Transcribed by Michael C. Tinkler

From the Catholic Encyclopedia, copyright � 1913 by the
Encyclopedia Press, Inc. Electronic version copyright � 1996 by
New Advent, Inc., P.O. Box 281096, Denver, Colorado, USA, 80228.
([email protected]) Taken from the New Advent Web Page
(www.knight.org/advent).

This article is part of the Catholic Encyclopedia Project, an
effort aimed at placing the  entire Catholic Encyclopedia 1913
edition on the World Wide Web. The coordinator is Kevin Knight,
editor of the New Advent Catholic Website. If you would like to
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