Liturgy: Are Glass Chalices OK for Mass?

Zenit News Agency ^ | September 16, 2003

[Hermann the Cherusker]

In 1984, with Vatican approval, the U.S. bishops authorized reception of Holy Communion under both species for weekday, Sunday, and holy day Masses (This Holy and Living Sacrifice (THLS), nos. 20-21).

I was unaware that this abuse had been reglarized too! The universal norms do not allow this.

If you don't agree with communion under both species, you're entitled to your opinion.

Actually, while I completely disagree with the practice (because of the need it usually causes for lay extraordinary eucharistic ministers) and its implementation, I always receive both species when offered. The early Popes spoke harshly about those who would "despise" the Precious Blood by not receiving it.

I also find lay ministers handling the cup less distasteful than those handling the Host, since the ones with the Hosts never purify their fingers in my experience.

However, it shattered at one mass, after consecration, after the elevation. It was all over the pastor and the altar. No way could it be consumed. We also know of another instance upstate where the priest was using a glass ciborium and glass chalice. When he lifted the ciborium at the "This is the Lamb of God....", he hit the chalice which chipped and went into the now "Blood of Christ" making it dangerous to consume.

The negligence that caused this is very close to a sacrilege.

[sinkspur]

What's a dispensation? I married a non-Catholic and the priest never said a word about it... he didn't even ask us if we were planning on raising the kids as Catholics.

He may not have mentioned it, but it is standard practice to grant a "dispensation" to Catholics who marry non-Catholics. It's strictly routine.

[Romulus]

I agree with you however, beauty is in the eye of the beholder, hence we have problems!

It's near to impossible to believe something like that and still be a Catholic. The revelation to us of the second Person as Logos assures us that beauty, subtlety, economy, order, and reason are all godly attributes. Hence their absolute qualities. When God created the world and saw that it was good, he wasn't expressing some arbitrary, idiosyncratic opinion.

The unreflective acceptance and canting repetition of such sentiments as "beauty is in the eye of the beholder" is an assertion of radical relativism. It's a reflection of the fallen, alienated world in which we live and is about as far as you can get from the redemption, in which all things are made right in Christ.

[american colleen]

Here I am stating the case of the progressives... it's what I listen to and hear all the time. A return to the "simple, early Christian Church" etc. I'm being the devil's advocate, I guess. I learn more that way.

Someone recently said that Mahony's Cathedral in LA will be old fashioned in the near future. The ceramic "tree of life" chalice and ciborium used by my parish priest is already hopelessly outdated as well. Typical 70s hippy stuff.

But traditional beauty will and always has lasted for centuries and people know that in their hearts. Notre Dame vs. Mahony's Cathedral.

[ninenot]

The unreflective acceptance and canting repetition of such sentiments as "beauty is in the eye of the beholder" is an assertion of radical relativism

As a corrollary, the Church abhors the concept of "ars pro gratia artis" which detaches art from Beauty, Truth, Goodness, and Holiness--the ONLY qualities which make art 'art'...

[american colleen]

thanks guys.

[HowlinglyMind-BendingAbsurdity]

Granted, the strange form of Puritanism infecting modernist American clergy has an impact on the selection of liturgical vessels. I don't understand the new iconoclastic bias against metallurgy. It doesn't seem to affect their personal jewelry.I'll admit it's a little strange to see a priest celebrating Mass with clay or glass liturgical vessels drive away in a Mercedes, take resort vacations, partake of catered dining or sport designer eyewear.