Book of Ceremonies of the Liberal Catholic Rite

CHAPTER III. Liturgical Vessels, Instruments and Accessories

The chief Eucharistic vessels are the chalice and paten. (Plate 7, Fig. 7) The cup he chalice is the most important part as it holds the consecrated wine, and, while the n and base may be made of any electroplated metal, the cup of the chalice and the ~n should if possible be made of silver or gold. If this is prohibited on account of t, electroplate is permissible. When either electroplate or silver is the material used the cup of the chalice and the paten, the interior of the cup and the upper surface of paten must be plated with gold. Chalices should not be selected which are less than inches, or more than eleven inches, in height, or whose cups are so narrow or so deep that the fingers cannot touch the bottom of the interior of the cup. If the stem of chalice has a node or knob midway between the top of the base and the bottom of cup it. is much easier and safer to handle. A cross is engraved on the base of the lice to indicate the side which faces the celebrant. The upper surface of the paten should be plain so that no particles of the consecrated Host may adhere to it. There is a difference of opinion as to whether a slightly concave paten, or one with a depression or with the cup, is the best to use. The former is easier to purify just before the ablutions; the latter is less likely to slide to one side when it is placed on the chalice at the same time it holds the host more securely. The chalice and paten ought to be consecrated by a bishop before being used, but if this is not possible, a priest may bless them.

The ciborium (plate 7, Fig. 7) which is used to hold the consecrated Hosts while they are being administered at Communion, or while reserved in the tabernacle, resembles a chalice in form, but it is usually wider and shallower in the cup and is supplied with a lid. The base and stem may be of any metal, but the cup if possible should be of silver. If the cup is made of any metal other than gold, its interior must be l plated.

When possible a pyx or custodia should be kept in the tabernacle to hold the e consecrated Host used at Benediction of the Most Holy Sacrament. (In some churches, where the tabernacle is large, the entire monstrance is kept within the tabernacle. It has been claimed that this practice is inadvisable because at times an offensive odour is emitted by the brass. This has not been noticed at all in those churches where this arrangement has prevailed for several years.) The pyx is usually a silver box, gold plated inside, large enough to contain the Host and the lunette which holds the Host while it is exposed in the monstrance. There is a smaller pyx, not unlike an empty watch-case, which is used to carry the reserved Host to the sick. This also should be made of silver, gold plated inside. Every church should possess such a pyx to use in sick calls.

The general rule regarding the consecrated Host is that it should touch only gold and linen, hence the requirement that those portions of the chalice, paten, ciborium, pyx which come into contact with the Host or Wine should be gold plated.

When a ciborium which has contained consecrated Hosts is emptied, it should be carefully cleansed at, or immediately after, the Communion at which it was emptied, and must be so cleansed before unconsecrated wafers are put therein. This is done by pouring water (which has been blessed as at the offertorium) into the ciborium and then consuming the water. This should be repeated until all small Particles have been consumed. The ciborium is then wiped dry with a purificator.

When a chalice, paten, ciborium or pyx becomes so worn that the inner metal begins to show through the gold plating, it must be replated. After replating, it must again be consecrated, or at least blessed by a priest, before being used.

The Monstrance (Plate 7, Fig. 8) is simply a large pyx of metal, usually gold plated brass, surmounting a metal stem and base and surrounded by an aureole of radiating rays of metal. The sides of the monstrance are of glass so that the Host can be seen. The monstrance is used whenever a large consecrated Host is exposed on the altar or throne for the adoration of the people, or carried in procession as at Benediction of the Most Holy Sacrament. The Host within the monstrance should not touch the glass, but should be held in place by the lunette, which is so constructed that only gold surfaces touch the Host. When not in use the monstrance is covered with a white veil.

The cruets are two small jugs usually of glass or crystal for holding wine and water. They usually stand on a dish or tray of glass or metal. A separate bowl is often placed on the credence to use at the Lavabo. If the celebrant prefers to have water from the cruet poured over his fingers at the Lavabo the bowl is empty. If on the other hand the celebrant prefers the more convenient method at the Lavabo of dipping his fingers in water, the bowl should be filled with water. The lavabo towel is a small coarse linen cloth used in drying the fingers at the Lavabo. It is often ornamented with a small embroidered cross at one end, or one comer.

At the Service of Healing and at the Administration of the Holy Communion with the Reserved Sacrament it is permissible to place a small glass bowl of water, with cover, on the altar near the tabernacle. After the administration of Communion the officiant should dip his fingers carefully in this water, drying them on a lavabo towel placed nearby, or on the edge of the corporal. This water may be drunk by celebrant or poured on clean grass after the service.

Certain cloths are used at the Eucharist. The corporal is a white linen cloth which is spread on the altar in the middle during a Celebration. Its size, usually about twenty inches square, depends upon the distance between the front of the tabernacle and the front edge of the altar. Its upper surface is often marked with a small embroidered cross on the portion of the corporal which is nearest the celebrant when the corporal is spread out on the altar. The corporal should always be ironed on the wrong side and then turned right side up and folded as follows, using the iron to smooth the folds: Fold 3 over 2 and lover 3.(Diagram 3, Left Top) Then fold 6 over 5 and 4 over 6.(Diagram 3, Left Bottom) Each time after being used, the corporal should be folded by the priest exactly in this way, in order to retain any Particles of the consecrated Host which may still be clinging to its upper surface. After being folded, it is placed in the burse.

The burse (Plate 7, Fig. 7) is a pocket stiffened with cardboard or strawboard covered with the same materials as in the vestments used. A convenient size for the :e is nine by ten inches, although it may be somewhat smaller. It is used to hold , the corporal.

The purificator is a white linen cloth about ten by sixteen inches in size. It is used by the celebrant to wipe the chalice just before the wine is poured into it at the offertorium, and to dry his fingers, his lips and the chalice after the Ablutions. It should be marked in the centre by a tiny cross embroidered in red. It is ironed on the wrong side, and, without turning it right side up, is folded as follows, the iron being l to smooth the folds: Fold 3 over 2 and lover 3.(Diagram 3, Right Top) Fold 6 ~ 5 and 4 over 6.(Diagram 3, Right Bottom) The pall (Plate 7, Fig. 7) is a thin piece of cardboard covered on both sides with white linen and marked in the centre of upper side with an embroidered cross. It is usually about six inches square, but in all cases be large enough to cover the paten. The upper surface of the pall may embroidered.

The veil, (plate 7, Fig. 7) which is of the same material as the vestments, covers the sacred vessels on the altar during the time they are not in use. It is square, and its width should be equal to twice the height of the chalice added to the width of the pall. The veil is ornamented with a cross or some other device on the side which is seen by the people when it is draped over the sacred vessels.

During the Asperges and whenever sprinkling objects with holy water a special pail or bucket may be used to hold the holy water. It is advisable to buy one lined with white enamel so as to prevent the formation of verdigris. The sprinkler or aspergill may be either in the form of a brush or of a hollow, perforated ball which may contain a sponge. If the latter form of aspergill is used, it is well to have the inside the outside of the ball gold plated in order to keep the salt from attacking the at There is a style of aspergill sold which is quite convenient. It consists of a glass