Chalice vs. Communion Cup

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What is the proper term used for the vessel that Ministers of Holy Communion use? My belief is that the Priest uses a Chalice and the ministers use a cup. Or all called chalices or cups?
 
The main chalice can be called the primary chalice/celebrant’s chalice, among other names, but it is the chalice, not the cup As for those of the EMHCs, i have heard them called side chalices, common cups, communion cups… a variety of terms.
 
Thank you. Your answer confirms by understanding of the same.
 
rondirect said:
What is the proper term used for the vessel that Ministers of Holy Communion use? My belief is that the Priest uses a Chalice and the ministers use a cup. Or all called chalices or cups?
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The technical definition is that a chalice has a base, stem, node, and cup.

The node is the little “bump” on the stem that helps the priest to keep a grip on it. It might be subtle or very obvious.

On the other hand, a cup does not have the node. That’s the difference.

The celebrant always uses a chalice. The other vessels can be either extra chalices or cups or even a mixture of the two.

Of course, this applies only in the English language. I don’t know if other languages make such distinctions.
 
FrDavid96 said:
The technical definition is that a chalice has a base, stem, node, and cup.

The node is the little “bump” on the stem that helps the priest to keep a grip on it. It might be subtle or very obvious.

On the other hand, a cup does not have the node. That’s the difference.

The celebrant always uses a chalice. The other vessels can be either extra chalices or cups or even a mixture of the two.

Of course, this applies only in the English language. I don’t know if other languages make such distinctions.
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In French it’s “calice” but that’s also an antiquated generic term for a drinking vessel and also describes the shape of a specific type of beer glass.

It’s also a name for a part of a flower and a part of the kidney that in English are called “calyx”.
 
In our parish all the vessels used for the Precious Blood are chalices, as described.
 
Thank you for the explanation. In the height of the flu season, our pastor has decided that the precious blood will still be available to communicants, but they should use personal discretion in doing so along with shaking hands during the sign of peace. In some churches, like in the past, eliminated PB during the flu season. Wanted the terminology to be correct since I write the announcements and our pastor wanted me to state this. In our church, the priest uses a chalice while 6 ministers of Holy Communion use cups. To make easily understood, I used “communal cups” in my announcement.
 
Hi
My feelings are the GOLD CIBORIUM is a chalice.
The other vessels used are communion cups. Catholicism after Vat II embraced the humanity of Jesus and wooden, alabaster cups were used.
In Christ’s love
Tweedlealice
 
rondirect said:
Thank you for the explanation. In the height of the flu season, our pastor has decided that the precious blood will still be available to communicants, but they should use personal discretion in doing so along with shaking hands during the sign of peace. In some churches, like in the past, eliminated PB during the flu season. Wanted the terminology to be correct since I write the announcements and our pastor wanted me to state this. In our church, the priest uses a chalice while 6 ministers of Holy Communion use cups. To make easily understood, I used “communal cups” in my announcement.
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That’s fine. I’m sure they’ll understand.
 
tweedlealice said:
Hi
My feelings are the GOLD CIBORIUM is a chalice.
The other vessels used are communion cups. Catholicism after Vat II embraced the humanity of Jesus and wooden, alabaster cups were used.
In Christ’s love
Tweedlealice
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A ciborium is different. That’s a vessel with a lid that holds the Body of Christ.
 
Yes, I saw a lid mentioned and have seen same. I’ve seen the Ciborium used for communion and returned to Tabernacle w the lid on it to protect blessed Eucharists. Chalice is bottom part w/o lid.
In Christ’s love
Tweedlealice
 
tweedlealice said:
Yes, I saw a lid mentioned and have seen same. I’ve seen the Ciborium used for communion and returned to Tabernacle w the lid on it to protect blessed Eucharists. Chalice is bottom part w/o lid.
In Christ’s love
Tweedlealice
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No. That’s not a chalice.

A chalice and a ciborium are two entirely different things.

Sometimes, they’re made in sets so that they look like each other. Nothing more.

A chalice is never a ciborium
and
a ciborium is never a chalice.
 
tweedlealice said:
Yes, I saw a lid mentioned and have seen same. I’ve seen the Ciborium used for communion and returned to Tabernacle w the lid on it to protect blessed Eucharists. Chalice is bottom part w/o lid.
In Christ’s love
Tweedlealice
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Are you using a translator program or translating from another language into English by some other method?
 
Hi
I googled CIBORIUM. It gave correct description w lid. I recall my priest had a lid on the altar. Take it off, give communion, put lid on covering the Blessed Eucharist. It’s a cup w a lid. A chalice, which I bought for a priest is a cup w no lid…
In Christ’s love
Tweedlealice
 
Not all ciboria are cup shaped. We have one that is cup shaped and one that is a covered shallow dish.
 
OK! I didn’t have that experience. The google site just gave cup shaped?!
Anyway, thank you
GBY
TWEEDLEALICE
 
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