M
MrBones57594
Guest
Why does the priest cover the chalice after consecration?
- Status
Tis_Bearself
Patron
To keep dust or bugs from falling into the Blood of Christ.
P
paperwight
Guest
Now, now stop being sensible, Tis.
Actually one day at Mass in our parish just as the priest bent down over the chalice to consecrate it he noticed a wasp in the wine… It was fortunate it was before the words of consecration. As it was, one or two of the congregation did tease him afterwards and told him he should have eaten the wasp.
(In case you are wondering what he did next, he signalled to me to dispose of the wine and wasp and refill the chalice.)
J
JohnLilburne
Guest
Ceremonial of Bishops has in the chapter “Stational Mass of the Diocesan Bishop” n. 155: “If the cup and ciborium are covered, a deacon uncovers them before the epiclesis. … After the consecration, the deacon may cover the cup and the ciborium.”
[Excerpt from the English translation of Ceremonial of Bishops ©1989, International Commission on English in the Liturgy Corporation. All rights reserved.]
[Excerpt from the English translation of Ceremonial of Bishops ©1989, International Commission on English in the Liturgy Corporation. All rights reserved.]
M
Montrose
Guest
The use of the word “may” implies it is not mandatory to cover them.
J
Jen7
Guest
But would you really want to have to eat a wasp? 
B
BartholomewB
Guest
Some people have been known to swallow camels …But would you really want to have to eat a wasp?
Which reminds me. The Hebrew term for praying mantis is gmal shlomoh, literally “Solomon’s camel.”
I sometimes wonder whether that might have been what Jesus had in mind — a large insect, many times the size of a gnat, rather than a 1000-pound quadruped.
Last edited:
- Status