Glass chalice - what is the problem?

[malphono]

The idea that vessels would be reused over and over again without washing just makes me gag.

It seems to me that kind of depends. Most (but certainly not all) priests use their own chalice, one that is not used by others. As long as it’s purified and rinsed, it shouldn’t make much difference (provided, of course, that the same chalice is not used by the faithful, in which case it becomes an entirely different story. Automatic high-heat dishwasher anyone?) OTOH, whenever a “sacristy chalice” is used, it should always be thoroughly cleaned with a mild detergent and good old hot water.

If the gold plating starts to deteriorate, have the chalices re-plated. But if you use soft cloths it should be many years before that has to be done.

Yes, provided the plating is of good quality. I’ve seen cheaply made chalices that need to be re-plated much more frequently. Even worse, I’ve known intinction sets that are so cheaply plated as to require re-plating (or disposal) every few months.

 

[janeway529]

I’ve noticed the same thing at my parish. I thought, according to the book, that the priest “purifies” the pieces, making sure no sacred elements remain, then the pieces are “washed” carefully with soap and water, as one would a drinking glass. This would be done in the sacrarium, so even the tiniest crumb or drop that mayhave been missed would go into the earth, not a sewer drain.

But in our sacristy, we do just as you describe.

(PS. off-topic- Star Trek fan Janeway? I am.

Same process here. If I’m serving at a large event without a sacrarium, we find a tree.

(OT - Yes, I am. Guess who my favorite captain is? )

If the gold plating starts to deteriorate, have the chalices re-plated.

True, but how much does re-plating cost? (I know we used glass because we didn’t have the money to buy a new set/the powers that be were too cheap. ) Maybe the non-washing has to do with not having enough money should re-plating be necessary. (The parish is small and most parishioners are $1 parishioners, but do serve, just not financially as much.)

 

[Phemie]

Same process here. If I’m serving at a large event without a sacrarium, we find a tree.

(OT - Yes, I am. Guess who my favorite captain is? )

True, but how much does re-plating cost? (I know we used glass because we didn’t have the money to buy a new set/the powers that be were too cheap. ) Maybe the non-washing has to do with not having enough money should re-plating be necessary. (The parish is small and most parishioners are $1 parishioners, but do serve, just not financially as much.)

We had 2 beautiful chalices replated several years ago at a cost of ~$350 Can. per chalice. We were lucky that year, KofC paid for both of them. They’d been in use for at least 10 years, used at all Masses and washed between Masses.

 

[Phemie]

It seems to me that kind of depends. Most (but certainly not all) priests use their own chalice, one that is not used by others. As long as it’s purified and rinsed, it shouldn’t make much difference (provided, of course, that the same chalice is not used by the faithful, in which case it becomes an entirely different story. Automatic high-heat dishwasher anyone?) OTOH, whenever a “sacristy chalice” is used, it should always be thoroughly cleaned with a mild detergent and good old hot water.

I’ve been to a few parishes where the priest has his own but that has not been the case in most of the parishes I’ve been where the give out Communion under both forms.

We have two identical chalices. At a Saturday evening Mass only one is used but on Sundays and feast days we use both and there is no differentiation between Fr.'s and the one for the congregation.

 

[malphono]

I’ve been to a few parishes where the priest has his own but that has not been the case in most of the parishes I’ve been where the give out Communion under both forms.

We have two identical chalices. At a Saturday evening Mass only one is used but on Sundays and feast days we use both and there is no differentiation between Fr.'s and the one for the congregation.

Ah so … OK, then, I guess it’s time to get the mild detergent (or that automatic dishwasher) ready.

 

[YoungTradCath]

Give me your metalwear and I can electroplate it for you on the cheap! I have an old hunk of gold.

 

[janeway529]

Give me your metalwear and I can electroplate it for you on the cheap! I have an old hunk of gold.

Haha, I was wondering where all the gold from Cash for Gold was going…