Why does the Chalice have primacy as a Sacred Vessel?

[Jegudiel]

Why does the chalice have primacy over the paten and other sacred vessels like ciboria? We always hear about a priest being given a chalice or inheriting a chalice or being awarded with a chalice. Is it because the Bible mentions Jesus “took the cup/chalice” in the Bible while nevermentioning the paten?

 

[Cathryn]

The cup or chalice has as you say great significance. Jesus, in the garden, prayed that this cup be taken away. Not his will but the Father’s will he came to do. He promised his disciples they would also drink from the same cup/chalice. It refers to his sufferings and death. Also, priests share in the same cup/chalice as Christ and buy one for their ordination. The meaning is they share in His sufferings. St. Paul refers to the “breaking of the bread” and the “cup of blessing, which we bless, is it not a sharing in the suffering of Christ?”

The paten and ciborium came later and don’t have the same significance.

 

[mymamamary]

Well for the obvious reason, that the Chalice holds Pure Blood, Blood of a special SOMEONE who gave all of HIS away, that you and i may be saved. The Holy Chalice is very sacred, because Blood, Especially GODS BLOOD, is the nesscescary element of life. In fact no blood, no life, Hence why Moses was told by the LORD that the Chosen nation will not be allowed to eat anything containing the Blood of an animal, as Blood gave those animals life, and so hence it is the LORDS’. So in theory ( if i may use such a word) The Holy Chalice is so vvvveeeerrrrry precious as it contains SOMETHING that allowed the SON OF MAN to live, eat, breath and walk- BLOOD. Martyrs have died for that SACRED BLOOD, Saints and mystics have pined and longed for it at reception, and THE LORDS BLOOD was the consolation to the Christians in the circus maximus of old rome. So it is only just and fitting that the container of that Most SACRED ELEMENT, BLOOD, be the most prized above all.

Hope that helps!!

Sorry it was so long! :bowdown::getholy::byzsoc::bible1::twocents:

 

[Digitonomy]

Why does the chalice have primacy over the paten and other sacred vessels like ciboria?

For one thing, a chalice is necessary for the distribution of wine. I suppose a cup or bottle or bowl could be used, but it’s reasonable to think that due to physical necessity, this species was distributed in a chalice from the very beginning. There’s your primacy.

Bread, on the other hand, requires no special plate or other crockery. It can be grasped in the hand, or stored and distributed in a bowl, or tray, or basket, etc. There was probably some diversity in what vessels were used for this species until rubrics were established (although I defer to others as to whether there was Passover tradition on this matter).

 

[Corki]

Why does the chalice have primacy over the paten and other sacred vessels like ciboria? We always hear about a priest being given a chalice or inheriting a chalice or being awarded with a chalice. Is it because the Bible mentions Jesus “took the cup/chalice” in the Bible while nevermentioning the paten?

I think it is also that the chalice is the most ornamental of the vessels and one that can be personalized which makes it more appealing as a gift.

 

[Cathryn]

From Catholic Encyclopedia:

The chalice occupies the first place among sacred vessels, and by a figure of speech the material cup is often used as if it were synonymous with the Precious Blood itself. “The chalice of benediction, which we bless”, writes St. Paul, “is it not the communion of the blood of Christ?” (1 Corinthians 10:16).

The chalice in a particular way was identified with the priesthood.

 

[Jegudiel]

Well for the obvious reason, that the Chalice holds Pure Blood, Blood of a special SOMEONE who gave all of HIS away, that you and i may be saved. The Holy Chalice is very sacred, because Blood, Especially GODS BLOOD, is the nesscescary element of life. In fact no blood, no life, Hence why Moses was told by the LORD that the Chosen nation will not be allowed to eat anything containing the Blood of an animal, as Blood gave those animals life, and so hence it is the LORDS’. So in theory ( if i may use such a word) The Holy Chalice is so vvvveeeerrrrry precious as it contains SOMETHING that allowed the SON OF MAN to live, eat, breath and walk- BLOOD. Martyrs have died for that SACRED BLOOD, Saints and mystics have pined and longed for it at reception, and THE LORDS BLOOD was the consolation to the Christians in the circus maximus of old rome. So it is only just and fitting that the container of that Most SACRED ELEMENT, BLOOD, be the most prized above all.

Hope that helps!!

Sorry it was so long! :bowdown::getholy::byzsoc::bible1::twocents:

Not really. Both the chalice and the paten (or paten + ciboria) hold the full Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of Jesus Christ. Thanks though, this is an interesting subject to me.

 

[Jegudiel]

Those big bowls that most parishes now use to hold the unconsecrated wafers. Are they also known as “patens?”

 

[Joan_M]

Those big bowls that most parishes now use to hold the unconsecrated wafers. Are they also known as “patens?”

No. Patens are flat like plates, to be held under either the chin or the cupped hands of a person receiving Holy Communion, in case of spillage.

I have no idea what the bowl like containers are called! I wish they would not use them! Perhaps they were cheaper than an equal number of ciboria.

 

[Cristiano]

One more thing that we should remember is that Jesus is the fourth cup.

 

[felsguy]

No. Patens are flat like plates, to be held under either the chin or the cupped hands of a person receiving Holy Communion, in case of spillage…

This is an accurate description of one use of the word paten. The round “plate” which hold the host consecrated by the priest is also called a paten.

From left to right: chalice, paten, traditional ciborium

 

[Jegudiel]

No. Patens are flat like plates, to be held under either the chin or the cupped hands of a person receiving Holy Communion, in case of spillage.

I have no idea what the bowl like containers are called! I wish they would not use them! Perhaps they were cheaper than an equal number of ciboria.

Those are communion patens. As someone else pointed out the celebrant also uses a paten. I’m just not sure if the big “bowls” holding the hosts could be considered a paten or not? In years past a typical paten would have been prepared with a single large host along with a ciborium containing additional hosts. Now we typically see the one big bowl/paten at least around here.

 

[Jegudiel]

One more thing that we should remember is that Jesus is the fourth cup.

?

 

[AJV]

Why does the chalice have primacy over the paten and other sacred vessels like ciboria? We always hear about a priest being given a chalice or inheriting a chalice or being awarded with a chalice. Is it because the Bible mentions Jesus “took the cup/chalice” in the Bible while nevermentioning the paten?

In addition to what everyone else mentioned, I think perhaps it is also because, for a long time in the Roman liturgy (definitely from the 15th century and then depending on location, further back even as far as the 10-11th century) up until 1967, the paten was not used as much in the celebration of the Mass. Instead the priest would place the host (Host) for a good portion of the Mass directly on the white linen cloth (the corporal).

 

[AHapka]

I think it’s also because the cup is much more visibly present.

On the altar, you see a good portion of the cup. The paten, because it tends to be flat, is only seen a little.

Also, when you receive communion, you receive the Body in and of itself. You don’t need to touch the paten or ciborium to receive the Body. The cup actually comes into your hands and touches your lips. It’s more “involved” than the paten is, so it makes logical sense that people talk about the cup in that way.

And I think that’s why people might say “I’m receiving from the cup,” but never “I’m receiving from the paten (or ciborium).”