Wednesday, October 17, 2012

The Chalice

You ask, "Why did they do away with the word cup and replace it with the word chalice?"  Well, the new liturgy did and it didn't.  Listen.  In the Eucharistic prayer, the priest takes the chalice and says the word "chalice" in the prayer.  But when he is finished the elevation of the chalice, the people say, "When we drink this cup...."  Say what?  You see, I get to drink from a chalice but you only get to drink from a cup.  I am a priest.  You are a layperson.  I have seen places where only the priest and ordained deacon get to drink from the priest's chalice.

Jesus seemed to feel that his precious blood would do fine in a simple cup.  The Passover used a cup, not a chalice.  The Last Supper is a reminder of the Jewishness of Jesus.  The change of word from cup to chalice covers up a bit the Jewishness of Jesus.  Do you sense any political agenda here?  Any sociological shift?

4 comments:

  1. Just another way we are being marginalized--often I feel that why should I bother going to another place where I can be excluded or made to feel less than a true member of a group? Is the Church just becoming a private club? And why? We all have so much to offer!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Go back and read that Paulist seminarian's email: Paranoia, victimhood, whining and rage do not attract people to the Church.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Not sure what the above comment is referring to? What Paulist seminarian's email? Can you point me to that letter? Thanks

    ReplyDelete
  4. Refer to blog on October 9 for the seminarian letter.

    ReplyDelete