Perhaps you and I have this in common: I observe the traditional practice of keeping my fingers together after the consecration, no matter what form of Mass -- although practical situations (such as handling an oddly shaped, or especially large, sacred vessel) may require adaptation.
All that said, in the wake of the Covid extreme over-reation, there was some useful learning. In particular, keeping ones fingers together in the traditional way is worthwhile to avoid spreading germs to people while distributing Holy Communion. It's a small thing, but I admit, during the Covid situation, I was closely analyzing every angle of Mass, from before the beginning, to the end, in connection with hygiene. I'd done it long before, because I found I got more colds than it seemed my staff did; but with Covid, I amped my thoughtfulness up considerably.
And something occurred to me: so much of how the Traditional Mass is celebrated goes along with this, beyond the position of the "canonical digits." Then it struck me: when you do something for 1500-plus years, you accumulate wisdom. The Church has been through lots of plagues and infections, and figured out the value of clean hands and minimal contact and so-called "social distancing" a long, long time ago.
I've always preferred silver to gold. My chalice is hammered silver with gold cup and details. Pic here: https://www.adrianhamers.com/item-detail/7556/1021/contact
In matters of taste, De Gustibus...
As for canonical fingers and germs, I think it is highly unlikely that a priest would encounter and then transmit germs by handling items on the altar or ambo. Of course, if your hands/altar/ambo aren't especially clean to start with...
As for wisdom gained from the plagues and infections of history, clean hands would do little, if anything, to prevent the spread of bubonic plague (vector: fleas), yellow fever (vector: mosquitoes or ticks), cholera (vector: contaminated water or, less common, contaminated shellfish), typhus (vector: lice), or salmonellosis (food borne).
As for Covid/Flu, it is highly unlikely that infection comes from contaminated surfaces. In the case of these illnesses, including Spanish flu, the infamous prolonged person-to-person contact is the primary vector.
Fr K, that is a handsome chalice. I like ornamentation on other peoples stuff because I tend to simpler the better. So i like the chalice in the OP đ«€. But I really like Craftsman and Frank Lloyd Write architecture in churches.
rcg - My chalice is an enlarged version of the Romanesque 12th century chalice of Abbot Pelage. I assume he was a Benedictine. The original is in the Richelieu wing of the Lourve and is just over 5 inches tall. It was made in northeastern Spain in the province of Leon.
Fr K that sort of story is a wonderful link to history for Catholics who see your chalice and someday visit France. It is a beautiful tie to the past and tradition.
Nice chalice. Of the two, I prefer the proportions of the Hamers version - looks easier to handle - to grab onto the node. Maybe it doesn't make a difference. Regardless, very nice.
14 comments:
Now that's just special.
Father:
Perhaps you and I have this in common: I observe the traditional practice of keeping my fingers together after the consecration, no matter what form of Mass -- although practical situations (such as handling an oddly shaped, or especially large, sacred vessel) may require adaptation.
All that said, in the wake of the Covid extreme over-reation, there was some useful learning. In particular, keeping ones fingers together in the traditional way is worthwhile to avoid spreading germs to people while distributing Holy Communion. It's a small thing, but I admit, during the Covid situation, I was closely analyzing every angle of Mass, from before the beginning, to the end, in connection with hygiene. I'd done it long before, because I found I got more colds than it seemed my staff did; but with Covid, I amped my thoughtfulness up considerably.
And something occurred to me: so much of how the Traditional Mass is celebrated goes along with this, beyond the position of the "canonical digits." Then it struck me: when you do something for 1500-plus years, you accumulate wisdom. The Church has been through lots of plagues and infections, and figured out the value of clean hands and minimal contact and so-called "social distancing" a long, long time ago.
Looks like an outdoor beer or wine glass
Back to the future!
I've always preferred silver to gold. My chalice is hammered silver with gold cup and details. Pic here: https://www.adrianhamers.com/item-detail/7556/1021/contact
In matters of taste, De Gustibus...
As for canonical fingers and germs, I think it is highly unlikely that a priest would encounter and then transmit germs by handling items on the altar or ambo. Of course, if your hands/altar/ambo aren't especially clean to start with...
As for wisdom gained from the plagues and infections of history, clean hands would do little, if anything, to prevent the spread of bubonic plague (vector: fleas), yellow fever (vector: mosquitoes or ticks), cholera (vector: contaminated water or, less common, contaminated shellfish), typhus (vector: lice), or salmonellosis (food borne).
As for Covid/Flu, it is highly unlikely that infection comes from contaminated surfaces. In the case of these illnesses, including Spanish flu, the infamous prolonged person-to-person contact is the primary vector.
Father McDonald,
This is a must read on Pope John XXIII and the Organ as the Council was getting started. What might have been if he had not died!
https://www.chantcafe.com/2023/07/john-xxiii-on-the-pipe-organ/
Some people have no taste - De gustibus
Fr K, that is a handsome chalice. I like ornamentation on other peoples stuff because I tend to simpler the better. So i like the chalice in the OP đ«€. But I really like Craftsman and Frank Lloyd Write architecture in churches.
Father Fox,
Thanks for sharing your words of wisdom.
rcg - My chalice is an enlarged version of the Romanesque 12th century chalice of Abbot Pelage. I assume he was a Benedictine. The original is in the Richelieu wing of the Lourve and is just over 5 inches tall. It was made in northeastern Spain in the province of Leon.
Fr K that sort of story is a wonderful link to history for Catholics who see your chalice and someday visit France. It is a beautiful tie to the past and tradition.
Sorry, meant to post a link to the Louvre webpage. Chalice and paten of Abbot PĂ©lage
https://collections.louvre.fr/en/ark:/53355/cl010115692
Fr. MJK:
Nice chalice. Of the two, I prefer the proportions of the Hamers version - looks easier to handle - to grab onto the node. Maybe it doesn't make a difference. Regardless, very nice.
Yuck--that chalice looks like it's based on the old Guinness glass design. Guinness, on the other hand, is not yucky
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