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A 5th-century chalice covered in religious iconography has been discovered in Northumberland, to the astonishment of archaeologists, who describe it as Britain’s first known example of Christian graffiti on an object. With its complex mass of crosses and chi-rhos, angels and a priestly figure, as well as fish, a whale and ships, it is believed to be without parallel in western Europe. Made of lead and now in 14 fragments, it was unearthed at the Vindolanda Roman fort, one of Europe’s foremost archaeological sites, near Hadrian’s Wall, during an excavation that has also discovered the foundations of a significant church...

Australia: AN unholy headache is developing for major churches, with questions raised over whether sacramental wine passes hygiene standards. Former Warrnambool mayor Frank McCarthy, a devout Catholic, is calling for the time-honoured tradition of drinking from a shared goblet during services to be scrapped. Mr McCarthy said wholesale consumption of wine from the same chalice would not be allowed in any pub or restaurant and queried why churches were given an exemption. The former businessman said the risk of spreading disease was heightened with a shared cup. “The rules and regulations surrounding beverages are pretty clear and no pub or...

Can one of you good freepers settle a bet? I'm looking for the rules governing the use of chalices and the requirement that they be made of precious metal(s). I recently attended a Mass at a convent and the Priest used a glass chalice. I am almost positive that I have read that since the GIRM has been revised, it now states that chalices must be made of precious metal. Is the use of glass chalices Liturgical abuse? What are the rules regarding chalices? If you provide information,I ask that you please link your source. Thanks!

The sacred vessel used at Mass to hold the consecrated wine is called a chalice. According to Our Sunday Visitor’s Catholic Almanac, chalices should be made of solid and noble material that is not easily breakable or corruptible. In addition, the cup of a chalice should be made of non-absorbent material and the interior of the cup should have a gold coating. A chalice should be blessed before use. “A priest’s chalice is a something very personal,” explained Denver Auxiliary Bishop James Conley. “You might say a priest’s chalice is one of the most precious ‘tools of his trade.’” A...

Traditional Mass Propers, CommemoratingSaint Birgitta of Sweden, Widow( Eighteenth Sunday After Pentecost ) 01 October 2006 A.D. Missa Da Pacem "....My son thy sins are forgiven thee...." "Nothing is so consoling, so piercing, so thrilling, so overcoming, as the Mass, said as it is among us. I could attend Mass forever, and not be tired. It is not a mere form of words; it is a great action. The greatest action that can be on earth. It is. . .the vocation of the Eternal." -- John Henry Cardinal Newman

Traditional Mass Propers, CommemoratingSaint Remigius, Bishop and Confessor ( Seventeenth Sunday After Pentecost ) 01 October 2006 A.D. Missa Justus es, Dómine "....Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself...." "Nothing is so consoling, so piercing, so thrilling, so overcoming, as the Mass, said as it is among us. I could attend Mass forever, and not be tired. It is not a mere form of words; it is a great action. The greatest action that can be on earth. It is. . .the vocation of the Eternal." -- John Henry Cardinal Newman

Traditional Mass Propers, CommemoratingThe Order of Our Lady of Ransom( Sixteenth Sunday After Pentecost ) 24 September 2006 A.D. Missa Miserére Mihi ".... "He that hunbleth himself shall be exalted."...." "Nothing is so consoling, so piercing, so thrilling, so overcoming, as the Mass, said as it is among us. I could attend Mass forever, and not be tired. It is not a mere form of words; it is a great action. The greatest action that can be on earth. It is. . .the vocation of the Eternal." -- John Henry Cardinal Newman

Traditional Mass Propers, Commemorating forthe Stigmata of Saint Francis of Assisi( Fifteenth Sunday After Pentecost ) 17 September 2006 A.D. Missa Inclina, Dómine ".... Young man I say to thee, Arise...." "Nothing is so consoling, so piercing, so thrilling, so overcoming, as the Mass, said as it is among us. I could attend Mass forever, and not be tired. It is not a mere form of words; it is a great action. The greatest action that can be on earth. It is. . .the vocation of the Eternal." -- John Henry Cardinal Newman

Traditional Mass Propers For The Feast Day ofSaint Nicholas of Tolentino, Confessor( Fourteenth Sunday After Pentecost ) 10 September 2006 A.D. Missa Protéctor Noster "....No man can serve two masters...." "Nothing is so consoling, so piercing, so thrilling, so overcoming, as the Mass, said as it is among us. I could attend Mass forever, and not be tired. It is not a mere form of words; it is a great action. The greatest action that can be on earth. It is. . .the vocation of the Eternal." -- John Henry Cardinal Newman

Traditional Mass Propers For The Feast Day ofPope Saint Pius X( Thirteenth Sunday After Pentecost ) 3 September 2006 A.D. Missa Réspice, Dómine "....Go thy way for thy faith hath made thee whole...." "Nothing is so consoling, so piercing, so thrilling, so overcoming, as the Mass, said as it is among us. I could attend Mass forever, and not be tired. It is not a mere form of words; it is a great action. The greatest action that can be on earth. It is. . .the vocation of the Eternal." -- John Henry Cardinal Newman

Traditional Mass Propers For The Feast Day ofSaint Joseph Calasanctius ( Twelfth Sunday After Pentecost ) 27 August 2006 A.D. Missa Deus, In Adjutórìum Meum "....Go and do thou in like manner...." "Nothing is so consoling, so piercing, so thrilling, so overcoming, as the Mass, said as it is among us. I could attend Mass forever, and not be tired. It is not a mere form of words; it is a great action. The greatest action that can be on earth. It is. . .the vocation of the Eternal." -- John Henry Cardinal Newman

The altar was old. It was ornate. And it was on the gambling floor of the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas.James Lang was startled when he saw it there. Lang, vicar of parishes for the Roman Catholic diocese in Syracuse, had a chat with the manager about desecration. The altar eventually was removed."They thought it looked cool," Lang remembers.It also looked like part of a growing phenomenon: Religious artifacts are migrating as America's shifting population leaves empty churches across the Midwest and Northeast. This March, New York City's archdiocese recommended shutting 31 metro parishes, and Boston has...

Dan Brown’s novel, The DaVinci Code, is now a movie starring Tom Hanks and directed by Ron Howard. According to Brown, Jesus married Mary Magdalene, a fallen woman, had a son who moved to Gaul and fathered Frenchmen. Voile! Mary Magdalene is the chalice which contained the blood(line) of Christ. Oi vey! Proof? DaVinci’s painting, The Last Supper, of course! (The John portrayed by Leonardo is not a John but a Mary! Holy switcheroo!) According to Brown, an international religious cabal known as Opus Dei works desperately to keep the facts about this chalice and child secret. (One can’t blame...

BOSTON -- As millions of Catholics prepare for the traditional midnight Mass on Christmas Eve, the Boston Archdiocese is making an unusual plea to parishioners. NewsCenter 5's Jorge Quiroga reported that church leaders are asking anyone with cold or flu symptoms to take certain precautions and avoid some rituals. The announcement comes days after two elderly men on Cape Cod died of flu complications. But public health officials warn against overreactions saying the cases are not unusual considering the ages of the victims, 89 and 90. Parishioners attending Christmas Mass are urged not to shake hands as a sign of...

When I returned home from Northwestern this summer, I discovered that my home parish (Milwaukee, WI) is using a glass chalice as the sacred vessel for the Eucharist. If I am not mistaken, that is incorrect, and invalidates the change from wine to the Blood of Christ. I wish to do something about that. I have collected the necessary documentation needed (GIRM: 327-330, Norms for the Distribution of Communion under both kinds: 34, Official Interpretation of the GIRM: 296, Adaptations of the GIRM for the USA: 326 & 329,Built of Living Stones: 164). My next question is what is my...