Article II. On Sacred Vessels with Accessories

The following are required:

I. Chalice and paten; both of which must be consecrated.¹

1. Matter. The chalice must be gold or silver, at least as regards the cup;² by reason of poverty one made of tin is permitted,³ and, under certain conditions, one made of aluminum mixed with other metals;⁴ but not one of bronze, glass, or wood. The cup, unless it is gold, must be gilded under grave obligation (canon 1305, § 2). As regards the form of the chalice, the Sacred Congregation of Rites⁵ prescribed: "let them not differ from the traditional forms, because of the danger of spilling the sacred species and of exciting astonishment."

The paten should be of the same material as the chalice,⁶ and unless it is gold, it must be gilded under grave obligation (canon 1305, § 2).

2. Consecration. Chalices and patens can be consecrated by: 1. Cardinals (canon 239, § 1, 20); 2. bishops (canon 1147, § 1); 3. vicars and prefects apostolic, but if they lack the episcopal character, only within the limits of their territory and while their office endures (canon 294, § 2); 4. abbots and prelates nullius, but if they are not adorned with the episcopal character, only for their churches (canon 323, § 2).

a) They lose consecration: 1. if they have undergone such injuries or changes that they have lost their former form and are no longer held suitable for their uses (canon 1305, § 1, 1), for example when a chalice is pierced in the bottom or near the bottom; when the cup is separated from the foot, unless the chalice is turnable; when it is broken or struck in such a way that it can no longer decently serve the sacrifice. They lose consecration, 2. if they have been used for indecorous uses or exposed to public sale (canon 1305, § 1, 2).

b) They do not lose consecration because of the wearing away or renewal of the gilding, with the grave obligation of gilding them again remaining safe, however, in the former case (canon 1305, § 2).

3. It is a grave sin to celebrate without a chalice or paten, likewise without consecrated ones, likewise with a chalice or paten made from prohibited material or not gilded (cf. canon 1305, § 2).

4. It is an abuse to execrate sacred vessels before they are handed over to an artisan to be repaired or recast.⁷

¹ Roman Missal, Rite to be observed, title I, n. 1.

² Roman Missal, loc. cit.

³ Roman Missal, De defectibus, title X, n. 1.

⁴ Sacred Congregation of Rites, 9 December 1866 (Acta Sanctae Sedis VI, p. 590).

⁵ Sacred Congregation of Rites, 30 June 1922 (Acta Apostolicae Sedis 1922, p. 437).

⁶ Roman Missal, Rite to be observed, title I, n. 1; De defectibus, title X, n. 1.

⁷ Sacred Congregation of Rites, 20 April 1822, n. 2620.

II. A blessed corporal.¹ It must be made of linen or hemp.² It is a grave sin to celebrate: 1. without a corporal; 2. without a blessed corporal; 3. with an enormously unclean corporal (St. Alphonsus, VI, 387). Grave necessity of celebrating excuses, for example so that the people may hear a Mass of precept. If it is not very unclean, strange priests are excused.

¹ Roman Missal, Rite to be observed, title I, n. 1.

² Sacred Congregation of Rites, 18 May 1819, n. 2600. From this decree it is clear that linen and hemp are equated.

III. A blessed pall,¹ made of linen or hemp; nevertheless it is lawful to use a pall covered on the upper part with silk, or with gold or silver interwoven and embroidered, provided the upper material is not black and does not represent signs of death.²

To the question: "From the decree of the Sacred Congregation of Rites n. 3832, Resolution of Doubts, 17 July 1894, ad IV, it is permitted that the chalice pall on the upper part be covered with silk cloth, or with gold or silver, and embroidered, provided that the linen pall joined beneath covers the chalice and that the upper part is not black nor with any sign of death. It is asked: Can this pall joined beneath be a linen cloth furnished with a cross and sewn beneath, after the manner of a pall, and not removable?" the Sacred Congregation of Rites responded: "Negative, and the pall joined beneath, properly so called, should be linen, clean, and easily removable."³

The pall, and likewise its blessing, are sufficiently probably prescribed only under light obligation. If it is lacking, the chalice should be covered with the purificator, burse, or corporal (St. Alphonsus, VI, 388).

¹ Roman Missal, Rite to be observed, title I, n. 1.

² Roman Missal, Rite to be observed, loc. cit., compared with Sacred Congregation of Rites, 17 July 1894, ad 4, n. 3832.

³ 24 November 1905, n. 4174.

IV. A purificator; this can be blessed, but need not be.¹ If a purificator cannot easily be had, in its place a small towel can be used, which afterward is not to be used for another use (St. Alphonsus, VI, 389).

¹ Sacred Congregation of Rites, 7 September 1816, n. 2572, ad XII.

V. The chalice veil is required under venial sin; it can be blessed, but need not be.¹ If it is not had, it is lawful to celebrate without it (St. Alphonsus, VI, 395).

¹ Roman Missal, General Rubrics, title 20.

VI. The burse and hand towel, which likewise can be blessed, but need not be.¹ It is fitting to use these (St. Alphonsus, VI, 390).

¹ Sacred Congregation of Rites, 28 April 1866, n. 3149.

VII. A small spoon, by which water is placed into the chalice, can be used. It does not need a blessing, and can be made from any material.

VIII. Cruets per se must be glass,¹ but by legitimate custom gold and silver ones are permitted;² it is fitting to bless them.

¹ Roman Missal, Rite to be observed, title I, n. 1.

² Roman Missal, loc. cit.

IX. A little bell, by which a sign is given, is prescribed under venial sin.

Note 1. The blessings about which there was mention above can be imparted by the same persons who enjoy the faculty of blessing sacred vestments (n. 266).

Note 2. Some have erroneously judged that vessels and other things do not need consecration or blessing if they have been used in the celebration of the sacrifice before they were consecrated or blessed (St. Alphonsus, VI, 380).

Question 1. To whom is it lawful to touch sacred vessels and sacred linens?

Response 1. While they contain the Holy Eucharist, they are licitly touched only by priests and deacons. To others this is prohibited under grave sin, except in a case of necessity.

Response 2. While they do not actually contain the Holy Eucharist, canon 1306, § 1 should be considered: "Care should be taken that the chalice with the paten, and before washing the purificators, palls, and corporals which have been used in the sacrifice of the Mass, not be touched except by clerics or by those who have custody of them."

The canon regards: 1. chalices and patens, as soon as they have been consecrated; 2. purificators, palls, and corporals that have been used and not afterward washed; 3. by parity of reason, ciboria and lunules that have been used, that is, after they have in fact touched the Holy Eucharist; but not ostensories, since they do not immediately touch the Holy Eucharist.

The canon permits touching: 1. to clerics; 2. to those who have custody of these things, such as sacristans, both men and women. Nevertheless, to others it is prohibited at most under venial sin; and a just cause excuses (St. Alphonsus, VI, 382).

Question 2. What things are to be observed as regards the washing of linens used in Mass?

Response. Three washings are prescribed. The first cannot be done except by a cleric constituted in major orders. The second and third, however, can also be done by laypersons. The water of the first washing should be put into the sacrarium or, if this is lacking, into the fire (canon 1306, § 2). For the rest, the first washing is prohibited at most under venial sin, so that a reasonable cause excuses (St. Alphonsus, VI, 387).