Monday, June 29, 2009

What to Do with a Ceramic Chalice?

If faced with a detestable and unrubrical ceramic chalice, one can either apply the shorter rite (the aptly-named "Fr Fessio Drop Test" - if it breaks, it ain't fit for use at Mass) or the longer rite, as follows:

DECOMMISSIONING OF AN UNFIT VESSEL

V/.  Our help is in the name of the Lord.

R/.  Who made heaven and earth.  (Ps. cxxiii, 8)

V/.  He that hath an ear,

R/.  Let him hear what the Spirit saith to the churches.  (Apoc. ii, 29)


A Lesson from the Book of Wisdom. (Wis. xv, 6a. 7. 9. 13a; xvi, 1a)

The lovers of evil things deserve to have no better things to trust in, both they that make them, and they that love them.  The potter also tempering soft earth, with labour fashioneth every vessel for our service, and of the same clay he maketh both vessels that are for clean uses, and likewise such as serve to the contrary; but what is the use of these vessels, the potter is the judge.  But his care is, not that he shall labour, nor that his life is short, but he striveth with the goldsmiths and silversmiths: and he endeavoureth to do like the workers in brass, and counteth it a glory to make vain things.  For that man knoweth that he offendeth above all others, who of earthly matter maketh brittle vessels.  For these things, and by the like things to these, they were worthily punished.  R/.  Thanks be to God.


A lesson from the Epistle of the blessed Apostle Paul to the Romans. (Rom. ix, 20b-22)

Brethren: Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it: Why hast thou made me thus?  Or hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump, to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour?  What if God, willing to shew his wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much patience vessels of wrath, fitted for destruction?  In Christ Jesus our Lord. 

R/.  Thanks be to God.


Thou shalt break them in pieces like a potter's vessel.

V/.  As the vessel of a potter they shall be broken.  (Ps. ii, 9b; Apoc. ii, 27b)


The continuation of the holy Gospel according to Matthew.  (St Matt. xxiv, 15)

R/. Glory be to Thee, O Lord.

At that time, Jesus said to his disciples: When therefore you shall see the abomination of desolation, which was spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place: he that readeth let him understand. 

R/.  Praise be to Thee, O Christ.


DESTRUCTION OF THE UNFIT VESSEL

Holding the vessel in the left hand, recite:

And thou shalt say: Thus saith the Lord of hosts: even so will I break this, as the potter's vessel is broken, which cannot be made whole again. (Cf. Jer. xix, 11)

The vessel is immediately to be broken; then shall be said:

And it shall be broken small, as the potter's vessel is broken all to pieces with mighty breaking, and there shall not a sherd be found of the pieces thereof, wherein a little fire may be carried from the hearth, or a little water be drawn out of the pit.  (Is. xxx, 14)

Thereupon it shall be smashed utterly till not even a fragment of any use remains, in accordance with the words of the prophet.  Then shall be said:

And the earthen vessel shall be broken.  (Cf. Lev. vi, 28a)

And all the remains of the vessel, being thus pulverized, shall be gathered up and buried, that its memory perish.

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