“But why can’t we use wooden chalices in the Mass today? Huh, I mean shouldn't we do as Jesus did?” is an oft-heard query from people who think that the Catholic Mass should be more like common pictures of The Last Supper. But the use of wooden chalices was abolished by St. Zephryninus, who replaced them with glass ones in the celebration of the Holy Sacrifice. Also, reading up on the history of chalices used for Holy Mass, I was surprised to learn that apparently, it is not certain that Our Lord used a wooden chalice. It may have been silver or onyx.
This is especially interesting when you consider that the current law of the Church is that a chalice (or at the very least the cup of it) must be either silver or gold. A silver cup must be gilt on the inside. In times of poverty or persecution, a pewter chalice may be allowed, but the bowl of it must be gilt.
Among St. Zephryninus’ other achievements are that he defended the dogma of the Trinity. He prescribed that all the faithful should receive Holy Communion on Easter Day.
Mulier Fortis has a post on a Mass celebrated in Blackfen in honour of St. Zephyrinus.
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