Sacred Vessels, Sacred Purpose

by Fr. John Granato  |  08/10/2025  |  Words from Fr. John

My Dear Friends,

A ciborium is the vessel that holds the Hosts that will be consecrated at Mass as well as holding them in the tabernacle when there are extra Hosts. When I first arrived at Our Lady of Hope in January 2022, Father Ruminski had shared with me that he had some parishioners donate to have two of the ciboria (plural) at Immaculate Heart of Mary Church refurbished. The ciboria look beautiful and worthy of holding the Precious Hosts for Holy Communion.

The ciboria used at Immaculate Conception Church look much worn. Besides the ciboria, we also use a bowl filled with Hosts in the Offertory procession, which also looks worn. Father Kevin Cavanaugh, the son of our parishioner Nora Cavanaugh who recently passed away, noticed the vessels and offered to donate to Immaculate Conception Church two new ciboria in Nora’s honor.

For a couple of weeks now, we have been using these new ciboria at Mass. Some of you may have noticed the change. These new ciboria are also worthy vessels to hold our Lord’s Body (and Blood). (I mention Blood here because the Body and Blood of our Lord cannot be separated; even though we consecrate the elements separately, each Host is fully Christ, Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity and each drop of liquid is fully Christ, Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity.)

Our parish of Our Lady of Hope, and especially the Immaculate Conception Church, thank Father Cavanaugh for the donation in honor of his mother. The vessels that we use at Mass (ciboria, chalice, paten, cruets of water and wine) should inspire all present as we see the beauty and care that is used for something, or rather Someone, who is most Precious.

Vessels, vestments, altar linens and candlesticks should truly be of a high quality for the celebration of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. There is no more important work than to offer and attend the Sacrifice of the Mass. St. Padre Pio once said that it is easier for us to live without the sun than it is to live without the Mass. Our Lord is King, and He is deserving of our best.

God bless!