Artefacts

Artefacts used in worship

Chalice

The word chalice is from the Latin ‘calix’ meaning cup and is a goblet
used to contain the wine of the Mass, Holy Communion or Eucharist.
Chalices have been made in a variety of precious metals mainly gold
 and silver or silver with a gold plated lining. In the past they have been
made of onyx, horn, clay and glass.
Accompaniments to the chalice are:
The Purificator
A rectangular piece of linen folded twice lengthwise and laid across the
 top of the chalice which is used for wiping and drying the chalice.
The Pall
A small square of stiffened linen, displaying the cross, which is placed
 over the chalice to protect the contents from flies or dust.

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Ciborium


The word ciborium is from the Latin, ‘cibus’, "food" and this is a similar
 container to the Chalice but used to hold the wafers or host of Holy
Communion. It differs from the chalice in that it is more round than
conical and has a cover often augmented with a cross or other design.

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Paten

Or ‘diskos’, is a small plate, usually made of silver or gold, used to hold
 Eucharistic wafers or hosts. It can be used in place of the Ciborium to
distribute the host at Communion.

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Wafer Box

This is used to store the wafers prior to consecration after which they
are placed in the Ciborium and then distributed to the congregation.

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Pyx

This is a small box with a lid to contain the consecrated host. It can
be used to carry communion to the sick and housebound.

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Cruet

Middle English, from old French the diminutive of ‘crue’, flask
of German origin. A small vessel which is normally made of glass,
but can be a flagon of precious metals, which is used to contain
the wine and the water which are mixed together at the consecration.
 Two vessels are always used one for each of the elements.

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Monstrance

From the Latin ‘monstrare’ which means to expose. This is used
 to display the consecrated host, or wafers, to the congregation
 during the service of Benediction – which is held in our Church
on the last Sunday of the month following Evensong.
The priest blesses the people with the Eucharist displayed in the
Monstrance. This blessing differs from the priest’s blessing, as it
is viewed as the blessing of Christ, rather than that of the individual
 priest. When it is not displayed the reserved sacrament is kept
in the locked Tabernacle.

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Tabernacle

This is a locked box placed on the High Altar under the Cross in which
 the sacrament (host or wafers) is kept, reserved, for later distribution
to the sick or housebound.

 At Holy Trinity a white Sanctuary Lamp burns over the Tabernacle to
draw attention to the reserved sacrament.
A red lamp burns near to the Lady Altar beside the receptacle where
the Holy Oils, a consecrated mixture of oil and balsam used in the
Sacraments, are kept.

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Thurible

This is a metal censer suspended from a chain which is used to burn
incense during certain services. Inside the thurible a lighted charcoal
ring has incense placed on it. By swinging the thurible the incense is
released. The altar server who carries and uses this artefact is
called the Thurifer.

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Boat and Spoon

The boat is a container for granules of incense and the spoon is used
by the priest to transfer these when needed to the thurible

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Baptismal Shell

The scallop shell has been used for centuries as a symbol of baptism.
Some ancient pictures actually show John the Baptist pouring water
on the head of Jesus with a shell as he baptized him in the River
Jordan. Thus a shell may be used to administer the sacrament of
baptism.

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Pascal Candle

This is easy to identify being tall (up to 36") and usually decorated either with a
wax relief or a transfer, it can also have grains of incense attached.
The Pascal Candle is named after the Pasch (Pay-sakh - the Jewish feast celebrated
annually at God’s command to commemorate the exodus of the Jews from Egypt to
the promised land of Canaan. A lamb was sacrificed at the first Passover but now 
at the second (or Christian) Passover Jesus is the Lamb of God, who takes away
 the sin of the world).
The candle which is blessed at the Easter Vigil ceremony represents Christ the
Lamb of God,  the salvation, and the light, of the world.

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Seven Branch Candlesticks

Two of these are used one placed on either side of the monstrance during the
service of Benediction. The Menorah, or 7 branch candlestick, dates back to
Old Testament times where it was found in both the First and Second Temples.

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Votive or Prayer Candles

The Pricket stand  holds votive or prayer candles. This will usually be
found near to the statue/shrine of a Saint or near to the Reserved Sacrament.
To have any meaning lighting a candle must always be an action accompanied
by prayer.

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