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Pope Paul VI: A Ciborium from His Pontificate
Inscription on Bottom
A ciborium is a vessel that was originally a drinking cup but later used to refer to a receptacle for the Blessed Sacrament. It is used at Mass to contain the hosts that are consecrated and then distributed to the faithful during Holy Communion.
The base of this ciborium, from the pontificate of Paul VI (shown below) is trimmed in an ornamental gemstone known as sodalite, often used because of its rich royal blue color. Many specimens are fluorescent in ultraviolet light. Sodalite is a fragile mineral which gets its name from its sodium content. Wonderful crystals, such as the ones visible in this ciborium, are found in these ornamental trims.
This particular ciborium contains, on the bottom of the vessel, an inscription that denotes it was a gift from Pope Paul VI, now Pope St. Paul VI. At its center is his coat of arms.
Any item containing a pope’s coat of arms or designation as a gift is of utmost value to this Collection, particularly from those of our pontiffs who have become canonized like St. Paul VI.
The Collection includes six different ciboria from four popes: John Paul II, Paul VI, Benedict XVI & Francis.
What makes them of further interest is the stories connected to where they were used, which continues the living history of the papacy.
We invite you to check out those stories!
St. Therese of Lisieux
He does not come down from Heaven each day in order to remain in a golden ciborium, but to find another Heaven—the Heaven of our soul in which he takes such delight.
–St. Therese of Lisieux
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- Two Small Silver Ciboria Used at a Mass Celebrated in Washington D.C. in 1979
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- Papal Ciborium Used at a Mass in Manitoba, Canada in 1984
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- Pope John Paul II: Ciborium Used at 1987 Mass in Los Angeles
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- Pope Paul VI: A Ciborium from His Pontificate
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- Pope Benedict XVI: A Brass Ciborium Used at a Papal Mass with Papal Coat of Arms
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- Pope Francis: Brass Ciborium Used at a Papal Mass
