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- Two Small Silver Ciboria Used at a Mass Celebrated in Washington D.C. in 1979
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- Umbrella Used During the Papal Mass in St. Louis, Missouri 1999
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- Thousands of People Being Escorted Via the Umbrellas to Receive the Eucharist During Papal Masses
A Look at Sacred Vessels Used at Mass During the Eucharist
Highly connected to the Eucharist are the ciboria in which are placed the hosts for the congregation to receive the Eucharist (if there are Eucharistic ministers).
The following two stories are about the ciboria you see featured above.
Papal Ciborium Used at a Mass in Manitoba, Canada in 1984
Papal Ciborium Used at a Mass in Manitoba, Canada in 1984
One of the defining characteristics of John Paul II’s pontificate, even in years to come, will be his travel. He will be remembered the most for that. We have talked about his travels to Poland, but additionally he traveled more than any other pope by far, probably more than all of them put together. He made over 100 trips outside of Italy. In fact, if I remember correctly, he spent over three years outside of the Vatican in a papacy of 26 ½ years.
This item is a ciborium that was used by con-celebrating priests during one of his Masses in 1984 in Manitoba. The hosts that were in here? You know, we talk about the Mass as being central to everything we are as Catholics? The hosts that were in here would have been consecrated by Saint John Paul the Great and con-celebrated with many priests. So this is a ciborium that would have been used at that Mass in 1984 when he traveled to Manitoba.
For me, personally, there’s a connection, because my grandmother went to that, so it’s neat to have that personal connection.
I (Father Moravitz) love the connection these items have with the Lord and with the Eucharist, and the fact that the Holy Father consecrated the Hosts that were received from this ciborium is a beautiful thing.
And I think of being a shepherd, being a priest myself, but the Holy Father being the shepherd of the universal church, and our goal is to bring Christ to others, and this is a great example for me of the reality that John Paul II brought the Lord and the Eucharist to the ends of the earth. He went virtually everywhere, even to Manitoba—with all due respect, that’s to the ends of the earth in many ways.
I (Father Kunst) personally had the experience of con-celebrating Mass many times with John Paul–three times at his private chapel, and those are memories that I hold dear. Other times were at beatifications, world youth days, and in Saint Louis. So early in my priesthood I was able to con-celebrate many times with this man who was my hero, which is so incredible to even think about. —Father Richard Kunst & Father Ryan Moravitz cohosting the EWTN Series, The Papal Artifacts’ Collection of Father Richard Kunst
Two Small Silver Ciboria Used at a Papal Mass in Washington D. C.
Two Small Silver Ciboria Used at a Mass Celebrated in Washington D.C. in 1979
These ciboria were used at the Mass in Washington D.C. that Pope John Paul II celebrated on October 7, 1979.
A ciborium is the vessel that contains the hosts that are consecrated at Mass. These are two of hundreds used to distribute communion at that Mass.
