I couldn’t remember what it was like – so I went to have a look.
At first, as I held it in my hands, I was surprised how simple and
plain it was. Perhaps I had expected an object so old to be more ornate
or ‘impressive’, but as I looked I immediately began to see what a
beautiful object it actually was.
What had I come to see? Perhaps some of you may have already guessed
that it was the 1607 silver chalice belonging to St Tudno’s Church. How
wonderful it is to have an object of such antiquity in the
parish. Just imagine all that has happened in the world since
this chalice was made 400 years ago. Think about how many people must
have touched it over the centuries; think too of the many priests who
have celebrated the Eucharist with it, and of the countless faithful
souls who have received the sacrament from it. It’s simply amazing! And
as a Londoner who finds himself in Llandudno I feel a special affinity
with an object which (so the Inventory tells me) was made in my home
town.
But what is even more amazing than the beauty and antiquity of this
chalice is the purpose for which it was made. It was created to contain
the wine which, through the sanctifying power of the Holy Spirit,
becomes for us the blood of our Saviour Jesus Christ – the means by
which we are able to share in His life and in the power of His
sacrifice. As a hymn we often sing puts it:
‘Vine of heav’n, thy blood supplies this blest cup of sacrifice.’
In drinking from the chalice we receive nothing less than the life of
Jesus given for us on the Cross. We receive strength to continue on our
Christian pilgrimage.
But as well as the objective sacramental grace we receive from our
participation in the Eucharistic wine (and bread), the very act of
drinking from this cup also has a powerful symbolism about it. Sharing
a common cup has significance in many cultures and this was certainly
the case for the Jews of our Lord’s time. To share a cup of wine meant
in some way to be identified with each other. So to share Christ’s cup
means that together we are identified with Him.
And as He spoke of the cup of his suffering on a number of occasions to
drink from his cup is to be willing to be identified with Him in His
Passion and Death. (See Matthew 20:22-23 where Jesus asks James and
John if they are able to drink the cup that He is going to drink). So
to drink, as we often do, from the cup of the Lord must surely have a
tremendous significance for us. We must be prepared to take up our
cross and follow Him day by day.
But joy comes into it too! After all wine is a symbol of joy and in
drinking together from the cup of the Lord we are also anticipating the
joyful banquet of the Kingdom in which one day we all hope to share.
Back now to the 1607 chalice! It was Sheila Crosby’s wish that we
should suitably celebrate the 400th anniversary of the chalice and she
dearly hoped to be around to take part in the celebrations. She was not
to be granted that wish but I have no doubt that from heaven she will
be celebrating with us when we gather in St Tudno on the Feast of
Corpus Christi. We will certainly pray for her on that day.
Corpus Christi – the day of thanksgiving for the Eucharist – was
obviously an ideal day to celebrate the 400th anniversary of the
chalice. So I hope that many will gather at St Tudno on 7th June both
to celebrate the joy of being able to use this ancient and beautiful
cup and also to express our gratitude to God for the priceless gift of
the Body and Blood of Christ so freely available to us in the Eucharist.
Fr. John
Almighty,
everlasting God, I draw near to the sacrament of your only
begotten
Son, our Lord Jesus
Christ. I who am sick approach the physician of life.
I who am unclean come to the
fountain of mercy; blind, to the light of
eternal brightness; poor and
needy, to the Lord of heaven and earth.
Therefore I implore you, in your
boundless mercy, to heal my sick-
ness, cleanse my
defilement, enlighten my blindness, enrich my
poverty and clothe my nakedness.
Then shall I dare to receive
the bread of angels, the King of
kings and Lord of lords,
with reverence and
humility, contrition and love,
purity and faith, with the
purpose and intention
necessary for the good of my
soul. Grant, I
beseech you, that I may
receive not only
the Body and Blood of the Lord,
but also
the grace and power of the
sacrament.
Most merciful God enable me
so to receive
the Body of
your only
begotten Son,
our Lord
Jesus Christ,
which he took from
the Virgin Mary,
that I may
be found
worthy
to be
incorporated
into his mystical Body, and
counted among his members. Most
loving Father grant that I may
one day
see face to face your beloved
Son, whom
I now intend to receive under
the veil of
the sacrament, and who with you
and the Holy Spirit
lives and reigns for ever, one God, world without end. Amen.
Prayer of Preparation for Communion by St Thomas Aquinas
Previous letters:
January 2007
February
2007
March
2007
April
2007
May
2007