Sacred Vessels
Ciboria
A ciborium holds the consecrated Hosts for Holy Communion and for reservation in the tabernacle.
About this collection
About Ciboria
The ciborium holds the Hosts for Holy Communion and for reservation in the tabernacle. Like the chalice, it is a sacred vessel: a covered cup, traditionally of gold or silver or gilded inside, usually with a small cross on the lid. This collection offers new ciboria, including the St. Louis ciborium in a gold finish, about 9 inches tall with a 4 7/8-inch cup, and smooth gold and hand-hammered stacking ciboria. A matching chalice and ciborium set is also listed here.
What to check
Compare the cup diameter and capacity with the number of Hosts you distribute, and decide whether you need a single ciborium or a stacking set. If the ciborium should match a chalice you already have, ask before you order. Listed prices currently run from about $150 to $2,895. Call or request a quote. Freight is billed separately. See also chalices and tabernacles.
Ciboria
In the Sacred Liturgy
The ciborium is the covered sacred vessel that holds the Hosts for Holy Communion. At Mass the Hosts to be consecrated are placed in it, and at the consecration, through the words of Christ, they become His Body. After Communion the ciborium with the Hosts that remain is placed in the tabernacle, where the Blessed Sacrament is reserved for the sick and for adoration.
Because it holds the Body of Christ, a ciborium is made of precious and durable materials. Traditionally the cup is of gold or silver, and when it is made of silver or another metal, the inside of the cup is gilded. A ciborium looks much like a chalice with a fitted lid, usually topped by a small cross, and it has the same parts: the cup, the stem with its node, and the base, or foot.
In the tabernacle the ciborium is traditionally covered with a small veil, the ciborium veil, as a sign of reverence for the Blessed Sacrament within. Like the chalice, it is set apart for this holy use alone.
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