Reprobated, therefore, is any practice of using for the celebration of Mass common vessels, or others lacking in quality, or devoid of all artistic merit or which are mere containers, as also other vessels made from glass, earthenware, clay, or other materials that break easily. This norm is to be applied even as regards metals and other materials that easily rust or deteriorate.
Now, we do not usually mind the uncountable abuses of the Ordinary Mass here, precisely because it is so difficult to keep track of all of them, but it is not every day that we hear of abuses beforehand, and this seems just... fabulous:
For the occasion [of the Papal Mass during the visit to Venice, this weekend], 60 chalices, 60 patens, one [lavabo] pitcher, two small plates, and two cruets, all in blown glass covered in gold leaf, were created exclusively by the Glass Masters of Murano, under the auspices of the Consorzio Promovetro Murano.
It's Murano! And decorated with gold! So we guess it's fine.
[Image: actual chalices and other objects; source: Consorzio Promovetro]
UPDATE, for the record (May 8): No, that is a metal chalice, all right: the Pope obeys his own law. Still, no knowledge if some of the glass chalices or patens were used by others in any part of this "Eucharistic Concelebration", in Mestre (Venice).
