Ablution Cup
The Church has great reverence for the
Body and Blood of Christ, and so she is concerned that no particles of
that heavenly food be lost or unintentionally profaned. The Council of
Trent taught that even the tiniest particle of the Sacred Species is
the Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity of Our Lord Jesus Christ,
substantially present in this sacrament.
Therefore,
after the distribution of Holy Communion, whereas the priest-celebrant
purifies his fingers with wine and again with wine and water, priests
and deacons who distribute Holy Communion during the course of the
Mass, as well as outside of Mass, will employ the Ablution Cup to
purify their fingers of the sacred particles of the Host.
The
Ablution Cup, filled with water, is typically a small bowl-like
container, located near the tabernacle. After the distribution of Holy
Communion, the minister of Holy Communion, namely the priest and the
deacon, returns the Ciborium to the tabernacle, dips his thumb and
index into the water held by the ablution cup, wipes his fingers on the
purificator, and returns to the sacristy.
Ablution Cup | Altar Cards | Altar Carpets | Altar Cloths | Altar Crucifix | Altar Rail or Communion Rail
Altar Steps | Altare
Summum
| Antependium | Bell | Candlesticks | Canopy or Throne
of the Altar | Chalice
Choir Stalls
| Ciborium
| Corporal
| Credence Table
| Epistle
and Gospel Side of the Altar | Finger
Basin |
Holy
Water Bucket and Sprinkler | Holy Water Font
| Manuterges
(Lavabo towel) | Olea
Sacra | Ostensorium
- Monstrance | Paschal
Candle | Paten |
Processional
Cross | Reliquary
| Sacred Vessels
| Sacristan | Sacristy
Sedilia or Priests’
Bench | Sepulchrum
|Tabernacle
covered by veil | Water
and Wine Cruets | Vestments
