Gold chalices have been used in the Catholic liturgy for centuries and the reasons go beyond simple aesthetics.
Let’s take a closer look at some of the factors that helped shape this tradition…
In the early Church, chalices were sometimes made from wood, glass, or even clay. However, these materials had drawbacks—wood absorbed wine, glass was fragile, and clay could crack.
St. Jerome (c. 347–420 AD) once wrote about a priest using a glass chalice that broke mid-Mass, spilling the Precious Blood. By contrast, gold does not corrode, does not interact with wine, and is easy to clean, making it a reliable material for holding the Blood of Our Lord.
One of the earliest recorded gold chalices belonged to Pope Sylvester I, who lived during the early 4th century. According to tradition, Emperor Constantine, after legalizing Christianity, gifted the Church several golden vessels for use in worship. This set a precedent: if the Church could use the best materials for the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, why settle for less?
Around that exact same time, St. John Chrysostom emphasized that if kings on earth drank from gold cups, how much more fitting was it to use gold for the chalice that held Christ’s Blood?
Today, Church law still requires that chalices be made of noble materials that do not absorb liquids, with gold or gold-plated interiors preferred (Canon 930).
The gold chalice should be a beautiful reminder to us: if we are to receive the Real Presence in the Eucharist, shouldn’t we also make ourselves noble vessels for Our Lord?
It’s important to remind ourselves of the beauty and richness of the faith we practice. This gorgeous Radiant Sacred Heart Plaque will help your family do just that. Its gold exterior is a reminder to form our own hearts like Our Lord’s Sacred Heart so that they may be noble vessels for His love! Available today from The Catholic Company!
