It is hard to believe it has already been a month and a half since I joined all of you at
the WWPR! It has definitely been a joy to be here. Just as Christ was held in the most precious arms of our  Immaculate Mother, so to do we need to give our Lord His due when He comes to us in the Eucharist. Upon ordination, a priest receives a chalice—typically from a parish, a private donor, or as a present from his family. This incredible gift is what the priest uses while offering the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass to Consecrate
the Most Holy Blood of Jesus Christ. Definitely not a trivial thing!

I thought this might be a good opportunity to share a little detail about my chalice.
Prior to Ordination, I searched for an unused chalice. I happened upon a lead that
Fr. Cutcher and Our Lady of the Rosary Parish in Dayton may have one available.
It was fitting that Our Blessed Mother led me to a chalice at a parish named after her and that she wished for me to use it to worship her Son. I am incredibly grateful to Fr. Cutcher and his parish for gifting and re-plating my beautiful chalice. We believe that the chalice is about 100 years old and made in France. The small diamonds on the cross at the base are original to the chalice. The cross is there so that the priest knows where to receive and purify the Precious Blood. The ruby that is just below the node on the stem belonged to my late grandmother— Catherine (Diehl) Albers. I love being able to remember her and pray for her every time I elevate the chalice.
 
I give thanks for such a beautiful throne for our Eucharistic Lord! I pray for the humility and the grace to always celebrate the Holy Mass  reverently and well, so that we may all be drawn up more fully into the Heavenly Mysteries. 
 
Fr. Jeff