the happy
resurrection of Christ and of the Church's members. Nor is the
consecration of a church or altar man's doing only, since it has a
spiritual virtue. Hence in the same distinction (De Consecr.) it is
said: "The solemnities of the dedication of churches are to be
solemnly celebrated each year: and that dedications are to be kept up
for eight days, you will find in the third book of Kings" (8:66).

Reply Obj. 5: As we read in De Consecr., dist. 1, "altars, if not of
stone, are not to be consecrated with the anointing of chrism." And
this is in keeping with the signification of this sacrament; both
because the altar signifies Christ, for in 1 Cor. 10:3, it is
written, "But the rock was Christ": and because Christ's body was
laid in a stone sepulchre. This is also in keeping with the use of
the sacrament. Because stone is solid, and may be found everywhere,
which was not necessary in the old Law, when the altar was made in
one place. As to the commandment to make the altar of earth, or of
unhewn stones, this was given in order to remove idolatry.

Reply Obj. 6: As is laid down in the same distinction, "formerly the
priests did not use golden but wooden chalices; but Pope Zephyrinus
ordered the mass to be said with glass patens; and subsequently Pope
Urban had everything made of silver." Afterwards it was decided that
"the Lord's chalice with the paten should be made entirely of gold,
or of silver or at least of tin. But it is not to be made of brass,
or copper, because the action of the wine thereon produces verdigris,
and provokes vomiting. But no one is to presume to sing mass with a
chalice of wood or of glass," because as the wood is porous, the
consecrated blood would remain in it; while glass is brittle and
there might arise danger of breakage; and the same applies to stone.
Consequently, out of reverence for the sacrament, it was enacted that
the chalice should be made of the aforesaid materials.

Reply Obj. 7: Where it could be done without danger, the Church gave
order for that thing to be used which more expressively represents
Christ's Passion. But there was not so much danger regarding the body
which is placed on the corporal, as there is with the blood contained
in the chalice. And consequently, although the chalice is not made of
stone, yet the corporal is made of linen, since Christ's body was
wrapped therein. Hence we read in an Epistle of Pope Silvester,
quoted in the same distinction: "By a una