Eucharistic Urn
1st half of the eighteenth century
Embossed silver, cropped; wood; colored glasses; silk.
61,5 x 66,5 x 51,5 cm
This object was used in the Eucharistic celebration from Thursday to Good Friday. It is a piece that came from the Louriçal Convent. Used as a receptacle, the Eucharistic urn was a usual religious utensil used in the ceremonies of the Holy Week. During the liturgical celebration, on Thursday of Holy Week, it took place the consecration of the host which would be used on Friday, since there was no Eucharistic celebration on that day.
After the consecration, the host was kept in a paten, covered by a white veil, and locked inside the urn.
Placed on a high base, the casket was exposed to the believers on an altar specially arranged for this purpose, which was also called "Sepulchre" or "Monument". Only candles and flowers were allowed to encircle the symbolic "Sepulchre". It was forbidden the use of black cloth, the exposure of other religious ornaments or pictures of saints and also representations of the Passion of Christ.
