Many years ago, April 2018, we wrote an article on the "urn" or "capsula" for the Blessed Sacrament that is traditionally used on the 'altar' of repose on Holy Thursday and Good Friday. We're not going to re-cover what was already covered in that article, but suffice it to say, at its simplest, the urn was the place where the reserved Sacrament is placed after the stripping of the altar proper. In a certain sense, it is akin to the Tomb of the Lord.
Very few people actually see such a liturgical object used in our own time as today one more frequently sees a side altar or chapel used but for the sake of those interested in this topic, or perhaps keen to revive this tradition, I wanted to present a selection of historical capsulas that were designed for this specific usage during the days of the Triduum.
 |
| 18th century, Venice |
 |
| 20th century |
 |
| 20th century |
 |
| 19th century |
 |
| 19th century, Sicily |
 |
| 18th century, Como |
 |
| 17th century |
 |
| A very simple but beautiful urn from the 19th century |
 |
| 19th century |
Some of these repositories also included symbols of the Passion on them, coming in obvious relation to the liturgical theme of Good Friday. Here are a few examples of this.
 |
| 20th century with painted designs related to the Passion of Christ |
 |
| 19th century with cross-bones (memento mori) |
 |
| 18th century with the instruments of the Passion |
 |
| 19th century with a painted image of the Veil of Veronica |
 |
| 19th century with the Veil of Veronica |
-------
Do you like Liturgical Arts Journal's original content? You can help support LAJ in its mission and vision to promote beauty in Catholic worship either by:
You choose the amount! Your support makes all the difference.
