Potency, not preciousness : Cyprian\'s cup and a modern controversy

This paper seeks to shed light on the origin and meaning of the Roman Canon’s phrase “hunc praeclarum calicem”, recently translated in accurately as “this precious chalice”, by paying “close attention to the history of interpretation that may be drawn from citations of biblical texts in the writings of the Fathers of the Church” (Liturgicam Authenticam 41). In particular it reveals the connections to an ancient interpretation of Psalm 22/23 (the shepherd Psalm) first testified to by Cyprian of Carthage.