Ordinands share the stories behind their chalices: David Michael Frank

David Michael Frank

Age: 30

Hometown: Covington

First priestly assignment: St. Luke the Evangelist, Slidell

Masses of Thanksgiving: 

June 2 at 9:30 a.m. at St. Peter, Covington; June 9 at 9 a.m. at St. Catherine of Siena, Metairie; June 23 at 11 a.m. at St. Ann Church and Shrine, Metairie; June 30 at 11 a.m. at St. John Bosco, Harvey

Blessed Mother will be with him as he celebrates Mass

I picked out my chalice in New York at a place called Adrian Hamers, who was a silversmith in Europe and got into the business of making chalices. Now, it’s a family business run by his kids.

One thing I was really looking for in a chalice had to do with the Blessed Mother. I want to consecrate my priesthood to Our Lady and put my priesthood under her protection, so I wanted a chalice that in some way would reflect Our Lady.

In some ways, the chalice is a symbol of Our Lady because just as Our Lady carried our Lord in her womb for nine months, the chalice carries within it the Precious Blood.

Just as the priest is in the person of Christ as he offers the sacrifice of the Mass, and, just as Christ offered himself on the cross,  Our Lady was standing there at the foot of the cross, offering her son even as he offered himself to the Father.

She was joining with him in a very priestly act of the baptismal priesthood. As she offered her son at the foot of the cross, I had this image that she stands next to every priest who offers the Mass.

The chalice I ended up choosing has on the base six scenes from the life of Christ, including the Annunciation, the Nativity, the Crucifixion and the Ascension. Mary occurs in several of the images, including at the foot of the cross.

The chalice is heavier than it looks, and that surprised me. That’s just another reminder, I guess, of the cross. This is not a show; this is not a performance; this is a sacrifice and a laying down of one’s life. 

To be Christ’s minister, to be standing in the person of Christ at the Mass, the weight of the chalice can remind me of the sacrifice that is inseparable from true love.

I also feel it’s important to support good art, which is truly beautiful and which reflects an artisan’s work. My grandparents, John and Janice Montelepre, helped me to purchase the chalice.

As a priest, I am most looking forward to the awesome and humbling privileges of offering the Mass and absolving the sins of the people of God in the sacrament of penance; but also, personally, I look forward to giving blessings of all kinds, whether of houses, spouses on their anniversary, rosaries, travelers or anything else – no blessing is too small!

– Peter Finney Jr.