Spanish Liturgical Silver Chalice With 'pro Mundi Vita' Motto. Spain, 1960s

Interesting Spanish chalice from the 1960s, made entirely in white silver, with the interior of the cup in gilded silver, and with a very personal aesthetic within the liturgical silverwork of its time. It is a piece with sober and modern lines, with a clean but very recognizable design, far removed from more overloaded models and with a very elegant presence. That formal personality gives it a special appeal both for liturgical use and for collection of 20th century sacred art.

The cup presents an open and well proportioned profile, with a very beautiful and very well preserved gilded interior, without visible wear. The contrast between the white silver exterior and the gilded interior works very well visually and brings luminosity to the whole. The entire chalice conveys a clean, serious and carefully made image, very representative of certain Spanish liturgical designs from the mid 20th century.

The base maintains a completely smooth and sober line, without added decoration, which helps to reinforce even more the modern character of the piece. The design is concentrated especially on the knop, cylindrical in shape and very characteristic, where the motto "Pro Mundi Vita" appears engraved. That inscription not only gives personality to the chalice, but also directly relates it to one of the great Eucharistic mottos of 20th century Catholicism.

The Latin expression Pro Mundi Vita means "for the life of the world" and is directly linked to the Gospel of Saint John 6:51, within the well known discourse of the Bread of Life: "The bread that I will give is my flesh for the life of the world". It is a formula of deep Eucharistic content, related to the sacrifice of Christ and to the sacrificial meaning of the Eucharist.

The inscription is especially interesting because, according to the official Vatican documentation, "Pro Mundi Vita" was the motto of the International Eucharistic Congress of Munich in 1960. John XXIII later recalled it again as a central expression of Eucharistic doctrine, relating it to Christ as spiritual nourishment, source of grace, inner strength and principle of union among men.

For that reason, in this chalice the inscription should not be understood simply as a decorative phrase. It is a fully liturgical and priestly motto, very closely linked to the religious and Eucharistic atmosphere of the 1960s. In a Spanish piece from this period, Pro Mundi Vita brings a very special symbolic value and fits perfectly with the modern and spiritual aesthetic of the whole. It is, without doubt, one of the most interesting and personal details of the chalice. There is no doubt that this motto is today more current and alive than ever.

The chalice bears hallmarks on the lower part. The counterweight is also in silver. As for the state of preservation, it is in excellent condition, perfectly usable and without knocks, dents, scratches or noticeable defects. The interior gilding also maintains a magnificent appearance.

A particularly attractive vintage chalice for anyone looking for a different liturgical piece within Spanish 20th century production. Its modern design, the quality of the silver, the excellent state of preservation and the interest of the Pro Mundi Vita motto give it much more personality than other simpler or more impersonal contemporary models. It can be a very interesting piece both for liturgical use and for collection, priestly gift or reintegration into worship. It is a serious, elegant chalice with a very unusual symbolic content.

Measurements: Height 20.3 cm (7.99 in). Diameter of the cup 9 cm (3.54 in). Diameter of the base 9.8 cm (3.86 in). Weight: 441 g. (15.56 oz.)