Monstrance

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A monstrance, also known as an ostensorium (or an ostensory),[1]

is the vessel used in Roman Catholic, Old Catholic and Anglican
churches for the more convenient exhibition of some object of piety,
such as the consecrated Eucharistic host during Eucharistic adoration
or Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament. It is also used as reliquary
monstrance for the public display of relics of some saints.[2] The
word monstrance comes from the Latin word monstrare,[3] while the
word ostensorium came from the Latin word ostendere. Both terms,
meaning "to show", are used to vessels intended for the exposition of
the Blessed Sacrament, but it is in this sense only that we use the
word ostensorium.[2]

Contents
1 Liturgical context
2 Use and design
3 Controversy over the monstrance in the Ukrainian
Byzantine Catholic Church

A traditional "solar" monstrance.

4 Noted monstrances
5 Monstrances for displaying the Sacred host
6 Monstrances as reliquaries
7 See also
8 References
9 External links

Liturgical context
In the Catholic tradition, at the moment of consecration the elements (called "gifts" for liturgical purposes)
are transformed (literally transubstantiated) into the body and blood of Christ. Catholic doctrine holds that
the elements are not only spiritually transformed, but are (substantially) transformed into the body and blood
of Christ. Although the elements retain the appearance, or "accidents," of bread and wine, they become the
body and blood of Christ. The presence of Jesus in the Eucharist is known as the doctrine of the Real
Presence within the Roman Catholic tradition. Other Christians (notably Anglicans, Old Catholics, Mar
Thoma, and Lutherans) accept the doctrine of the Real Presence, whilst rejecting transubstantiation as a
philosophical concept. Owing to these beliefs, the consecrated elements are given the same adoration and
devotion that Christians of these traditions accord to Christ himself.

Within churches of these traditions the reserved sacrament serves as a focal point of religious devotion. In
many of them, during Eucharistic adoration, the celebrant displays the sacrament in the monstrance,
typically on the altar. When not being displayed, the reserved sacrament is locked in a tabernacle (more
common in Roman Catholicism) or aumbry (more common in the other traditions mentioned).

Use and design

In the service of Benediction, the priest blesses the people with the
Eucharist displayed in the monstrance. This blessing differs from the
priest's blessing, as it is seen to be the blessing by Christ rather than
that of the individual priest. The exposition of the monstrance during
Benediction is traditionally accompanied by chanting or singing of
the hymn Tantum Ergo.
Monstrances are usually elaborate in design; most are carried by the
priest. Others may be much larger fixed constructions, typically for
displaying the host in a special side chapel, often called the "Chapel
of the Blessed Sacrament". For portable designs, the preferred form is
a sunburst[4] on a stand, usually topped by a cross.

The Blessed Sacrament, presented in

a monstrance, being carried by
Cardinal Danneels in procession
using a humeral veil

Medieval monstrances were more varied in form than contemporary

ones. Those used for relics, and occasionally for the host, typically
had a crystal cylinder in a golden stand, and those usually used for
hosts had a crystal window in a flat-faced golden construction, which
could stand on its base. The monstrance was most often made of
silver-gilt or other precious metal, and highly decorated. In the center
of the sunburst, the monstrance normally has a small round glass the
size of a Host, through which the Blessed Sacrament can be seen.
Behind this glass is a round container made of glass and gilded metal,
called a luna, which holds the Host securely in place. When not in the
monstrance, the Host in its luna is placed in a special standing
container, called a standing pyx, in the Tabernacle. Before the current
design, earlier "little shrines" or reliquaries of various shapes and
sizes were used.

When the monstrance contains the Host, the priest will not touch the vessel with his bare hands. Out of
respect, he holds it with a humeral veil, a wide band of cloth that covers his shoulders (humera) and has
pleats on the inside, in which he places his hands.

Controversy over the monstrance in the Ukrainian Byzantine

Catholic Church
In recent years, the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church has embarked on a campaign of de-Latinization
reforms. These include the removal of the stations of the cross, the rosary and the monstrance from their
liturgy and parishes. In response a group called the Society of Saint Josaphat (abbreviated as SSJK) has
formed, with a seminary in Lviv. It currently has thirty students enrolled and is affiliated with the Society of
St. Pius X.

Critics claim that the SSJK's liturgical practice favours severely abbreviated services and imported Latin
Rite devotions over the traditional and authentic practices of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church.
Proponents counter that these symbols and rituals, influenced long ago by their Polish Catholic neighbors,
have been practiced by Ukrainian Greek Catholics for centuries and that to deny them today is to deprive the
people of a part of sacred heritage which they have learned to regard as their own.

Noted monstrances
The Cathedral of Toledo, Spain boasts one of the most famous monstrances in European medieval
history. Made of pure silver and encrusted with several jewels, it has merited several papal
processions, acclamations and usage. Most recently among these is Pope Benedict XVI in his World
Youth Day Apostolic Visit in 2011. It has also been immortalized in several 18th-century and 19thcentury devotional handbooks.
The Vatican monstrance (Latin: Ostensorio Vaticana) of is one of the
most exquisite monstrances used by recent Popes, as it is an exact
miniature of the Baldachin inside St. Peter's Basilica. It is complete
in ornamentation including the angels adorning its rooftop. It was
most recently used by Pope Benedict XVI.
Saint Raymond Nonnatus and Saint Clare of Assisi are often
portrayed with monstrances. Nonnatus used a Gothic box-style
monstrance while Clare is often portrayed with a solar version.
Founder of the Eternal World Television Network, Mother Angelica
of the Annunciation is often portrayed with a golden solar
monstrance pendant.
The Church of St. Stanislaus Kostka, one of Chicago's famed Polish
Cathedrals, is home to the largest monstrance in the world, a 9-footTwo monstrances, showing the
contrast between the modern
simplified design on the right with its
more ornate predecessor on the left

wide (2.7 m) Iconic Monstrance of Our Lady of the Sign. It is part of

the planned Sanctuary of The Divine Mercy, which is being
constructed adjacent to the church.[5] The Monstrance is to be
installed in the sanctuary's adoration chapel, to be the focus of 24-

hour Eucharistic Adoration. The clergy will conduct no liturgies or vocal prayers in the chapel, either
by individuals or groups, as the space is meant for private meditation and contemplation.
On top of the main dome of the Mariavite Temple of Mercy and Charity in Pock, Poland is a large
monstrance. The monstrance is adored by four angels, each measuring almost 4 feet in height. The
following Polish phrase is inscribed below the monstrance: Adorujmy Chrystusa Krla panujcego
nad narodami (in English, "Let us adore Christ the King reigning over all nations".)
Perrot's Ostensorium was presented by 17th century fur trader Nicolas Perrot to the priests at the St.
Francis Xavier Mission in 1686, located at what is now modern Green Bay, Wisconsin. It was buried
by the priests when the local Indians became hostile and burned the mission buildings. It was dug up
by accident in 1802 and is currently in the museum of the Wisconsin Historical Society. It is the oldest

surviving physical artifact of French settlement west of the Alleghenies.[6]

Monstrances for displaying the Sacred host

Ca. 1400. Gift of

Wadysaw Jagieo to
the Corpus Christi
Church in Pozna,
Poland.

Monstrance given to the

Monastery of Alcobaa
by Dom Joo Dornelas
in 1412, with some later
additions during the
baroque period,
National Museum of
Ancient Art, Portugal.

Gold and enamel

monstrance made in
1506 by Gil Vicente,
and offered by king
Dom Manuel I of
Portugal to the
Jernimos Monastery.
Nowadays in the
National Museum of
Ancient Art, Portugal.

Mostrance of silver-gilt
Ca. 1517 Cathedral of
Toledo. Spain.

Monument with a
Monstrance in Rybnik,
Poland in front of the
Church of St. Laurence.

a 16th-century design
for a Monstrance by
Daniel Hopfer.

The large Patriarchal

Monstrance from the
Monstrance was a gift
museum in Pelplin,
from king D. Joo V to Poland.
the Patriarchal
Cathedral of Lisbon,
and is made of solid
gold, diamonds, rubies,
sapphires and emeralds.
It was commissioned in
1748 and finished in the
second half of the 18th
century, Lisbon
Cathedral Museum,
Portugal.

18th century Portuguese Monstrance from the

silver gilt and gems,
museum of the Melk
National Museum of
Abbey, Austria.
Ancient Art, Portugal.

18th century
monstrance from the
Bemposta palace chapel
National Museum of
Ancient Art, Portugal.

Fixed monstrance in the Polish Rococo

Old Catholic church in monstrances.
Oudewater, the
Netherlands.

Late 18th to early 19th

century 1,30 metres
monstrance Asilo de
Invlidos Militares de
Runa, Portugal.

Monstrances as reliquaries

Reliquary monstrance.
Cathedral Treasury,
Cologne, Germany.

See also

Monstrance with a relic

of Saint Rita of Cascia
at the Minalin Church
in Pampanga,
Philippines.

A relic of Saint
Augustinus at the
Minalin Church in
Pampanga, Philippines.

Saint Isidore the

Laborer relic at the St.
Isidore Church in
Talavera, Nueva Ecija,
Philippines.

Eucharist
Eucharistic adoration
Monstrance clock
Transubstantiation
Showbread

References
1. ^ "Altar vessels" (http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/01357e.htm). New Advent Catholic Encyclopedia. Retrieved on
2014-11-16.
2. ^ a b "" (http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/11344a.htm). New Advent Catholic Encyclopedia. Retrieved on 2014-1116.
3. ^ "Demonstrate" (http://www.bartleby.com/61/61/D0126100.html), The American Heritage Dictionary, men in
Appendix I, Indo-European Roots
4. ^ Instructio Clement., 5
5. ^ http://news.yahoo.com/s/usnw/20080523/pl_usnw/world___s_largest_monstrance_to_be_unveiled
6. ^ Butler, J.D. (February 1880). "Nicolas Perrot's ostensorium" (http://www.wisconsinhistory.org/Content.aspx?
dsNav=N:4294963828-4294963788&dsRecordDetails=R:BA3702). Watchman (Green Bay). Retrieved November 6,
2014.

External links
Ostensorium (Monstrance)
(http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/11344a.htm) Catholic
Encyclopedia

Wikimedia Commons has

media related to
Monstrances.

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Categories: Eucharistic objects Artworks in metal
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