Monstrance

Blessed Pope John Paul II holding a monstrance containing the Blessed Sacrament while using a humeral veil.

A monstrance also known as ostensorium is the vessel used in the Roman Catholic, Old Catholic, and Anglican churches to display the consecrated Eucharistic host, during Eucharistic adoration or Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament.

Originally created in the medieval period for the public display of relics, the monstrance today is usually restricted for vessels used for hosts. The word monstrance comes from the Latin word monstrare, meaning "to show". In Latin, the monstrance is known as an ostensorium (from ostendere, "to show").

Due to its religious value serving as vessel containing the Blessed Sacrament, believed to be the actual body and blood of Jesus Christ, priests or deacons hold it using a humeral veil at times of procession or liturgy.

Liturgical context

The Ostensorio Vaticana, used by Pope Benedict XVI during the first Advent of Vespers, Saint Peter's Basilica, Rome.

A traditional "solar" monstrance.

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. The elements retain the appearance or "accidents" of bread and wine, but are the Body and Blood of Christ. This is what is meant by Real Presence within the Roman Catholic tradition; the presence of Jesus in the Eucharist, although 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).

Purpose and design

Part of the series on Communion

also known as "The Eucharist", "The Lord's Supper" "Divine Liturgy" or "Sacrament"

Theology Real Presence Transubstantiation Transignification Sacramental Union Memorialism Consubstantiation Impanation Consecration Words of Institution Theologies contrasted Anglican Eucharistic theology Eucharist (Catholic Church) Eucharist (Lutheran Church) Divine Liturgy (Orthodox Church)

Important theologians Paul · Aquinas Luther · Calvin Chrysostom · Augustine Zwingli · Basil of Caesarea

Related Articles Christianity Sacramental bread Christianity and alcohol Catholic Historic Roots Closed and Open Table Divine Liturgy Eucharistic adoration Eucharistic discipline First Communion Infant Communion Mass · Sacrament Sanctification

Two monstrances, showing the contrast between the modern simplified design on the right with its more ornate predecessor on the left

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.

The monstrance is usually elaborate in design; most are carried by the priest, if sometimes with some difficulty. 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 on a stand, usually topped by a cross.

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. The monstrance is often the most stolen commodity in a parish or church, due to its great value sometimes being made of solid silver or gold, often encrusted with several pearls and jewels.

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.

Notable 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 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 19th-century devotional handbooks.
• The Vatican monstrance 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-foot-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. 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 Płock, 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 Króla panującego nad narodami (in English, "Let us adore Christ the King reigning over all nations".)

Gallery

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

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  Ca. 1400. Gift of Władysław Jagiełło to the Corpus Christi Church in Poznań, Poland.

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

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

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  Reliquary monstrance. Cathedral Treasury, Cologne, Germany.

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  Monstrance from the museum in Pelplin, Poland.

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  Monstrance from the museum of the Melk Abbey, Austria.

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  Fixed monstrance in the Old Catholic church in Oudewater, Holland.

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  Polish Rococo monstrances.

See also

• Eucharist
• Eucharistic adoration
• Monstrance clock
• Transubstantiation

External links

• Ostensorium (Monstrance) - Catholic Encyclopedia