Monstrance

A monstrance is the vessel used in the Roman Catholic, Old Catholic, Anglican, and Lutheran Churches to display the consecrated Eucharistic Host, during Eucharistic adoration or Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament. In the medieval periods monstrances were constructed for the public display of relics, but the term is now usually restricted to those used for hosts. The word monstrance comes from the Latin word monstrare, meaning "to show", and is cognate with the English word demonstrate, meaning "to show clearly".Demonstrate - The American Heritage Dictionary see men in Appendix I, Indo-European Roots In Latin, the monstrance is known as an ostensorium (from ostendere "to show"), and in Anglican churches it is called a monstre/monstral.
==Purpose==
In the Catholic tradition, at the moment of Consecration the elements (or "gifts" as they are termed for liturgical purposes) are transformed (literally transubstantiated) into the actual Body and Blood of Christ.
Catholic doctrine holds that the elements are not only spiritually transformed, but rather are actually (substantially) transformed into the Body and Blood of Christ. The elements retain the appearance or "accidents" of bread and wine, but are indeed the actual Body and Blood of Christ. This is what is meant by Real Presence; the actual presence of Jesus in the Eucharist. Because of this belief, the consecrated elements are given the same adoration and devotion that is accorded to Christ.
Because Catholics believe that Christ is truly and substantially present in the Eucharist, the reserved sacrament serves as a focal point of devotion. During Eucharistic adoration, the sacrament is displayed in the monstrance, typically on the altar. When not being displayed, the reserved sacrament is locked in the Tabernacle.
==Use and design==
thumb|left|A monstrance being carried by Cardinal Danneels in procession using a humeral veil
thumb|left|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 of 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 very elaborate in design; most are designed to be portable by the priest, if sometimes with some difficulty, but others are 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 sunburstInstructio Clement., 5 on a stand, usually topped by a cross. Medieval monstrances are more varied in form, with those for relics typically being a crystal cylinder in a golden stand or for hosts a crystal window in a flat-faced golden construction that can stand on its base. It is most often made of silver-gilt or other precious metal, and decorated with intricate sculpture work or other highly detailed designs. 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. 
Whenever the monstrance contains the Host, the priest will not touch it with his bare hands, but instead out of respect 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 consisting of the removal of the stations of the cross, the rosary and the monstrance from their liturgy and parishes. In response a schismatic group, the Society of Saint Josaphat (abbreviated as SSJK) has formed with a seminary in Lviv, at which currently thirty students reside, and is affiliated with the Society of St. Pius X. Critics claim that the SSJK's liturgical practice favours severely abbreviated services and favours imported Roman devotions over the traditional and authentic practices and devotions of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church. Proponents counter that these symbols and rituals, borrowed from their Polish Roman Catholic neighbors have been practiced by Ukrainian Greek Catholics for centuries now, and to deny them is to deprive themselves of a part of their sacred heritage.
==Famous Monstrances==
The Church of St. Stanislaus Kostka, one of Chicago's famed Polish Cathedrals is home to the largest monstrance in the world, a nine foot wide Iconic Monstrance of Our Lady of the Sign that is part of the planned Sanctuary of The Divine Mercy that is being constructed adjacent to the church.http://news.yahoo.com/s/usnw/20080523/pl_usnw/world___s_largest_monstrance_to_be_unveiled The Monstrance will be found within the sanctuary's adoration chapel which will be the focus of 24-hour Eucharistic Adoration and where there will be no liturgies or vocal prayers, either by individuals or groups as the space will be strictly meant for private meditation and contemplation.
Perched on top of the main dome of the Mariavite Temple of Mercy and Charity in Płock, Poland is a gigantic monstrance. The monstrance is adored by four angels, each measuring almost 4 feet in height. The following phrase can be read underneath: "Adorujmy Chrystusa Króla panującego nad narodami", which translates from Polish into English as "Let us adore Christ the King reigning over all nations".
==Gallery==
File:TOLEDO POR DRUIDA CATEDRAL CUSTODIAS EN ORO MAZIZO 2-1-2007.jpg|Mostrance of pure gold and jewels. Ca. 1517 Cathedral of Toledo. Spain.
File:Monstrancja Jagiełły.JPG|Ca. 1400. Gift of Władysław Jagiełło to the Corpus Christi Church in Poznań, Poland.
File:Figuraz monstrancją przy kościele św. Wawrzyńca p.jpg|Monument with a Monstrance in Rybnik, Poland in front of the Church of St. Laurence.
Image:Design for a Monstrance.jpg|a 16th-century design for a Monstrance by Daniel Hopfer.
Image:Koeln monstranz im Domschatz.jpg|Reliquary monstrance. Cathedral Treasury, Cologne, Germany.
File:Muzeum Pelplin 1.jpg|Monstrance from the museum in Pelplin, Poland.
Image:Melk28.jpg|Monstrance from the museum of the Melk Abbey, Austria.
File:Oudkatholieke Kerk Oudewater Monstrans.JPG|Fixed monstrance in the Old Catholic church in Oudewater, Holland.
File:Museum of Archdiocese in Gniezno - monstrancja 06.JPG|Polish Rococo monstrances.
==References==
==See also==
* Eucharist
* Eucharistic adoration
* Monstrance clock
* Transubstantiation
==External links==
* Ostensorium (Monstrance) - Catholic Encyclopedia
Category:Eucharistic objects
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