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World's Largest Monstrance to Be Unveiled [Catholic Caucus]
Earth Times ^ | May 23, 2008

Posted on 05/24/2008 5:49:06 AM PDT by NYer

CHICAGO, May 23 IL-largest-monstrance

CHICAGO, May 23 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Saint Stanislaus Kostka Catholic Church here will unveil what is believed to be the world's largest monstrance at 6 p.m. eastern time Saturday, May 31. A monstrance is a container that displays a consecrated Host (which Catholics believe is the body of Christ under the appearance of bread) for veneration. The monstrance will serve as focal point of the new Sanctuary of The Divine Mercy, to be built on the grounds of this inner city parish.

The gilded receptacle has taken sculptor Stefan Niedorezo two years to carve from linden wood using Renaissance methods. The iconic monstrance is nine feet tall and weighs 700 pounds. Malgorzata Sawczuk applied the gilding and serves as project conservator.

The monstrance depicts the Blessed Mother as the link between the old and new covenants. She stands over the Ark of the Covenant, a sacred container that held the stone tablets inscribed with the 10 Commandments. Mary is "clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars," as depicted in the Book of Revelation (Rev 11:19 and 12:1-2).

The unveiling takes place on the feast of the Visitation, where Mary visited her cousin Elizabeth and found the supposedly barren woman pregnant with a son who would become John the Baptist, forerunner of Jesus (Lk 1:39-57). The public is invited to the ceremony, which will be televised live on EWTN, the worldwide Catholic television network; Catholic TV; and the Latin American TV station El Sembrador. Relevant Radio will provide U.S. coverage. Mass will be celebrated by Cardinal Francis George, Archbishop of Chicago.

The vision for the sanctuary and monstrance began nine years ago when St. Stanislaus Kostka pastor Fr. Anthony Bus, CR, heard a call from Mary asking that he build the sanctuary. He wrote a book about his experience titled A Mother's Plea: Lifting the Veil in Sanctuary (Marian Press). The book, originally published in 2005, has been a popular title in Catholic book circles partly because of its apocalyptic theme. It has been updated this year with information on the painstaking effort to build the sanctuary.

Donations and proceeds from Fr. Bus's book financed sculpting the monstrance.

Following the unveiling, planners will begin raising funds to build the sanctuary. Estimated cost is between $15 million and $20 million.



TOPICS: Catholic; Prayer; Worship
KEYWORDS: catholic; divinemercy; monstrance
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1 posted on 05/24/2008 5:49:06 AM PDT by NYer
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To: Salvation; narses; SMEDLEYBUTLER; redhead; Notwithstanding; nickcarraway; Romulus; ...
The public is invited to the ceremony, which will be televised live on EWTN, the worldwide Catholic television network; Catholic TV; and the Latin American TV station El Sembrador. Relevant Radio will provide U.S. coverage. Mass will be celebrated by Cardinal Francis George, Archbishop of Chicago.

Mark the calendars!

2 posted on 05/24/2008 5:50:23 AM PDT by NYer (John 6:51-58)
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To: NYer

When it comes to a consecrated Host, why is bigger better?


3 posted on 05/24/2008 5:56:02 AM PDT by samtheman
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To: NYer
The iconic monstrance is nine feet tall and weighs 700 pounds.

That is one monstrous monstrance. /rimshot

4 posted on 05/24/2008 5:59:06 AM PDT by Thane_Banquo ("Give a man a fish, make him a Democrat. Teach a man to fish, make him a Republican.")
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To: NYer

Amazing!


5 posted on 05/24/2008 6:14:15 AM PDT by trisham (Zen is not easy. It takes effort to attain nothingness. And then what do you have? Bupkis.)
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To: NYer
The monstrance depicts the Blessed Mother as the link between the old and new covenants. She stands over the Ark of the Covenant, a sacred container that held the stone tablets inscribed with the 10 Commandments.

I don't understand this. From what is written, it sounds very unsound on a theological basis. The BVM is the Ark of the New Covenant. I would think that a far more theologically sound way of depicting her role in a monstrance would to either have the Sacrament depicted within her or to have her cradling the luna in her arms.

(FYI -- for those who aren't familiar with the theology of this -- The Ark of the Old Covenant also contained manna and the Rod of Aaron, as well. This is why we recognize the BVM as the Ark of the New Covenant: she carried Jesus within her womb for 9 months (just as the Ark of the Old Covenant carried its contents, listed above). Jesus is the Word of God incarnate (10 commandments), the Bread of Life (manna), and the High Priest after the order of Melchizedek (Rod of Aaron))

6 posted on 05/24/2008 6:25:45 AM PDT by markomalley (Extra ecclesiam nulla salus)
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To: NYer

just weird.


7 posted on 05/24/2008 6:30:48 AM PDT by ken21 ( people die + you never hear from them again.)
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To: markomalley

>> I would think that a far more theologically sound way of depicting her role in a monstrance would to either have the Sacrament depicted within her or to have her cradling the luna in her arms. <<

Your symbolism would work if His ministry were while He were still within her womb, or in her arms.


8 posted on 05/24/2008 6:31:07 AM PDT by dangus
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Comment #9 Removed by Moderator

To: NYer
I'm not a Catholic, I'm Lutheran. I fail to see why some people have to nitpick everything to death on threads pertaining to religion. Get a life.

Here we have an inspired artist creating a very large work of art glorifying various aspects of his religion in his own talented way.

We have a supportive church that will benefit from folks coming to see and admire its beauty. We have an artisan who is not creating monstrous objects like Christ urinating in a bottle.

Weird? Some artists do miniatures, some do massive pieces. They have talents on loan from God.

Would one opine that enormous frescoes painted on the inside of a dome in a huge cathedral by an artist who laid on his back on a scaffolding for decades be considered a "weird" endeavor? It was, by many at the time.

Congratulations to this artist and the supportive priest and congregation for backing this artisan. I firmly believe they feel it's for the glory of God and an admirable addition to the body of religious art in this country.....the same way we feel on a larger scale about Michelangelo's artistic gift to his religion, the Vatican and to the world.

Leni

10 posted on 05/24/2008 7:29:37 AM PDT by MinuteGal (Foot Soldier in FR's Light Verse Brigade)
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Comment #11 Removed by Moderator

To: Beloved Levinite
"I think not"

I could criticize your comments but your own words say it all....

12 posted on 05/24/2008 7:43:33 AM PDT by nevergore ("It could be that the purpose of my life is simply to serve as a warning to others.")
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To: Beloved Levinite

This is a Catholic caucus thread.


13 posted on 05/24/2008 7:48:36 AM PDT by Judith Anne
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To: Beloved Levinite
I guess that leaves the construction of churches, cathedrals, synagogues and temples out, doesn't it!

Yours is the second-most dumbest post I've read on the pages of FR since '98.

Leni

14 posted on 05/24/2008 7:53:39 AM PDT by MinuteGal (Foot Soldier in FR's Light Verse Brigade)
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To: Beloved Levinite

A Monstrance is a graven image? You have certainly revealed your ignorance on the subject. It’s ok, happens all the time.


15 posted on 05/24/2008 7:54:53 AM PDT by StAthanasiustheGreat (Vocatus Atque Non Vocatus Deus Aderit)
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To: Beloved Levinite; Religion Moderator

Caucus Thread violation.


16 posted on 05/24/2008 7:55:43 AM PDT by StAthanasiustheGreat (Vocatus Atque Non Vocatus Deus Aderit)
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Comment #17 Removed by Moderator

Comment #18 Removed by Moderator

To: Guyin4Os

Again, you apparently are also completely ignorant of what a monstrance is. Your assignment is to look up Monstrance in at least three different sources (not Jack Chick) and then you will know that the Monstrance isn’t an image or statue that is adored. Geesh, I know ignorance is bliss, but really.


19 posted on 05/24/2008 8:18:41 AM PDT by StAthanasiustheGreat (Vocatus Atque Non Vocatus Deus Aderit)
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To: Guyin4Os

This is a caucus thread.


20 posted on 05/24/2008 8:31:05 AM PDT by Judith Anne
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