500 year-old monstrance to be used at 2011 World Youth Day

cna ^ | July 13, 2010

[NYer]

Madrid, Spain, Jul 13, 2010 / 03:07 pm (CNA/EWTN News).- Pilgrims attending World Youth Day in Madrid next year will see a monstrance from the 15th century that is known as “the finest example of Spanish silverwork of all time.” The Monstrance of Arfe will used during a time of Eucharist adoration led by Pope Benedict XVI at the international youth gathering.
 
According to a press release, the monstrance “is popularly known for being used during the Corpus Christi procession each year in Toledo.  It measures almost 9 feet tall and is made of gold and silver.”
 
Francisco Portela, professor of Art History at the Compultense University of Madrid, said the monstrance “is the finest example of Spanish silverwork of all time” and underscored that WYD would be a worthy occasion to bring the masterpiece to Madrid.
 
Juan Sanchez, the dean of the Cathedral of Toledo, where the monstrance is kept, said, “We were pleased to allow the monstrance to be used for WYD, knowing that it will be used for such a great purpose.”
 
The origin of Eucharistic monstrances dates back to the 13th century with the establishment of the feast of Corpus Christi.  They were developed primarily in Flanders and Germany, where the Arfe family had its origins. 

The famous Monstrance of Arfe is the masterpiece of German silversmith Henry of Arfe, who finished it in 1524 after nine years of work.
 
The Eucharistic adoration led by the Holy Father will take place on August 20 at the Cuatro Vientos Airfield, where the vigil will be held on Saturday night.  Young people will be able to “contemplate and admire a work of art that is unique in the world and is being used as its creators imagined, and they will rediscover the value of art in the liturgy,” organizers said.

[NYer]

The most important object kept in the chapel of the Treasure is the great monstrance. Enrique de Arfe labored on it from 1517–1524, on commission to Cardinal Cisneros. It is of archaic Gothic design. Initially made of silver by the 16th century Archbishop Quiroga commissioned that it be plated in gold, to match the gold plated wood of the monstrance of the altar.

Cardinal Cisneros wanted a monstrance of greater presence and importance than that of Isabella the Catholic to show it off in the procession of the Corpus Christi of Toledo, the most important that was celebrated in Castile. The monstrance took seven years to create and its cost surpassed 15 million maravedís, which Arce received, including the stipulated 2,700 reales, a bonus of 2,500 maravedís that the cathedral's chapter presented to him on Christmas of 1523, having been impressed by his work.

The monstrance has a hexagonal ground plan. It rises with small columns which are exquisitely made, with adornments of gems and varied figurines of angels, saints, fleurons, small bells and clappers. The work encloses in the last section where a cross of the 16th century is located. The pedestal on which it sits is Baroque of the 18th century.

In Toledo, it is by custom, since the year 1595, to carry out this monstrance in the procession of the Corpus Christi, on a float made for this purpose with an adjustable leveling which is mechanically activated. In the procession, ahead of the monstrance the political and ecclesiastical authorities and behind are the cadets of the Infantry Academy.

Curious facts: The monstrance is built with the help of 12,500 bolts which secure it, 5,600 diverse pieces and 260 figurines. 183 kg of silver and 18 of gold were used. Among the recorded inscriptions on it, can be read:

"Don Francisco Jiménez [Cardinal Cisneros], Cardinal Archbishop of Toledo, Governor of Spain and conqueror of Africa, commissioned this monstrance of the Most Holy Body of Christ to be made, which was finished during the vacant see, being worker Diego López de Ayala. Year of the Lord 1524."

[NYer]

Also in the news ...

Holy Father chooses religious freedom as theme for 2011 World Day of Peace

[Jim W N]

monstrance

Derived from the Classical Latin word monstrum (monster; portent, unnatural thing).

Hmmm, monstrance derived from the same word as monster...Wire it up, plug it in and you get what? - The Image of the Beast or some such thing?

[Pyro7480]

Uh no. It comes from the Latin word monstrare, meaning “to show”, as in “demonstrate.” In other words, it’s a device to display the Blessed Sacrament.

[ArrogantBustard]

Origin: 1250–1300; ME < ML mōnstrantia, equiv. to mōnstr ( āre ) to show ( see muster) + -antia -ance

Wire it up, plug it in, and what do you get?

A demonstration.

Incidentally, to muster (eg. troops) is derived from the same Latin root.

Do you contend that the United States Marine Corps is the Beast of Revelation? That would make just about as much sense (ie. none at all) as your original claim.

[vladimir998]

You wrote:

“Derived from the Classical Latin word monstrum (monster; portent, unnatural thing).”

Not as far as I can tell:

http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/11344a.htm

“Hmmm, monstrance derived from the same word as monster...Wire it up, plug it in and you get what? - The Image of the Beast or some such thing?”

Wow, are you ever off base.

The word is from a verb: monstrare. It means “to show”. The whole point is that people can see the Eucharist!

Monster on the other hand is from “Middle English monstre, from Old French, from Latin mnstrum, portent, monster, from monre, to warn; see men-1 in Indo-European roots.”

Thus, they are based on two DIFFERENT verbs: one means to show, the other means to warn. A derivative word from the same root would be something like “demonstrate”.

[ArrogantBustard]

“Monster” is also from the same Latin as “remonstrate”, “demonstrate”, “monstrance” and “muster”. In ancient times, a “monster” was considered a sign or indication of something. Still, the sort the sort of etymology that links “monster” in the modern sense with “monstrance” tells us more about the sort of people who would proclaim such etymology than it tells us about the Church.

[ArrogantBustard]

Now that we have the etymology resolved, I'll note that while the monstrance in question is huge, and spectacular, and very valuable ...

It is but dust (less than dust) in comparison to the Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity of Our Lord Jesus Christ which (in sacramental form) is contained within.

[UCANSEE2]

Yeah... but I think the kids would be more attracted to a ‘monster’.

Gold-plated Religious Relic just doesn’t have the same ring as ‘Godzilla’ IN PERSON.

And we would be wise to remember that there is a story in the Bible about those who worship a gold-plated idol.

[Jim W N]

Etymology of the English word monstrance the English word monstrance:

derived from the Old French word monstrance
derived from the Medieval Latin word monstrantia
derived from the Latin word monstrans
derived from the Latin word monstrare (show; point out, reveal)
derived from the Classical Latin word monstrum (monster; portent, unnatural thing)

[Jim W N]

See post #11.

This was kind of tongue-in-cheek comment, not to be taken too seriously...with some possible truth in there somewhere.

[Jim W N]

the United States Marine Corps is the Beast of Revelation

Maybe, if they let the queers in without qualification...

[UCANSEE2]

What it tells us is that people in ‘the Church’ (who created this), are better at Latin than some Freepers.

[UCANSEE2]

the United States Marine Corps is the Beast of Revelation

I don't know about the 'beast', but we train 'em to be 'monsters' on a leash.

[Tax-chick]

Wow, it’s really big.

[UCANSEE2]

Well, one could say it’s a MONSTER of a RELIGIOUS RELIC.

[mlizzy]

Beautiful! (ty)

The centerpiece of the Treasure Room is this 500-pound, 10-foot high, 15th-century gilded monstrance. Its creator is Juan del Arfe, a silversmith of German descent. The monstrance is made of solid silver and was gilded 70 years later, allegedly with gold brought back from the New World by Columbus. It is still carried through the streets of Toledo during the feast of Corpus Christi.

[UCANSEE2]

Technically, it is “the great monstrance”.

Which, you must admit, is a pretty good title for a SCIFI movie.

[UCANSEE2]

Wow, it’s really big.

It's called THE GREAT MONSTRANCE for that reason.

: )