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”.
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.