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.
Mark the calendars!
When it comes to a consecrated Host, why is bigger better?
That is one monstrous monstrance. /rimshot
Amazing!
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))
just weird.
>> 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.
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
I could criticize your comments but your own words say it all....
This is a Catholic caucus thread.
Yours is the second-most dumbest post I've read on the pages of FR since '98.
Leni
A Monstrance is a graven image? You have certainly revealed your ignorance on the subject. It’s ok, happens all the time.
Caucus Thread violation.
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.
This is a caucus thread.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.