Definition of monstrance

An ornamental, often precious receptacle, either open or with a transparent cover, in which the consecrated host is placed for veneration.

- 1890: He loved to kneel down on the cold marble pavement and watch the priest, in his stiff flowered dalmatic, slowly and with white hands moving aside the veil of the tabernacle, or raising aloft the jewelled, lantern-shaped with that pallid wafer that at times, one would fain think, is indeed the "panis caelestis," the bread of angels, or, robed in the garments of the Passion of Christ, breaking the Host into the chalice and smiting his breast for his sins. " Oscar Wilde, The Picture of Dorian Gray http://etext.virginia.edu/etcbin/ot2www-pubeng?specfile=/texts/english/modeng/publicsearch/modengpub.o2w&act=surround&offset=746282105&tag=Wilde,+Oscar:+The+Picture+of+Dorian+Gray,+1890&query=monstrance&id=WilDori Chapter 11.

Etymology: From post-classical Latin monstrantia, from classical Latin monstrans, past participle of monstrare "show".

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