AmericanPapist Comments
All I can say is WOW! And to think it is still a pale and foolish attempt when compared to the glory that it is made to hold!
Just an afternoon of Adoration at your local parish church!
Wow! That is gorgeous!
Looks more like a "monsterance" to me.
WOW-that IS a "Monsterance"! Where is it located?
How would you ever carry that?
This is far from "gorgeous." "Gaudy" would be more like it, but that still does not convey the lack of proportionality, disregard for converging lines, etc. that constitute great art, as epitomized by high medieval gothic and north Italian renaissance. And the crown on top is just ridiculous.
I dig it.
It's awesome. Period.
At least you can see it. Joe parish would block your view in most churches. Not here! :-)
Uh, so where's the crucifix?
Oh geeze. If self-styled orthodox Catholics cannot see that this is inferior art, then the state of Catholic education and ethos is at a worst level than I expected. The travesty of so much Baroque art in the 18th-19th centuries was due to an enclosed, sectarian, reactionary spirit that crept into post-Reformation Catholicism, such that "the bigger and more spectacular the better" became the ruling ideology in art. It seems that this same lack of authentic aesthetic understanding (once again, epitomized in Medieval and Renaissance art) is dominant today even among those who rightly recognize the banality of modernist art.
point of clarification: the Medieval and Renaissance artists epitomized "authentic aesthetic understanding," not the "lack" thereof.
We've got the Gothic snob. All we need now is a Baroque snob and we can get a real battle going. I'll check at fisheaters.
The parish obviously likes it. :)
It is indeed magnificent, and fitting. It doesn't have to be your favorite style, or a masterpiece, to be something pretty darned good.
I actually love both Baroque and Gothic, Both are spectacular. But I think this monstrance is sorta a mixture of the two, that explains why it doesn't sit 'right', but i'm no expert on such matters.
I think a couple of folks are on to something here. Charles Ryder experienced a conversion to the Baroque, but in the wrong hands, it just goes garish.
Quite Possibly, even Art can be done the wrong way in the most meaningful and inspirational of hands.
With all due respect to Kevin, the "gaudiness" of the monstrance may not appeal to you, but I believe it reflects the artist's desire to show the magnificence of the KING Of kings-hence the crown at the top. I think despite it's immense size, it serves it's purpose: to show the Holy Eucharist. If I'm not mistaken the Latin word for "show" is "monstrare". Am I correct?
HOLY MONSTRANCE .... literally. Wow.
Anna Maria: sure, fine. no one disgarees with that. the problem is, if that is the goal, why stop with a monstrance that is only 7 feet across and 11 feet tall? my parish could easily afford a bigger monstrance. so what? should we buy a bigger one to better show the King of Kings? Size is sometimes used as substitute for creativity. osistm.
Mr Peters-What do you mean by creativity? Do you prefer a minimalistic, 12 inch high, stainless steel circle on a stick? Why must we always skimp when it comes to honoring our Lord? BTW I was addressing KD's blanket dismissal of the monstrance as "gaudy". I'd venture to think that the artist tried to convey GOD's glory as best as he could. Needless to say none of this stuff matters if we don't love GOD in the first place. So gaudy or "tasteful" was the monstrance a display of love? P.S. Like American P., I dig it too.
the conversation wont go anwhere without pictures....stainless steel circle on a stick, and all that...
I think we'd all agree that it's what is inside the monstrance that really counts. We've never been shy of showing God's glory in even the decor of our churches (and yes, even monstrances)... even if that means not being exactly artistic. I think it's beautiful for that reason. Bravo, Anna Maria. This is definitely cooler than a tiny one. My only question is how do you get the Body up there? Climb? Maybe they have a ladder...?
Maggie-good question. Maybe theres a hidden stairway. Excellent comments BTW. As Mothers Theresa & Angelica always said, JESUS deserves our best-simple or extravagant.
TO Anna Maria: The one advantage of a simple circle on a stick is that it's a bit easier to carry. This Protie admires the procession of the Eucharist, moving this would be interesting.
Panda-What is a "Protie"? I dont think that the structure in the picture is meant to be portable. I'm sure the article that is linked to AmP blog gives an explanation.
Protie--just short for Protestant. I also call myself a Presby, or Presbyterian, (like my grandmother).
I was just wondering, as I have seen that beautiful ceremony where Pope Benedict carried the Eucharist on its stand through Rome.
Panda-Re "Protie" DUH! I shoulda guessed. BTW it's heartwarming to know when a "Protie" bro or sis digs Catholic traditions. PAX CHRISTI!
Panda Rosa,
If you don't mind my saying this, you are one of the funniest people around here, either "Protie" or Catholic! You comments often leave me laughing throughout the day. :-)
Thanks, David, and all the rest. Please pray for me, I know someday I'm bound to swim the Tiber.
Why would anyone want to swim in the Tiber?
Why would anyone want to swim in the Tiber?
Why, to be caught by the Fisherman of course! ;-)
I realize this is an old thread, but Mr. Peters' request for pictures of "stainless steel circles" etc. was intriguing. None of these are actually made of stainless steel, but even with the flaws of the *huge* monstrance I sort of prefer its overdone grandeur to these, which convey no sense of the sacred at all:
http://v-
forvictory.blogspot.com...trancities.html
Hey... um, hate to interrupt the "monstrous" debate here, but does anyone know exactly where this monstrance is- what church?
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