ostensorium

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os·ten·so·ri·um

(ŏs′tən-sôr′ē-əm) also os·ten·so·ry (ŏ-stĕn′sə-rē)

n. pl. os·ten·so·ri·a (-sôr′ē-ə) also os·ten·so·ries Roman Catholic Church

[Medieval Latin ostēnsōrium, from Latin ostēnsus, past participle of ostendere, to show; see ostensible.]

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Noun

ostensorium - (Roman Catholic Church) a vessel (usually of gold or silver) in which the consecrated Host is exposed for adoration

monstrance

vessel - an object used as a container (especially for liquids)

Church of Rome, Roman Catholic Church, Roman Church, Western Church, Roman Catholic - the Christian Church based in the Vatican and presided over by a pope and an episcopal hierarchy

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Interestingly, the sun/god connection might also likely be seen at the apotheosis at the end of the auto when the host would have to be held high and displayed before the audience quite possibly in a sunburst shaped device known as a monstrance or ostensorium from the Latin ostendere, meaning "to show." The sunburst shape became popular precisely during the baroque period.

REDEFINING AN AUTO SACRAMENTAL: ALLEGORICAL PSYCHOMACHY AND THE MYSTICAL TRADITION IN TIRSO DE MOLINA'S NO LE ARRIENDO LA GANANCIA

Elizabeth of Hungary Chaplaincy here also closed the church for a month to allow devotees time to make up for the theft of their monstrance (also known as an ostensorium) by doing barefoot processions.