Getting High in Peru, Year 2, Monstrance?

Getting High in Peru, Year 2: Monstrance in the Monasterio de Santa Catalina

Monstrance, six feet in height

 

            I have seen (and photographed) these gold and silver objects in Spanish cathedrals and here in Arequipa there are two of them. When I’ve seen these in Spain, I wondered if the gold and silver came from the Aztec or Inca gold and silver artifacts. Reading the dates of when they were made, the odds were that the answer was—yes. This one pictured here is on display in Arequipa’s Monasterio de Santa Catalina. Again, when I saw this one last year and now again this year, I wondered if the gold and silver came from the Incas. In Arequipa’s Santa Catalina’s Monastery and for the other example, the answer is no. 

A monstrance (more than 6-feet in height) is a gold covered silver liturgical object with numerous religious symbols. The silver came from the Caylloma silver mines discovered in 1626 and even in 2013 the mine produced 2.1 million ozs of silver and 2,012 ozs of gold. The mine is located a bit more than 100 miles northwest of Arequipa. However, here back in the 17^th century, the Spanish system of forced labor was used at the mines and llamas were used to transport. The abundance of silver led the development of the silversmith craft and making of the monstrance and other objects used in the Catholic churches. This one and the monstrance at the St. Teresa Monastery were crafted by master silversmith Pedro Jose Zegarra. It was presented to the monastery in 1852. Some of the silver and the gold for the gold plate came from the older monstrance, the main altar, old ornaments, and contributions from lay people and nuns.  

The top part of the Monstrance with the sheaves of wheat and grape vines just above.

            Some of the symbolism starting at the top, the round gold sphere represents the sun (alluding to the Eternal Father). Above the big angel in the center are sheaves of wheat and grape vines to represent the body and blood of Jesus. 

The bottom beginning with the big angel

             Left of the angel and below (as you view it here) is St. John with the eagle. To the right is St. Luke with the bull. Below John and more left is Matthew with a small angel and to the very right below Luke is Mark the Evangelist with the lion. The guy in the center wearing the ephod is the priest, and below him is the Lamb with the seven seals of the Apocalypse. There is more symbolism on the Monstrance, but these examples are more easily explained to a general audience.
             Check for these liturgical objects as you travel in Spain or in South America and check for the date of construction. 
 Paz Neal Bierling

Full view of the Monstrance