34 BULLETIN 148, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM 



84-85. Vase and tray. — Made of white metal. Chased and repouss6 

 work. Used for ablution by the bishop before and after celebration 

 of mass. Height of vase, 8 inches; diameters, 3 and 2K inches; 

 diameters of the tray, 12K and 9^ inches. Italy. (Plate 9 (left), 

 figs. 2 and 3, Cat. No. 152228, U.S.N.M.) 



SERVICE OF BENEDICTION 



The service of Benediction, or as it is more fully called, Benediction 

 of the Blessed Sacrament, is an afternoon or evening devotion. Its 

 main feature is the exposing of the Eucharist (the consecrated host), 

 upon the altar in an ostensory, which is surrounded with hghts, in- 

 censed, and adored. After the singing of certain hymns and litanies 

 the celebrant, clad in a cope and his shoulders enveloped in a humeral 

 veil, in which he wraps his hands, takes the ostensory and makes 

 with it the sign of the cross in silence over the kneeling congregation. 



86-87. Cope, veil, and stole. — The cope is of yellow croisson silk, the 

 veil of white and blue silk. The cope is a wide garment, reaching 

 nearly to the feet, open in front and fastened by a clasp, with a semi- 

 circular cape at the back. Italy. (Plate 11 (lower), Cat. No. 

 152226, and 179008-9, U.S.N.M.) 



88. Ostensory (from Latin ostendere, to show, to expose, also called 

 monstrance, from Latin monstrare, to show). — This consists of a disk 

 encompassed with sunbeams and surmounted by a cross, set upon a 

 long stem, which rests on a base like a chaUce. In the center is in- 

 serted a lunette, a circular crystal case in which the host is placed for 

 exposition. The base and stem are of brass; the upper part is of 

 silver, gilded. Height, 20% inches; diameter, 10 and 4^4 inches. 

 Italy. (Plate 8 (lower), fig. 2, Cat. No. 179018, U.S.N.M.) 



89. Piece of carved ivory. — Cut in form resembling a heart. In 

 open work are the letters J H S (Jesus hominum Salvator), sur- 

 mounted by a cross. Above are perforations arranged to represent 

 a crown. Around the edge are incised diagonal or zigzag lines. Per- 

 haps used as an ecclesiastical badge. Dimensions, 4% by 4K inches. 

 Italy. (Cat. No. 292307, U.S.N.M.) 



90. Triptych. — Made in Gothic style, of wood, painted and gilded. 

 On the upper tier is represented Christ seated in the center, the right 

 hand raised in blessing, the left holding the Gospels, with angels' 

 heads at his feet, and Mary and the angel of annunciation on the 

 sides. On the lower tier, in the center, is represented Mary holding 

 the Infant Jesus, attended by angels on either hand; while the two 

 side panels are occupied by St. Peter with the keys and St. Paul with 

 the sword, respectively, each holding the Gospel book. Height, 29 

 inches; width, 20% inches. Italy. (Plate 12 (lower). Cat. No. 

 179038, U.S.N.M.) 



