What is LUNA…the part that goes into the monstrance in the adoration room? Is it possible that not all Catholics have heard of the word. “Luna” in the dictionary is the Roman mythological goddess of the moon. Please give us some information on the word and its purpose.
I’d better put this one to rest before the conspiracy theories start spreading (think Dan Brown and the Da Vinci Code)! No need to worry or bring any myths or goddesses into this mix. The word “luna” is Latin and means “moon”. Thus, we get the word “lunar” in English. The part of a monstrance that holds the host is indeed called a luna. The reason we call it “luna” is that the part used to be (and sometimes still is) formed in a crescent shape that kind of looks like a crescent moon. It is shaped this way because the host is round and something has to hold it up for us to see it, so a round host naturally would fit well into a crescent grooved piece. Now, the luna we have is a bit different. It is not crescent, but is a full circle with glass on both sides of the host to protect it. This is an evolved form of the old crescent luna. The luna simply holds the host. The luna can be removed from the monstrance to properly store the Eucharist in the tabernacle when no one is adoring Jesus.
Another question, while I’m looking at my rather neglected Latin book is what is a “monstrance”? Sounds scary, right? Wrong, nothing to fear once again! The word “monstrance” comes from the Latin word “monstrare” which means “to show”. We get the English word “demonstrate” from this Latin root. The name indicates its function: to show the Eucharist. Actually, all the items we use in our liturgies (in the Church, at Mass, etc.) come from the Latin (who would have guessed it). It does add a bit of mystery to say, “please hand me the luna to place in the monstrance” rather than “please hand me the host-holder to place in the Eucharist show-er thingy.” Don’t worry, however, you are not the only one to not know the Latin terms for these things. I didn’t know most of them until I went to seminary, and there are a few I still don’t know. See it as an opportunity to learn. If you have no idea what these things are that I am talking about, then take a moment sometime to ask me or pop into the adoration chapel, but remember it is a place of prayer and adoration of our Lord truly present in the Eucharist.
-Fr. Greg
If you would like submit a question, please write it out and place it in the “Ask a Priest” box in the vestibule or email me at frgreg@kc.rr.com.
