Our hand-crafted, embroidered silk and velvet personal monstrance was made by an Irish nun to commemorate the 31st International Eucharistic Congress celebrated in Dublin, Ireland in 1932. First convened in Lille, France in 1881, such conferences which occurred regularly over the following decades gathered clergy, religious scholars and laity to probe the deep significance of transubstantiation to the Catholic faith. Dublin was deemed the appropriate host of the 31st Conference because of Ireland’s large Catholic population, and because 1932 was the 1500th anniversary of St. Patrick's arrival on the island. Consequently, this Conference and became a national celebration involving construction of new buildings, celebrity speeches and widespread grassroots participation. Nun's whose cloistered life revolved around daily prayer, spiritual reading, and work maintaining the monastery, were also practiced in needlework and crafting. Our lovingly wrought Gothic inspired monstrance is an example. A monstrance is a sometimes quite elaborate gold or silver piece of altar furniture meant to display a consecrated Eucharistic wafer. Our example is a more personal expression of the form which, while relatively modest, is still a splendid object of veneration in its own way. The hand-calligraphed paper banner proclaiming, Ecce Panis Angelorum or Behold the Bread of Angels proudly announces holy purpose with quiet dignity undoubtedly reflecting its maker. Condition: Excellent. Dimensions: 6" x 3".