an evening office, which took its origin in Southern Europe (Spain and Italy), consisting of an exposition of the Sacrament, accompanied with chanting and a brilliant display of tapers. It varies in different churches; at Lyons it is not followed by benediction, and in France generally is only used in a solemn form on the eves of great festivals. The Roman rite requires the sign of the cross to be made with the monstrance in silence; but in some parts of France the priest uses a form of benediction.