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Symbols of a bishop
A
bishop, from the Greek word episkopos (overseer), is a direct
successor to the apostles. Bishops have, by divine institution,
taken the place of the apostles as pastors of the church. The
ordination and installation of Bishop Gerald M. Barbarito as the
fifth bishop of Palm Beach Diocese focuses a spotlight on symbols
of a bishop. In fact, the bishop himself is a symbol and is
surrounded by symbols. Let us look at some of them.
The Bishop's Chair
In ancient times, a chair was a sign of authority to teach. The
bishop's chair is called a cathedra from the Latin word for chair
and it is the presence of the bishop's cathedra in a church that
makes it a cathedral. The bishop's chair, then is a symbol of the
bishop's teaching office and pastoral power in his diocese. It is
also a sign of the unity of believers in the faith that the bishop
proclaims as shepherd of the Lord's flock.
 Coat of Arms
A bishop's coat of arms is distinguished by a sign of his rank.
That sign, placed over the shield, is a particular version of an
ecclesiastical hat that was worn in processions, as late as 1870.
The hat is low-crowned, flat, and widebrimmed. On a bishop's coat
of arms, the hat is green and hanging from it are 12 green
tassels, six on each side. There's also a processional cross above
the shield. The cross on a bishop's coat of arms has one bar; an
archbishop's cross has two. The design of the shield itself
differs from bishop to bishop.
Miter
The miter is the proper liturgical headdress for all bishops of
the Latin rite, including the pope. The word comes from the Greek
word mitra, meaning "turban." It consists of two stiffened flaps
of material joined by a headband with two fringed strips hanging
from the back base of the miter. The miter as we know it today
developed from the conical head-covering worn by the pope that
appeared in the tenth century. At first, it was only used by the
pope.
 Pectoral Cross
The pectoral cross gets its name because it is worn over the
breast, or pectus, hanging from a green cord intertwined with gold
threads. There are rules determining whether it is worn over or
under whatever the bishop is wearing. If he's in a suit and
collar, the pectoral cross is usually placed in the vest pocket
with the chain showing.
Crozier
The crozier is a pastoral staff that is conferred on bishops (and
abbots) at their installation. In the West, the top of the staff
is curved to remind the bishop of the shepherd's crook and of his
pastoral care of the people entrusted to him. It is a sign of the
bishop's need to keep watch over his whole flock, sustaining the
weak and faltering, confirming the wavering faith, and leading
back the erring ones into the true fold.
 Ring
The bishop's ring is a symbol of the bishop's fidelity to and
nuptial bond with the church, his spouse. It signifies the
bishop's symbolic marriage to the church or Christ. The bishop's
ring is usually made of gold with an amethyst. The bishop's ring
was first mentioned as an official part of the bishop's insignia
in the early seventh century.
Zucchetto
The zucchetto is a skullcap worn, particularly by prelates, since
the thirteenth century. The pope wears
a white zucchetto; cardinals, a red zucchetto; and bishops, a
purple zucchetto. Everyone else wears black. |
