The Bishop’s Insignias

Mr. Pablo CuadraReligion Class

The Bishop’s Insignias

``Where the Bishop is, there let the multitude of believers be; even as where Jesus is, there is the Catholic Church''

Ignatius of Antioch, 1st c. A.D

The Pope, bishop of Romedelivering his message “Urbi et Orbi”

What is Pontificalia?

• Pontificalia is the collective name given for convenience sake to those insignia of the Episcopal order which of right are worn by bishops alone.

• In its broader sense the term may be taken to include all the items of attire proper to bishops.

The Mitre• The Mitre or miter is a ceremonial hat used

by Roman and Eastern Catholic bishops when presiding over the Catholic liturgy.

• The etymology of the word mitre comes from the Greek word μίτρα which means turban.

• The origin of the mitre or miter dates back to Byzantium. It was the practice of the officials of the byzantine court to wear head caps known as camelaucum. In the late empire it developed into the close type of imperial crown. It is from this custom that the use of the Papal tiara and the Mitre stems from.

• The Mitre is a symbol of the bishops’ authority as the head and spiritual pastor of a diocese.

"Plainly therefore we ought to regard the bishop as the Lord Himself" — Epistle of Ignatius of Antioch to the Ephesians 6:1.

Did you know?

• At first the mitre was used exclusively by the Pope as a mark of distinction , but by the twelfth century its use was extended to all bishops. As a mark of their office and a symbol of their authority.

Types of Mitre• Simplex: This is a white miter made out of

linen or silk and very plain in appearance. White miters are used by bishops during funerals, concelebrations and on Good Friday.

• Pretiosa: The word itself means precious. This is a gold mitre more elaborate than the simplex miter. It is used by bishops on Sundays or solemnities. In the past these type of mitres were decorated with precious stones and gold.

• Auriphrygiata: This mitre is made out of silk or cloth. It can be either gold or white and has embroideries made out of silver or gold. It is usually worn by bishops when administering the sacraments.

He who honors the bishop has been honored by God; he who does anything without the knowledge of the bishop, does in reality serve the devil. St. Ignatius of Antioch.

Did you know?

• In some Lutheran traditions bishops wear the Episcopal mitre.

• The miter is also worn by Anglican and Episcopalian bishops.

How does the Mitre look like?

Roman Catholic Mitre Eastern Catholic MitreThe mitre is a tall folding cap, consisting of two similar parts

(the front and back) rising to a peak and sewn together at

the sides. Two short lappets always hang down from the back.

It is made in the form of a crowncontaining four icons representingChrist, the Theotokos, John the Baptistand the Cross. The mitre is topped with a standing cross.

Did you know?

• Bishops are invested with a mitre during their ordination ceremony.

• The mitre is used by popes, bishop, cardinals, and by abbots when officiating at liturgical ceremonies.

The Pallium • Can. 437 §1. Within three months from the

reception of episcopal consecration or if he has already been consecrated, from the canonical provision, a metropolitan is obliged to request the pallium from the Roman Pontiff either personally or through a proxy. The pallium signifies the power which the metropolitan, in communion with the Roman Church, has by law in his own province.

• The pallium is hence a symbol of communion and jurisdiction delegated by the bishop of Rome to metropolitan Archbishops.

• An archbishop who has not received the pallium cannot exercise any of his functions as metropolitan, nor any metropolitan prerogatives whatever.

• If an Archbishop is transferred to another archdiocese, he must again petition the Holy Father for a new pallium.

• The new pallia are solemnly blessed after the Second Vespers on the feast of Saints Peter and Paul, and are then kept in a special silver-gilt casket near the Confessio Petri (tomb of St. Peter) until required.

Zuchetto• The color of the zucchetto denotes the

wearer's rank: the Pope's zucchetto is white, those worn by cardinals are red, bishops and territorial abbots and territorial prelates are violet.

• Priests and deacons wear a black zucchetto although the use of the zucchetto by priests and deacons in actual practice is extremely rare.

• It was developed to cover the tonsure, that part of the back of the head that was shaved as a man entered into the clerical state.

• It is worn during liturgical and some non-liturgical functions and it is removed during the liturgy at the Holy, Holy, Holy so that thehead might not be covered in the presence of the Blessed Sacrament.

Pectoral Cross• "Far be it from me to glory except in the cross of our

Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world" (Gal. 6:14).

• The Pectoral Cross is worn by the pope, cardinals, bishops, and abbots.

• It is worn over the breast (pectus) of the wearer.

• The pectoral cross reflects the order of dignity of the office of bishop or abbot.

• The bishop assumes the cross upon his ordination and wears this cross either suspended from a ceremonial cord at liturgical services or on a chain with his clerical suit.

• "I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me; and the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me" (Gal. 2:20).

The Crozier• The crozier or pastoral staff is a symbol of

the bishop as the spiritual shepherd of a diocese.

• The same way a shepherd leads the flock with his staff, so does the bishop lead the people of God to the truth of Christ through sound teaching and example.

• By the sixth century the crozier was a symbol used by all bishops as a sign of their ministry as spiritual shepherds of the Church.

• The crozier is carried by the bishop during liturgical ceremonies as a sign of his jurisdiction and authority.

Did you Know?

• When a bishop is inside his own diocese, the crozier is carried with the curve facing out; when he is outside his own diocese, the curve faces in.

Types of Crozier

• Traditional Western Crozier Eastern Catholic Crozier or pateritsa

In the Slavic tradition known as the pateritsa, is found in two common forms. One is tau-shaped, with curved arms, surmounted by a small cross. The other has a top comprising a pair of sculptured serpents or dragons curled back to face each other, with a small cross between them.

The Pope’s Crozier

• Pope Paul VI introduced the crozier in the shape of Cross.

• Paul VI, John Paul I, John Paul II and Benedict XVI have all used the Cross shaped crozier.

The Episcopal Ring• The ring is a sign of the fidelity of the

bishop to the Church.

• The Pope the bishop of Rome wears a ring known as the Fisherman’s ring.

• The purpose of the Fisherman’s ring was to established a link between the ministry of the bishop of Rome and the ministry of St. Peter the Apostle, the first bishop of Rome.

• By the eleventh century bishops adopted the practice of wearing a ring as a symbol of their participation in the ministry of the Apostles.

The cardinal of Boston receiving the ring from the Pope.

Cathedral Church

• The Cathedral church is the chief church of a diocese or the bishop’s church.

• All the official liturgical functions of a diocese are celebrated in the Cathedral.

• It is in the Cathedral that the bishop presides, teaches, and conducts worship for the Christian community of the diocese. St. Mary’s Cathedral

Archdiocese of Miami

Cathedra• The bishop’s chair, or cathedra, is

a sign of the bishop’s teaching office and pastoral power in the particular church or diocese.

• Thus, the bishop’s chair is reserved to the bishop. The bishop may however allow another bishop to use his chair, but never a priest.

• Another presidential chair is placed in the cathedral church from which a priest presides.

The word Cathedra meansElevated seat or throne.

Coat of Arms

• A bishop’s coat of arms is part of a tradition rooted in ecclesiastical heraldry which purpose was to identify bishops and their dioceses.

• The custom of heraldry developed in Europe in the 12th century.

• The Coat of Arms of a bishop has the following characteristics:

• A. It is personally designed by a bishop upon his nomination.

• B. It often includes the bishop’s ethnic origin, previous service, devotions and interests.

• C. The coat of arms is adorned with a shield, a galero (hat), tassels, cross, mitre and pallium (if the bishop is a metropolitan), crozier, mantle and a Motto.

• D. It is displayed officially as symbol of the bishop in all the official documents, buildings, websites related to the bishop and his diocese.

Coat of Arms of theArchbishop of Boston

Motto

• A motto is a short phrase usually appearing below the shield as a statement of belief.

"For those who love God all things work together for good."

• Coat of Arms of the bishop of Beaumont

Bishop’s motto

Did you know?

Abbots are the spiritual fathers of a monastery. They have jurisdiction over their monastery. When they are blessed as Abbots their receive the following Episcopal insignias: The mitre, crozier, ring, pectoral cross and coat of arms.

Abbot wearing the EpiscopalInsignias.

Prayer

Lord Jesus Christ, you sent your Apostles to proclaim the Good News with Peter at

their head and you strengthened them with the Holy Spirit.

Remind us that our bishops are appointed by that same Spirit and are the successors of the Apostles as Pastors of Souls.

Together with the Pope and under his authority they have been sent throughout the world to continue your work.

Help our bishop to teach all members of his diocese, to sanctify them in the truth, and to give them your nourishment.

Make us obey his teachings and love him as the Church obeys and loves you.

May we remain united him, growing in faith and love, and attain eternal life with you.

Amen

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