'Trappings' of an archbishop help define his role

	A Man of History A Shepherd of Hope A Catholic Herald special supplement Supplement home Aug. 22 issue home

MILWAUKEE -- The Catholic Church has a rich history steeped in symbolism and ritual. Many of those symbols help define the role of the archbishop of a diocese. Following are descriptions of the symbols and signs that help define an archbishop, and in particular, reflect Archbishop Timothy M. Dolan's episcopacy.

Motto: "Lord, to whom shall we go?" (Jn 6:68) is Dolan's motto -- his work mantra. Because a bishop selects his own motto, it might be an indication of his leadership style.

Pallium: The pallium is one of the most significant trappings that an archbishop vests. It is a symbol of superior episcopal authority and dignity, given only by the pope. A pallium is a circular band of white wool with two hanging pieces (front and back) decorated with six black crosses, worn over the shoulders by all metropolitan archbishops and by the pope himself. Prior to the ninth century, it was apparently a ceremonial garment granted to certain bishops as an honor; by the ninth century all metropolitans came to wear it at specific pontifical liturgies. The ceremony for blessing the lambs that are shorn for pallia wool annually takes place Jan. 21, the feast of St. Agnes.

Once made and blessed, the pallia are kept near the tomb of Peter until sent by the pope to a new patriarch or archbishop metropolitan as a symbol of communion as well as of dignity. The metropolitan must ask for the pallium within three months; its use is enjoined for metropolitan and other jurisdiction or sacramental ceremonies. Dolan will travel to Rome to receive his pallium as part of a spiritual pilgrimage next June.

Crosier: A crosier is a pastoral staff 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. The earliest known liturgical reference to the crosier is from the seventh century. From the 12th century to the time of Paul VI, the popes did not use a crosier, but now they use one in the form of a crucifix mounted on a long staff. Present day crosiers tend to be of simple design and material.

Miter: A miter is the tall, pointed ceremonial hat worn as part of liturgical dress by a pope, bishop or abbot. The miter and the pastoral staff are symbols of the office of bishop.

Pectoral cross: A pectoral cross is usually of precious metal (sometimes ornamented with jewels). It is suspended by a chain around the neck, worn over the breast -- hence, the name from pectus, "breast" by abbots, bishops, archbishops, cardinals and the pope. It is worn over the cassock (or monastic habit) when the prelate is dressed in a cassock only (i.e., for non-liturgical functions), or over the mozzetta when he is in choir dress. It is worn over the alb and under the chasuble at the celebration at which a chasuble is worn (i.e., Mass and sacraments).

The pectoral cross is also worn by prelates when dressed in a suit and collar; in this case the cross is usually placed in the vest pocket with the chain showing.

Ring: Both a bishop and an archbishop wear a ring. The ring is a circular band of metal, sometimes ornamented with gems, pearls or enamel. The Christian use of wedding rings developed from the Roman custom of betrothal rings. Wearing the wedding ring on the third finger of the left hand seems to be connected originally with pronouncing the Trinitarian formula over the thumb and first two fingers, so that the "Amen" was pronounced on the third finger.

Episcopal rings are first mentioned as an official part of the bishop's insignia of office in the early seventh century. The bishop's ring is usually made of gold. Nuns' rings are conferred at solemn profession. The pope's ring (the Fisherman's Ring) is a gold seal ring engraved with St. Peter in a boat fishing and the pope's name around it. At his death it is ceremonially broken by a cardinal.

Coat-of-arms: The coat-of-arms is a device based upon heraldic law and traditions which represents an individual, corporation, institution or political entity.

Ecclesiastical coats-of-arms are governed by regulations issued by the Vatican Secretariat of State and amended from time to time. The coat-of-arms of the Holy See is a red shield ensigned with the papal tiara over crossed gold and silver keys. The coat-of-arms of a particular pope includes the shield with his personal arms surmounted by the tiara and crossed keys.

The arms of ecclesiastical personalities are distinguished by the color of the ecclesiastical hat (a low-crowned, flat, wide-brimmed hat worn in processions until 1870) and the color and number of tassels on both sides. A cardinal's hat is red with 15 tassels on each side, a patriarch's is green with 15 tassels, an archbishop's is green with 10 tassels, a bishop's is green with six tassels. Behind the shield the processional cross is placed. A one-barred cross indicates a bishop, and a two-barred cross indicates an archbishop.

According to the Aug. 17, 2001, St. Louis Review, archdiocesan newspaper, the artwork for Dolan's coat-of-arms was designed by Msgr. Charles Burns, an official of the Vatican Secret Archives for 35 years, assisted by Msgr. Daniel Thomas. It was drawn by Aldo Conti, a retired engraver at the Vatican Printing Press. Dolan's coat of arms is inspired in part by the traditional coat of arms of the Dolan family. The shield is a royal blue with a silver horizontal bar, called a fess, designed across the middle. At the middle of the fess is a red crown, which is borrowed from the kingly crown of St. Louis from the coat of arms of the Archdiocese of St. Louis, his home diocese. The crown is placed in the center to emphasize the importance of the centrality of Christ in our lives and his kingship over all.

The two natural scrolls, or parchments with writing, are placed on the fess on either side of the crown. These items call to mind Dolan's baptismal patron, St. Timothy, a disciple of the Apostle of Paul and recipient of two of his pastoral letters.

Three crescents are also arranged on the blue shield. Above the fess is a silver crescent, which symbolizes Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception, patroness of the United States, and is taken from the coat of arms of the North American College in Rome, where Dolan studied for the priesthood and served as rector for seven years. The other crescents are gold and are retained from the traditional coat of arms to honor his family, particularly his mother and father, Shirley Dolan and the late Robert Dolan.