23. Bishop Vestments

I’m excited for today’s Catholic Massterclass because we get to have a little show-and-tell. Last week I mentioned the vestment colors that the clergy wear during Mass and other liturgies. For the next two weeks I am going to focus on particular vestments, this week looking at the specific articles worn by bishops. It’s not very common to see a bishop during Mass, unless he comes for a Confirmation Mass or if you attend one of the bigger feast days at the Cathedral in Crookston. Still, there are some distinct articles worn by bishops that are helpful to understand for the next time you see one.

 

Starting at the top, the bishop wears two pieces of headgear that the priest doesn’t wear. The first of those is the miter, which is the tall pointy hat. The miter has its deepest origins in the Old Testament. The high priest was to wear a turban (sometimes translated as miter) to signify his office, which had a gold plate that read “Holy to the Lord” (Exodus 28:36-38). If you remember from previous homilies, Jesus Christ is the eternal high priest and all priests share in His high priesthood. Bishops share more fully in His high priesthood, so they are given more articles to emphasize this connection. The style of the bishop’s miter was influenced by the distinct headgear worn by Roman officials. The two points on the miter and two hanging bands symbolize the Old and New Testaments.

 

Underneath the miter is the zucchetto, which looks like a small skullcap. In the past, clergy received a tonsure—a ceremonial shaving of the crown of the head—as a visible sign of their consecration to God. The zucchetto originated as a means to keep their skulls warm in colder weather and protected from the sun in warmer weather. Over time it has become another symbol of the office the bishop occupies.

 

Moving down around the bishop’s neck is the pectoral cross, which is a cross he wears with a longer-than-usual chain. The cross rests near his heart and reminds the bishop to model his life on the Cross of Jesus Christ and to bear the burden of his office with that same charity of Jesus. The bishop of a diocese is responsible for every soul living in his diocese, Catholic or not, and this is a great burden to carry. It is his primary cross to bear.

 

Sliding down his right arm, we find on the bishop’s right hand an episcopal ring, which signifies the authority of his office. Romans in the Roman Empire wore rings as a sign of their authority and as their own personal seal. Since the Roman Catholic Church had its home base in Rome, bishops developed the practice of wearing rings also. There has been a custom throughout history to kiss the ring of the bishop as a way to honor his office and signify allegiance to his authority. Some people still choose to observe this practice today - when shaking the bishop’s hand, they will bow down to kiss his ring - not as personal admiration, but as a sign of reverence for the bishop’s apostolic office and the unity of the Church. The ring also symbolizes the bishop's fidelity to the Church, the Bride of Christ.

Finally, in the bishop’s left hand is his crosier, which is symbolic of his role as the chief shepherd of his diocese. Just as shepherds use a crosier to guide, organize, protect, and defend their flock, so the bishop carries a crosier to signify that he must do the same with the charity of Christ the Good Shepherd, who leads us beside restful waters (Ps 23) and lays down His life for His sheep (Jn 10:11).