Crosier

(or CROZIER), properly an archbishop's staff, terminating at the top in a floriated cross, as shown in the subjoined illustration of archbishop Warham's crosier (1520) in the cathedral of Canterbury, England. It is gilt, sometimes even of gold. The term crosier is also applied to the bishop's staff, which is surmounted by a crook or curved circular head. This "pastoral staff," in the Roman Church, is carried before bishops, abbots, and abbesses as an ensign, expressive of their dignity while they are exercising the functions of their office, and the figure of which is also found in their coat of arms. The origin of the crosier is the shepherd's crook, the bishops being regarded as the pastors of their dioceses. By degrees this humble emblem became greatly adorned, and was made of costly materials. Some suppose the crosier to have been originally only a simple staff, which, from the earliest times, was given to judges, kings, etc., as an emblem of authority. St. Isidore says bishops bear the staff because it is their duty to correct the erring and to support the weak. SEE STAFF.