One of the traditions that the papacy attacked through Church reform was the symbolic gifts of the ring and staff given to new appointees by the laypeople. These represented a marriage to the Church by the ring and the duty of a good shepherd by the staff (also known as a crozier). This signified a layperson's "investment" into a bishop's office (Bennett, 172). Under the Concordat of Worms (c. 1122), the bestowing of the ring and staff no longer was a layperson's privilege, since only the pope was allowed to bestow spiritual authority. The emperor did however retain the power to give territorial and administrative authority to a new bishop, but lay investiture was for the most part over (Bennett, 174).
13th Century bishop's ring on display at the Walter's Art Museum in Baltimore, Maryland. http://art.thewalters.org/detail/22345/bishops-ring/ |
13th Century croziers of French origin. On display at the Walter's Art Museum, Baltimore. http://art.thewalters.org/detail/37370/choirmasters-crozier-with-saints-valerie-martial-and-michael/ http://art.thewalters.org/detail/13306/crozier-with-the-annunciation-2/ |
Even in today's modern world, the bishop's traditional outfit can still be seen accompanied with a staff and ring. The curved top is a further depiction of the "shepherd's hook" and the duty all bishop's have to faithfully lead their flock. (http://www.diocesepb.org/symbols-of-a-bishop).
Current Bishop of London. |