On the Solemnity of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary, last August 15, Monsignor Michael F. Crotty, who until now was the first counselor of the Apostolic Nunciature in Spain, received episcopal ordination. has been appointed Apostolic Nuncio in Burkina Faso and elevated to the dignity of Archbishop of Lindisfarne. The ceremony was held at St. Colman's Cathedral (Cobh), seat of the Diocese of Cloyne, to which he belongs.
Monsignor Crotty commissioned our workshops to make his mitre, chasuble and crozier. The crosier is of a simple line, in which stands out, as the only decoration inside its scroll, the cross of Saint Bridget, a symbol very dear to the Catholics of Ireland. It recalls how the saint, called to the deathbed of a pagan, began to weave a cross of reeds. The sick man, agitated, calmed down as he watched her and asked her what she was doing. St. Bridget was then able to begin to explain to him the mysteries of the Cross, which caused him to convert to Christianity before he died.
Although the appearance of the crosier is simple, this type of piece often hides a degree of technical difficulty that, at first glance, does not appear. In this case, it has been made in silver by cold forging, a technique practiced by very few silversmiths and highly valued for its characteristics. Unlike stamping, forging allows the creation of unique pieces. In the images, we see Juan, one of our silversmiths, drawing some details and carefully checking the measurements with the scantlings, the cardboard and metal templates that help him to execute the design without errors.
The mitre also follows this line of simplicity, and the episcopal coat of arms of Monsignor Crotty is embroidered on the miter.
