Among the staffs that we make, a personalized crosier often features unique symbols, with a special meaning for the bishop to whom it belongs. On this occasion, the piece was to be inspired by a crozier given to our client by his first diocese, of great sentimental value, which unfortunately had been stolen.
Based on this model, a new design was created which, at the request of the client, incorporated the iconographic elements of his current diocese, and specifically of his patron saints. The oak leaves and acorns that open on the crescent are a symbol frequently linked to St. Mary Philippine Duchesne.
The oak tree has since ancient times had a meaning associated with strength, an attribute that the saint demonstrated repeatedly in her missions in the present territory of Missouri. But, in this case, it is also associated with her surname, because of its similarity to the French locution "oak".du chêne", "of the oak".
It also reminds us of this saint and the religious order to which the Sacred Heart of Jesus belonged. It is represented on the inside of the staff, in silver in its color, and on its reverse side appears the Sacred Heart of Mary.
The volute is ornamented with the Eucharistic symbols of the ears of wheat and the vine. In this case, in addition to their obvious significance, they allude to the other patron saint of the diocese, St. Pius X, who during his pontificate was a great promoter of frequent Communion.
The staff of the crozier is entirely handmade in forged and chiseled silver. A curiosity is that the embossing has not been done by giving volume to the plate from the back, but by remelting and modeling the backgrounds from the outside, a method that is less frequently practiced in this ornamental technique.
