medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture
In the Church of England of today, a Bishop's Chaplain, as well as having
other functions, is most conspicuous on ceremonial occasions when he walks
behind the Bishop is processions and hovers at his elbow during services to
render assistance as required. His most important function is to relieve the
Bishop of his crosier (pastoral staff shaped like a shepherd's crook) at
such times in the service - such as preaching or celebrating - when the
episcopal hands are otherwise occupied, but to hand it back to his Grace in
time for him to pronounce the blessing. From time to time the Bishop also
takes off and puts back on his mitre. I think the chaplain is also on hand
to take this, put it somewhere safe and restore it at the appropriate
moment. He acts, in fact, like a royal lady in waiting.
Given that some Abbesses had the right to carry crosiers in procession, I
would suspect that ONE of the duties of her chaplain was similar to the
above. In modern weddings of a traditional sort, a bridesmaid has a similar
function vis a vis the bride's bouquet .....
Brenda M. C.
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