Catholic Dictionary

Find accurate definitions of over 5,000 Catholic terms and phrases (including abbreviations). Based on Fr. John Hardon's Modern Catholic Dictionary, © Eternal Life. Used with permission.

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INSIGNIA

The emblems and apparel worn by prelates when officiating in a liturgical ceremony. Although somewhat simplified since the Second Vatican Council, the traditional insignia of a bishop in the Latin Rite are, depending on the occasion, the buskins, sandals, pectoral cross, dalmatic and tunicle, miter, gloves, ring, pastoral staff, rochet, mozzetta, cappa magna, skullcap, morse, mantelletta, and gremial veil. An archbishop also has the cross and pallium. The Pope's distinctive insignia are the falda, subcinctorium, fanon, tiara, and sedia gestatoria. A Byzantine bishop has the veil, mandyas, pastoral staff, dikerion, and trikerion, sakkos, omophorion, enkolpia, and a crown or miter.