Some Examples of Processional Insignia

One of the things we like to do here at LAJ is present traditions and customs of older Catholic cultures; cultures where Catholic piety became deeply engrained in not only private life, but also "public" life. An example of that is the tradition of outdoor processions.  Outdoor processions are, of course, familiar enough albeit relatively rare all things considered -- today they are mainly reserved for Eucharistic processions. However in deeper Catholic cultures, processions might also be celebrated for particularly important patronal feast days and the like as well -- something you can still witness today in places such as Malta or Sicily.

When we think of processions, typically we picture a crucifer leading the procession with a cross, and if we get really ambitious, we might even think of some processional banners, or statues carried in the procession. However within these processions there might also be carried other processional insignia and typically these pointed to Christ, the Virgin and the saints more generally. They generally came in the form of a kind of cartouche that surrounded an image, whether that be a painted image, a sculpture, or an embossed relief.  These would not infrequently be double-sided, showing a different image on each side. These were placed on top of a long staff by which they could be carried. Effectively then, they were a bit like a processional cross, but with another image on top instead of the crucifix itself.

These sorts of processional objects are likely unfamiliar to many of our readers, especially those of our readers rooted in the English speaking world where the predominant culture is more protestant and secular in influence than it is Catholic. In view of that, I though we would showcase a number of different styles and examples of these processional insignia, both to awaken your familiarity with them, and also to potentially inspire out parishes who might want to consider adding such riches to their own parish's devotional life.  

In view of that,  LAJ is happy to present a handful of examples today. We hope your find them of inspiration and edification. 

19th cent.

Second half of the 18th cent. featuring St. Lawrence.

Crucifixion. 18th cent. 

Two saints are depicted, possibly St. Peter and St. George. 18th cent.

God the Father Enthroned. 19th cent.

The Assumption of the Virgin. 18th-19th cent.

St. John the Baptist. 19th cent.

Memento mori. Sicily, 19th cent.

19th cent.

Man of Sorrows. 18th cent.

Madonna and Child, 19th cent.

St. Antony the Great and St. Rocco. 19th cent. 

Our Lady of Succour. 19th cent. 

Madonna and Child. 18th-19th cent. 

St. Stephen. 18th cent. 

Madonna enthroned. 18th cent.

St. Dominic. 19th cent.

Man of Sorrows. ca. 1690.

St. Augustine, the Blessed Virgin and St. Monica. ca. 1640-1660.

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