The Silver Jubilee crozier, or bishop’s pastoral staff, was given as a gift from the bishops and priests of the Archdiocese of Boston to Cardinal Seán P. O’Malley at a special liturgy commemorating the 25th anniversary of his Episcopal ordination.

Cardinal O’Malley’s crozier was handcrafted in the studios of Marcello Rocchi and Sons Silversmith, the same artisans who fashioned the metropolitan cross and matching thurible and boat, as well as the processional candles used at the Cathedral of the Holy Cross.

Made of the highest-grade sterling silver, the crozier bears figures and images that reflect the charism and personal devotion of Cardinal O’Malley.

A figure of the Good Shepherd is centered within the crook of the pastoral staff. Carrying the lamb on his shoulders and a staff in his hand, this ancient and traditional image calls to mind the bishop’s responsibility to give a shepherd’s care to the Lord’s flock.

At the base of the crook is a relief image of the spiritual father of the Franciscan family, St. Francis of Assisi.

Around the node of the staff are six roundels, four bearing the traditional representations of the evangelists -- an angel for Matthew, a lion for Mark, an ox for Luke, and an eagle for John.

Images of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary and the cardinal’s coat of arms are on the other two roundels.

At the base of the coat of arms is the cardinal’s Episcopal Motto: “Quodcumque dixerit facite,” which is taken from John 2:5, and comes from the Blessed Virgin’s statement at the wedding feast of Cana, “Do whatever He tells you.” This statement by Mary, the first disciple, “the first Christian,” sums up the totality of the human commitment to Christ.