The Collaborative International Dictionary
Pastoral \Pas"tor*al\, a. [L. pastoralis: cf. F. pastoral. See Pastor.]
Of or pertaining to shepherds; hence, relating to rural life and scenes; as, a pastoral life.
-
Relating to the care of souls, or to the pastor of a church; as, pastoral duties; a pastoral letter.
Pastoral staff (Eccl.), a staff, usually of the form of a shepherd's crook, borne as an official emblem by a bishop, abbot, abbess, or other prelate privileged to carry it. See Crook, and Crosier.
Pastoral Theology, that part of theology which treats of the duties of pastors.
Usage examples of "pastoral staff".
This symbol, which dates from the remotest antiquity, is still the attribute of our sovereign pontiffs, and forms the upper extremity of their pastoral staff.
When people found out I was on the pastoral staff at New Hope, I would tell them about the cool pastor and the neat church, but I was shy about telling them about Christ.
His eyes were closed peacefully, and his hands were folded across his pastoral staff.
And, as to the treasure that remains over, a pastoral staff may be beaten from it in honour of Molasius, the pious man.