You may have noticed that bishops sometimes place a small cross before their names (e.g. + John Gilroy or +JHG).
See Also
Zucchetto or Skull Cap | EWTNHistory - Crosier Fathers and BrothersDid You Know?: Symbols of the Bishop | DWTXCrozier Surname Meaning & Crozier Family History at Ancestry.com®Why is this?
The custom derives from the era when medieval bishops would humbly sign their names by prefixing the title “Sinner” or “Sinful Servant”. So Anselm of Canterbury might sign his letters in this way:
Your Sinful Servant,
Anselm
The cross prefix is merely a symbol of one being a “sinner” – that is one in need of the redeeming cross of our Lord Jesus Christ.
