Tuesday, March 19, 2013

FRANCIS' COAT OF ARMS


Vatican City, 19 March 2013 (VIS).- The new pontiff's papal coat of arms and motto are the same that he used as bishop. The shield has a bright blue background, at the centre top of which is a yellow radiant sun with the IHS christogram on it representing Jesus (it is also the Jesuit logo). The IHS monogram, as well as a cross that pierces the H, are in red with three black nails directly under them. Under that, to the left, is a star representing Mary, Mother of Christ and the Church. To the right of the star is a nard flower representing Joseph, Patron of the Universal Church. With these symbols the Pope demonstrates his love for the Holy Family.

What distinguishes his coat of arms as pontiff is that, instead of the wide-brimmed, red cardinal's hat atop the shield, it is now bears the same symbols of papal dignity as that of Benedict XVI: the papal mitre and crossed silver and gold keys joined by a red cord.

His motto—“miserando atque eligendo” (because he saw him through the eyes of mercy and chose him)—is taken from the Venerable Bede's homily on the Gospel account of the call of Matthew. It holds special meaning for the Pope because—when he was only 17-years-old, after going to confession on the Feast of St. Matthew in 1953—he perceived God's mercy in his life and felt the call to the priesthood, following the example of St. Ignatius of Loyola.

3 comments:

  1. +
    "because he saw him through the eyes of mercy and chose him" - beautiful!

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  2. I wish Pope Francis many years of happiness in the Lord's vineyard.

    Keep up the good work for Jesus as did Pope Benedict16th.

    May. God your pontificate.

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  3. I like it very much. For me what stands out is that the Holy Family is represented and it is in effect catechetical. The symbol of Jesus is Eucharistic, the symbol of Mary reminds us that She is the Star of the Sea and the Morning Star who unfailingly points us to Jesus. And now there is St Joseph: The just and quiet man. This coat of arms inspires in me hope that we will learn a lot more about St Joseph in this Papacy and that the Holy Family will be even more promulgated as a model for our human families. What hope this coat of arms brings!

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