A Coat of Arms fit for a cardinal

A Coat of Arms fit for a cardinal

By 
  • February 13, 2012

With his elevation to the College of Cardinals, Archbishop Thomas Collins has updated his bishop’s coat of arms. The biggest change is an emphasis on the colour red of a cardinal. Here is an explanation of the new emblem.

The motto “Deum Adora” (Worship God) is taken from Revelation 22:9.

The shield with a gold cross on a red background is based on that of St. Peter’s Seminary in London, Ont., where Cardinal Collins studied, lectured and was eventually Dean of Theology and Rector. The Alpha and Omega recall Revelation 22:13, where Jesus says, “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end.” The open Bible and the chalice represent the two great ways in which we experience Jesus in the Church, in Word and sacrament.

The symbol above the coat of arms of a red galero (wide-brimmed hat) with 15 tassels on each side, commemoratES the tradition (prior to Second Vatican Council) of the Pope’s presentation of a red-tasseled galero to new cardinals.

The golden metropolitan cross behind the shield signifies Cardinal Collins’ position overseeing an archdiocese (a metropolitan see).

[issuu width=600 height=360 shareMenuEnabled=false showHtmlLink=false shareButtonEnabled=false searchButtonEnabled=false backgroundColor=%23222222 documentId=120213145325-3bfc806d6b34412495cfeafcd1f595f4 name=cardinalcollins username=catholicregister tag=canada unit=px id=210c4e7b-566f-f004-1010-691ae972570f v=2]

Tagged under:

Related items

More in this category: « Collins follows MacGuigan through western diocese to Toronto, College of Cardinals Vestments and symbols of the Office of the Cardinal »

Please support The Catholic Register

Unlike many media companies, The Catholic Register has never charged readers for access to the news and information on our website. We want to keep our award-winning journalism as widely available as possible. But we need your help.

For more than 125 years, The Register has been a trusted source of faith-based journalism. By making even a small donation you help ensure our future as an important voice in the Catholic Church. If you support the mission of Catholic journalism, please donate today. Thank you.

DONATE