HISTORY OF FAMILY CRESTS

A coat of arms or family crest is a shield that tells a story through symbols. If we know how to read the story we can learn about a person’s dignity, rank, title, their history and values that are important to them.

Crests were very common in the Middle Ages as designs on the shield of a knight, it was a way to identify him as an individual. The father of a family would pass the crest down to his firstborn son who would alter it slightly to make it his own. PAPAL CRESTS

POPE ST. JOHN PAUL II Cross – Represents the central Christian mystery of Redemption Golden “M” – Mary beneath the Cross Tiara – Symbol of Papal authority Crossed Keys – Symbols of spiritual and temporal power

POPE BENEDICT XVI Shape – Chalice, commonly used in the Church Gold Chape – Symbol of religion, inspired by Benedictine spirituality Crossed Keys – Symbols of spiritual and temporal power Pallium – Pastor of the flock entrusted to him by Christ Moor’s Head - Ancient emblem of the Diocese of Freising Brown Bear - This recalls the story of St. Corbinian, first Bishop of Freising, who was attacked by a bear. The saint tamed the animal and made him carry his baggage to Rome. The bear is a symbol of the Bishop, tamed by God’s grace and the pack a sym- bol of the burden of the Episcopate. Large Gold Shell – This recalls the legend of St. Augustine who meets a child trying to scoop the water of the sea into a hole in the sand. Augustine connected this to his own attempts to try to encompass the infinite God into the human mind. It is also a symbol of pilgrims.

POPE FRANCIS Radiant Sun with “IHS” - Emblem of the order of the Society of Jesus Star - Symbolizes Mary, Mother of Christ and the Church Spikenard Flower – St. Joseph, Patron of the Universal Church Crossed Keys – Symbols of spiritual and temporal power Motto – “By having mercy and by choosing,” this was chosen from a Homily of St. Bede on the Feast of St. Matthew. At the age of 17 after confession, Jorge Bergoglio felt the mercy of God call him to religious life on the Feast of St. Matthew.

ARCHBISHOP SCHNURR Galero - The pontifical hat, which is a symbol of his rank as archbishop Three Red Crosses - Symbolize the Holy Trinity, they are pointed at the tip for planting in the earth and are budding at the tips with new life Plow - Represents the Roman Hero Cincinnatus Lilies - Symbol of St. Anthony of Padua, the Archbishop’s patron Gold Snake, Cross and Red Background - Taken from Archbishop’s home diocese (Sioux City, Iowa) Scale of Justice - Symbol of Archbishop’s doctorate in Canon Law Chi-Rho ( ) - A symbol of Christ Motto - “Seek the face of the Lord,” by seeing Christ and having Him see us, we remain focused on His call Red, White and Blue - Honor the German Heritage of his parents, symbolize the time he served the Church in the Nation’s capital POPE ST. JOHN PAUL II POPE BENEDICT XVI POPE FRANCIS ARCHBISHOP SCHNURR