Days of knighthood preserved in church emblems

When we think of shields and coats of arms, we often think of knights and royal banners. But each bishop, including the pope, whose 82nd birthday is on May 18, has a coat of arms.

Coats of arms developed among the knights of the Middle Ages as a way of identifying themselves in battle and at court. The coats of arms became part of the more ancient custom of heraldry, a formal way of announcing one's family and place of origin.

Since the use of full armor around the 12th century made it hard to identify individuals on the field of battle, coats of arms were actually worn as coats or cloaks over armor, as well as carried as banners and painted on shields. Coats of arms were adorned with colors and symbols that told of the owner's family, personal accomplishments or firmest beliefs -- like a personal motto.

"Heraldry is a celebration, based on ancient symbols, of the sense people have of themselves, personally and in groups," explained Ramon John Hartshyn in The Canadian Heraldic Authority.

This sense of identity, both with a group and with one's church leaders, led to heraldry for clerics in the church. The most famous is the papal coat of arms, but each bishop and abbot has a coat of arms. (Technically, priests may have coats of arms, but most do not.) Heraldry is a complex art and, until 1960, the Roman Curia had a Heraldry Commission that regulated the development of coats of arms, both for dioceses and for church leaders.

While coats of arms were signs of those with power to rule, they also symbolized protectors. Knights were given the right to bear arms in service to their lords and were charged to protect the weak; it was to their banners that those in need fled for help. Coats of arms often bore some symbol that identified the lord to whom a knight had pledged service. This is why ecclessial (church) coats of arms bear symbols of Christ -- most often a cross, sometimes a shepherd's staff.

The most famous coat of arms is that of the pope. Papal arms bear the tiara -- the triple "beehive" crown. According to The Church Visible, a book on the church's ceremonial life, the three crowns represent "the Vicar of Christ's universal episcopate; second, his jurisdictional supremacy; and third, his temporal power. The tiara has also been described as representing the pope's power -- militant, penitent and triumphant -- and his role as priest, pastor and teacher."

Papal arms further show the pope's power with the crossed keys, representing Christ's promise to Peter -- "I shall give you the keys to the Kingdom. Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven" (Mt 16:19). One key -- gold -- represents the gates of heaven and the second key -- silver -- represents the pope's power on earth. The red cord binding the keys represents the link between power in heaven and on earth.

The shield on the papal arms varies from pope to pope and is his personal insignia. For Pope John Paul II, the shield is blue -- representing, along with loyalty and truth, the Blessed Mother, to whom the pope has a special devotion. Mary is also represented by the letter "M" to the right and below the gold cross. (Gold is the color of generosity). The Holy See press office explains that the cross represents John Paul's "homage to the central mystery of Christianity, that of redemption" and the placement of the "M" represents Mary at the cross and "her exceptional participation in the redemption."

Coats of arms for bishops other than the Bishop of Rome have shields bearing two coats of arms. On the left of the shield is the arms for the diocese the bishop serves; on the right is his personal coat of arms. The two together represent the belief that a bishop is wedded to his see. Further, a bishop's coat of arms bears a cross behind the shield and is topped by the ecclessial hat, called the galero or the pilgrim's hat. (Sometimes, though it is increasingly rare, the hat may be replaced by a mitre.) The galero are red for cardinals and green for bishops. The cords and tassels (fiocchi) are colored as the galero and are of varying numbers: 15 for cardinals, 10 for an archbishop and six for a bishop.

In the Diocese of Green Bay, Bp. Banks' coat of arms bears the arms of the diocese: a St. Andrew's cross for martyrdom and the faith of the early settlers; a ship representing missionaries and St. Francis Xavier, the diocesan patron; an arrowhead for the Native Americans who were first here; and the Bay of Green Bay at the bottom. The bishop's personal coat of arms bears the lion of St. John for St. John's Seminary where Bp. Banks served as professor and rector; and seven (for the sacraments) wavy lines representing water -- both the water of baptism, the St. Charles River in Boston and water along a shore, (a play on his name, "Banks").