What exactly is a coat of arms? The armorial achievement, as it is known in heraldic terms, dates back to medieval times as a way of establishing identity in battle. A coat of arms is composed of an escutcheon (shield) with designs (charges) employed to designate allegiance.
Heraldry expert and ecclesiastical designer William F. J. Ryan designed the diocesan coat of arms, along with that of the first bishop of Arlington, Bishop Thomas J. Welsh. Though expressing initial overwhelm at the prospect of creating a coat of arms for the new diocese in Virginia, Ryan confessed the task at hand would be “comparatively easy” in a letter to Bishop Welsh dated June 23, 1974.
This ease can be attributed largely in part due to the primary intercessors of its design: the Blessed Virgin Mary, “Mater Ecclesiae” (Mother of the Church), and St. Thomas More — patron of the diocese and titular of the cathedral in Arlington. These two holy influences — combined with Northern Virginia’s rich history and proximity to our nation’s capital — inspired the visual identity of the Diocese of Arlington. A closer look at the heraldic elements of the coat of arms further reveals the devotion to the church’s mother and one of her great champions.
The colors
The predominant color of the coat of arms field is fittingly azure (blue), paying homage to the Blessed Mother, while the supporting charges are argent (silver/white) and gules (red). These colors intentionally emulate those of the American flag for a couple of reasons. Virginia is historically known as a “Mother of Presidents,” as the birthplace of George Washington and many of his successors. The red, white and blue are also an ode to Arlington’s adjacence to Washington and the strong numbers of diocesan faithful serving our country in the military and government.
The charges
The largest charge of the shield — the crescent moon — symbolizes the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin, patroness of the United States. The ten mullets (stars) in a circle represent Virginia as the tenth state admitted to the Union. The star in the center of the circle represents the Blessed Mother under her stellar titles, “Stella Maris” (Star of the Sea) and “Stella Matutina” (Morning Star).
The heraldic lines
Across the center of the field is a “fess gules” (red horizontal bar), with engrailed edges, which are drawn with concave indentations. Here, the influences of St. Thomas More can be found; the chevron engrailed was a central element of his own arms, and the color red recalls his martyrdom. The humble “man for all seasons” — who Ryan affirmed in his letter to Bishop Welsh is “so necessary in these modern days” — remains a powerful intercessor for all in our diocese to this day.
Brodeur is diocesan digital and social media manager.
