The Coat-of-Arms is often thought of as reserved to the nobility. But this is simply not the case. According to Archbishop Bruno Heim, members of the middle class and peasantry were adopting armorial bearings as early as the Thirteenth Century. It is primarily the elements that surround the shield, those marks that indicate the rank or dignity of the bearer, that are regulated.
In the Catholic Church the art of heraldry is still very much alive. Some individuals and corporate bodies are actually required to have a coat-of-arms. In 1969 the Secretary of State for the Holy See, Amleto Giovanni Cardinal Cicognani, issued Ut sive sollicite, on the dress, titles, and coats-of-arms of Cardinals, Bishops, and lesser Prelates. This document detailed the marks that accompany the shield to designate the hierarchical rank of all clergy from the Pope to the parish priest. On the subject of deacons, however, Ut sive sollicite is silent. This is not surprising as at the time the permanent diaconate had not been restored and all deacons in the Church were those that were transitioning to the priesthood. Still, interest remains high so I offer this information for those deacons considering adopting their own insignia in the form of a coat-of-arms.
The problem for Catholic deacons however is that this a strictly Anglican custom granted to them by a specific warrant of the Earl Marshall. This practice has not been sanctioned by the Vatican for Catholic deacons. It is interesting to speculate on how the Anglican Ordinariate may affect Catholic heraldry but that remains to be seen. Matthew Alderman has a great article on this over at The Anglo Catholic. Matthew later posted a followup with Fr. Guy Selvester's comments.
The second problem, is that the Church does not concern itself with what is on the shield as much as it does with what you place around it. Stipulating a diagonal line (a bendlet in heraldic terms) be placed on the shield is not consistent with the practice of heraldry in the Church. This is not to say that a new armorial bearing can be whatever the bearer wants it to be. There are rules that govern the design of the shield that are intended to foster simplicity, beauty, and clarity and these should certainly be followed in consultation with someone who knows them when designing a new achievement. That being said, until the Vatican sanctions or recognizes a specific distinction for deacons, or unless Cardinal Casaroli's document comes to light, I would not in good conscience recommend that a deacon adopt this practice.
Why does it matter? It has been asked why citizens of a republic should concern themselves with a tradition so closely tied to monarchy and one that retains an air of elitism. I would answer firstly that it continues a long standing tradition within the Church but secondly, as Archbishop Heim points out in his book, Heraldry in the Church, its origin, customs and laws:
"the coat of arms has become a sign of that personal code which all men wish to defend. The arms represent, so to speak, a program of life for one who bears them. They invite him to be faithful to himself and to his principles."
We all need to be reminded from time to time of what we are fighting for.
If you are interested in adopting a coat of arms or would like a new rendering of an existing design, please contact me.
About the arms in this article. This is my own design and incorporates the griffin, a longtime personal symbol which is also a symbol of the dual nature of Christ, along with symbols that recall the martyrdom of Saint Lawrence, my patron.
a note for heraldry geeks, yes I know that the term "gryphon rampant" is incorrect usage but I could not resist the play on words.
In Christ
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