Bishop's Coat of Arms
When a priest is named to the office of Bishop he is given a number of tasks that have the value of inviting him to reflect upon his identity and his goals. He has to choose a motto and develop a shield or coat of arms. When an Auxiliary Bishop is named as the bishop of a diocese, he then has the opportunity to revise his coat of arms to include the crest of the diocese he has been called to serve.
I have chosen the motto, “Paratum cor meum”, “My heart is ready”. This phrase is found in two psalms, both Psalm 57 and Psalm 108. The phrase reflects the steadfastness and the unfettered responsiveness to the will of God I would like to cultivate in my life. The motto is at the same time a homage to Bishop Thomas Tschoepe who chose this as his motto. He was a very important mentor and model in my life. Looking to the rest of the shield, there is more here than I am even capable of explaining, but I would like to give you a little summary of the basic symbols on the crest:
Now to the right side of the shield:
Most Reverend Mark J. Seitz, D.D. |
Catholic Diocese of El Paso
499 St. Matthews St El Paso, TX 79907 Phone: (915) 872-8400 Fax: (915) 872-8411 info@elpasodiocese.org |