Coat of Arms of Bishop Ralph B. O’Donnell, fifth bishop of Jefferson City

Description

The Roman Catholic Church has long used heraldry for authenticating seals and marking times and deeds of its shepherds.

The shield’s unique design is meant to identify and distinguish persons, churches, and corporate bodies from one another without confusion, but as to its design the Church imposes no demands.

Instead, in ecclesiastical heraldry, she concerns herself with the external elements outside of the shield that determine the rank of a person within the Church.

The external elements of Bishop O’Donnell are those of the rank of Bishop.

The essential element identifying this is an episcopal cross. Sometimes confused with a processional cross, the episcopal cross predated the crosier as the pastoral symbol for bishops.

Next is the galero, or clerical hat, hanging above the cross. The ancient color associated with bishops is green, and descending from the galero are twelve tassels — six on each side — for the rank of bishop.

Bishop O’Donnell’s personal coat of arms are impaled with the arms of the Diocese of Jefferson City.

Impalement is often used to show a married couple with both spouses’ coats of arms united into one. Here, impalement symbolizes that the bishop is “wedded” to his see.

In ecclesiastical heraldry, the diocesan coat of arms always takes the place of honor on the right (dexter, the viewer’s left).

The armorial bearings for the Diocese of Jefferson City are made up of a field divided into quarters by the device of a cross.

It alternates blue (Azure) and white or silver (Argent). The objects, charges and ordinaries, on them swap colors in a heraldic term known as counterchanging.

The cross is the central mystery of the faith and makes the coat of arms unmistakably ecclesiastical. It too counterchanges silver and red (Gules), in order not to break the heraldic Rule of Tincture. Symbolically, however, it represents the two natures of Christ, divine and human, and the blood and water flowing from the side of the crucified Lord that birthed the Church.

The red, white and blue of the design along with the five-pointed star (mullet) relate to Jefferson City being Missouri’s state capital, referring to the federal colors, as well as referring to the U.S. founding father, Thomas Jefferson.

The moon and star on the top portion of the shield (chief) represent the patronage of both the diocese, the Immaculate Heart of Mary, and the Cathedral of St. Joseph.

In the base of the shield, two wavy lines (barrulets) represent the waters of baptism that regenerate the Christian as a new creation, symbolized by the color change.

Additionally, these water images give a sense of place to the diocese being marked by the Mississippi and Missouri Rivers.

Interpretation of the Coat of Arms of Bishop O’Donnell

Bishop O’Donnell assumes his personal coat of arms upon the occasion of his episcopal consecration.

His coat of arms, seen on the left (sinister, the viewer’s right) combines symbols that are meaningful to the bishop reflecting his life and ministry.

The field is blue, a color associated with the Blessed Virgin Mary, as well as the field for traditional coat of arms of Ireland.

The wavy silver band (fess) in the center of the shield is taken from one of the main ordinaries on the Archdiocese of Omaha’s coat of arms, denoting Bishop O’Donnell’s home diocese, where he also served as a priest for 28 years. It also makes the connection between his home diocese’s location by the Missouri River and his episcopal ministry beginning on another Missouri River see.

The silver disc (plate or roundel Argent) with a Greek abbreviation of the first letters for the word Christ, recalls a Eucharistic host.

The Chi Rho is flanked by the Greek letters first and last in its alphabet, recalling the words of Jesus, “‘I am the alpha and the omega,’ says the Lord God, ‘the one who is, who was, and who is to come’” (Revelation 1:8).

It is important to Bishop O’Donnell that he places before his brother priests, religious and all the faithful that the entirety of his ministry is to lead them to Jesus.

In the base of the shield is a silver fleur-de-lis. This is a traditional symbol for Mary. For the bishop, it represents his home parish and grade school of Our Lady of Lourdes, as well as the two seminaries he attended: Conception Seminary College in Missouri and Mundelein Seminary outside of Chicago, under the patronage of St. Mary of the Lake.

The fleur-de-lis is also a charge taken from the coat of arms of Pope Leo XIV, to honor the Holy Father who called Bishop O’Donnell to the episcopate.

Motto: “Servite Domino in Laetitia”

Bishop O’Donnell’s motto below the shield is, “Servite Domino in Laetitia,” taken from Psalm 100. It translates as, “Serve the Lord in gladness” (v. 2).

The Latin form is a familiar chant written by the Taizé Community sung in a round at liturgies.

This speaks to the Bishop’s desire to serve — not to be served — and to do so with childlike joy before the Blessed Lord.