During the morning the topic of episcopal mottos came up.
Some of the suggestions my priest friends came up with have been a little facetious… if you can imagine that.
How about your suggestions?
During the morning the topic of episcopal mottos came up.
Some of the suggestions my priest friends came up with have been a little facetious… if you can imagine that.
How about your suggestions?
Comments are closed.
Coat of Arms by D Burkart
St. John Eudes
- Prosper of Aquitaine (+c.455), De gratia Dei et libero arbitrio contra Collatorem 22.61
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“He [Satan] will set up a counter-Church which will be the ape of the Church because, he the devil, is the ape of God. It will have all the notes and characteristics of the Church, but in reverse and emptied of its divine content. It will be a mystical body of the anti-Christ that will in all externals resemble the mystical body of Christ. In desperate need for God, whom he nevertheless refuses to adore, modern man in his loneliness and frustration will hunger more and more for membership in a community that will give him enlargement of purpose, but at the cost of losing himself in some vague collectivity.”
“Who is going to save our Church? Not our bishops, not our priests and religious. It is up to you, the people. You have the minds, the eyes, and the ears to save the Church. Your mission is to see that your priests act like priests, your bishops act like bishops.”
- Fulton Sheen
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- C.S. Lewis
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"But if, in any layman who is indeed imbued with literature, ignorance of the Latin language, which we can truly call the 'catholic' language, indicates a certain sluggishness in his love toward the Church, how much more fitting it is that each and every cleric should be adequately practiced and skilled in that language!" - Pius XI
"Let us realize that this remark of Cicero (Brutus 37, 140) can be in a certain way referred to [young lay people]: 'It is not so much a matter of distinction to know Latin as it is disgraceful not to know it.'" - St. John Paul II
Grant unto thy Church, we beseech Thee, O merciful God, that She, being gathered together by the Holy Ghost, may be in no wise troubled by attack from her foes. O God, who by sin art offended and by penance pacified, mercifully regard the prayers of Thy people making supplication unto Thee,and turn away the scourges of Thine anger which we deserve for our sins. Almighty and Everlasting God, in whose Hand are the power and the government of every realm: look down upon and help the Christian people that the heathen nations who trust in the fierceness of their own might may be crushed by the power of thine Arm. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, who liveth and reigneth with Thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end. R. Amen.
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Visits tracked by Statcounter since Sat., 25 Nov. 2006:
Veni. Vidi. Vici in nomine patri et fili spiritus sancti.
(I am not a Latin scholar, so pardon any inaccuracies).
“I have passed on that which I have received.” Or, does the fact that this was Archbishop Lefebvre’s motto discredit it from any consideration? By the way, does the remitting of the excommunications incurred by the SSPX bishops apply as well to Archbishop Lefebvre and Bishop De Castro Mayer or does Divine Justice take over when the deceased meet the Ultimate Judge?
Semper Fidelis (Always Faithfull)springs to mind in these dark times, Ecclesia Militans (Church Millitant)would be an excellent moto for Either Archbishop’s Burke/Dolan. Also does anyone know the Episcopal Moto of Bshp’s Williamson and Felley? the most I know about Williamson’s is that its thre words from 1st Corrinthians.
I was just in my diocese’s cathedral yesterday, and we have all the old bishops’ coats of arms in the vestibule (the current one is above the cathedra). I liked one of them especially: Omnia Omnibus. A difficult task, especially these days.
How about “Instaurare Omnia In Christo” in memory of St. Pius X?
Or, a little less likely, “Illegitimi non carborundum.” OK I’m joking about that one…
Ut Melius Catholice Observemus
(From the Testament of St. Francis)
Ad Iesum per Mariam cum Petro
Short, folks! Keep ’em short!
Sedete et Tacete
Fodere non Valeo, Mendicare Erubesco
This was my favorite from Bishop Dougherty of Philadelphia:
Ipsam sequens non devias
(If you follow her, you will not stray)
Hmmm…
Perhaps Father has been advised that he is to be appointed a Bishop?
Anyway, here are some suggestions:
– Christo nihil praeponere (I motto that is taken by especially by Benedictine abbots and bishops, as it is a quote from the Rule of St. Benedict);
– Instaurare omnia in Christo, the motto of St. Pius X.
– Ipsa conteret;
– Mihi vivere Christus est;
– Impendam et superimpendar;
– Tradidi quod et accepi;
– Oboedientia et pax, the episcopal motto of bl. John XIII
– Credidimus Caritati (beware that this was Archbishop Lefebrvre’s motto; it is a good motto, but perhaps picking a motto that was used by a high profile excommunicated prelate could create problems. Still, I would consider the bishop-elect a corageous man if he were to pick the this motto);
– Sine timore serviamus illi;
– Christus imperat;
– Ecce filius tuus;
– Initium sapientiae timor Domini;
– Confitemini Domino quoniam bonus;
– Viderunt oculi mei salutare Tuum;
– Visitavit nos Oriens ex alto;
I quite like our Archbishop’s: Veritati Servire
Sine spina
(in honor of Our Lady, of course)
Too long or not, blocutus sum quod blocutus sum.
From bloquor, bloqui, blocutus sum, “to blog,” with apologies to Pontius Pilate.
Well do you want good ones or bad ones? Short like twitter names?
VenacularLova
StatueDumper
TheRenovator
Pardon the Latin ignorance.
How about SAY the BLACK, DO the RED!
Bishop Z, nice ring to it.
Agere sequitur credere (Action follows belief)
lex orandi lex credendi, always a favorite for me…
Ut salvum sint
resonare Christum
Cardinal Wright’s motto
ridiculusmus
“Initium Sapientiae Timor Domini”
(which happens to be the motto of the high school I attended)
I meant: “Timor Domini Initium Sapientae”
“Crux sacra sit mihi lux” (May the holy cross be my light) or simply “Crux mihi lux”
In a STRICTLY tongue-in-cheek vein:
“Fac Imaginem Diutius Durabit”
“Sed Vere Spectatores Pulchri Fuistis”
“Ad Aeroportum Propera”
“Nil Sine Nivibus”
“Quanta Mora Volatui Fiet”
“Gero Rem Magisterialem”
“Quando Prandimus”
AMDG,
“Quodcumque Dixerit Vobis Facite”
Do whatever He tells you. John 2:5
Thank you to those providing translations!
Fortis Ut Mors Dilectio (Love is as Strong as Death) — Abp Vincent Nichols’ motto
Tongue in cheek, for a bishop who advocates the “open to a page, point, and read” approach to Holy Scripture: “Se suspendit (Mt 27:5) – fac similiter (Lk 10:37)“
“Semper Idem”
“Zelus domus tuæ comedit me”
Durum est contra stimulum calcitrare (It is hard to kick against the goad).
I remember a priest telling the story of the pastor of the parish being appointed Bishop. He asked his then associate pastor this question, and he replied “And Jesus Wept”.
Et Lacrimatus est Iesus.
Vatican Who?
sine Te nihil – literally. Without You, nothing!
Mors ante Peccatum – Death before sin.
Caritas in Veritate – Hey, Cardinal Van Thuan’s was “Gaudium et Spes”.
Perpetim in Manus Dei – Forever in the hands of God.
Diligere sicut Dilexit – To love as He has loved.
Adversus Haereses – Against heresies
Tabula Delenda Est – The Tablet must be destroyed.
Salva Liturgiam Salva Munda – Save the Liturgy, Save the World!
Hermeneuticus Continuationis – Hermeneutic of Continuity (ought to be reserved for Bp. Finigan, if we ever get so blessed.)
Cum Petro Contra Mundo – With Peter, Against the World
I’m sure I’ll have more later, but a lawn needs mowing now.
Nec laudibus, nec timore – Neither praise nor fear (as in that those will drive your decisions). Obviously not something I came up with: not only is it a phrase from the liturgy for consacration of bishops, but it was the motto of Blessed Clemens August Cardinal von Galen, Bishop of Munster during the war and thorn in the flesh of the nazis. Rarely have I heard of a bishop with a motto so befitting his life.
Quantum Potes Tantum Aude
“As much as you can do, so much dare to do”
From the sequence “Lauda Sion” by St Thomas Aquinas…
Vive Jesu in cordibus nostris! (Live, Jesus, in our hearts!)
Amice ad quod venisti? — Mt 26:50
(Would serve as a good reminder, anyway…)
Perhaps if he is going to serve on the USCCB environmental committee this would be useful:
Ut carbonem vestigium meum amplificetur.
I feed the sheep, not entertain the goats!
a formor bishop in these parts had “Fidem Scit” as his motto and according to my latin teacher when he was in seminary this bishop’s photo and motto hung in the refectory much to the seminarians enjoyment. Think of ecclecial pronunciation on this one.
O quam terribilis est iste locus – for the next Archbishop of Glasgow when this one has finished with the cathedral.
Seriously: ab homine iniquo et doloso erue me
“Ut non emittam flatus trans Missam Pontificam”
(That I may not pass wind during a Pontifical Mass)
“Mea culpa, mea culpa, mea maxima culpa.”
Another idea:
“Iota unum non praeteribit” (adapted from Matthew 5:18).
“qui habet aurem audiat…”
Archbishop Burke’s is: Secundum Cor Tuum
Archbishop Dolan’s is: Ad Quem Ibimus (“Lord, To Whom Shall We Go?”)
insisto Veritas, docui veritas
Fortes fortuna Juvat – Fortune favors the brave
Succisa virescit: Pruned, it grows back stronger (a Benedictine motto, I believe)
Instead of a motto how about changing for many Bishops, the great anthem as they enter the Church from “Ecce Sacerdos” to “How Great I am”
Semper Ubi Sub Ubi
Lacordaire’s “All that I know of tomorrow is that His Providence will rise before the sun” could possibly be Latinized and excerpted for a motto. It’s beautiful in English; no doubt in the original French as well.
“Noli Me Tangere” is another one we have also jokingly tossed around.
“Ego episcopus in his partibus” (“I’m the bishop in these parts.”)
“Fidem Scit” (He knows the faith.)
A Maryknoll friend told me a story of the priest who ran the novice’s refectory (in the 1950s), with poor culinary results. At year’s end they made a cut-out bishop’s hat for him and presented it with a flowery speech on his depth of theological knowledge, and an appropriate motto for such a man: “he knows the faith.”
Of course, the motto *was* inscribed in Latin, so he didn’t take it quite as well after he thought about it.
Now one for the funny category:
Requiro vestes nigrae – I need black vestments! to be used by any bishop taking posession of a see that’s yearning for the ‘biological solution’. (I just hope my latin grammar isn’t too rusty)
Stat Crux dum volvitur orbis
Maybe too much of a Cister-benedictine, huh?
I personally like Lacrossecath’s last suggestion, with perhaps a small addition. In Latin, it could be translated as:
NIGRVM DICENS, RVBRVM FACIENS…MVNDVM SALVANS
(“Saying the black, doing the red…saving the world”)
All these suggestions are great-even the funny ones! Sorry if I can’t make up one-my Latin is still rather rusty!
I’d like to see Bishop Z! But I don’t think you’d want it, right, Father?
Heehee….
Right Rev. Jacques M. Maurice Landes d’Aussac de Saint-Palais Bishop of Vincennes from 1849 until 1877 had Post Tenebras Lucem (After the darkness I shall see light) as his motto.
universus Verum (et nusquam tamen verum)
“Diriget Deus”
God Directs…old family motto from my Scottish roots
To help MaryAnn (and others) here are the translations to my wiseacre suggestions:
“Fac Imaginem Diutius Durabit” (Take a picture, it lasts longer)
“Sed Vere Spectatores Pulchri Fuistis” (You have been a beautiful audience)
“Ad Aeroportum Propera” (To the airport, quickly!)
“Nil Sine Nivibus” (Nothing without snow)
“Quanta Mora Volatui Fiet” (How long will this flight be delayed?)
“Gero Rem Magisterialem” (I’m on Magisterial business!)
“Quando Prandimus” (When do we eat?)
AMDG,
I love Cardinal Sean’s motto: QUODCUMQUE DIXERIT FACITE (Do whatever He tells you.)
I also like the motto of Cardinal Ottaviani: SEMPER IDEM (Always the same.)
Don’t know the Latin on this one… but I kinda like the current motto of Bp. Daniel Jenky of Peoria, Ill. — “His Will Is Our Peace,” a quote from Dante’s “Paradiso.”
bookworm: Voluntas sua pax nostra [est]
Illum oportet crescere me autem minui.
Vana salus hominis (Vain is the salvation of man) from the 107th Psalm “Paratum cor meum” has always struck me as a solid motto.
Don’t know if anyone has said it, but I always find this motto most fitting for a Bishop
Qui Servire Regnare Est ~ Roughly translated to as “To Serve is to Rule” or in saying.. as a Bishop, I am your shepherd who is here to serve you…