Coat of Arms

Most Reverend Joseph A. Fiorenza
Archbishop Emeritus
of Galveston-Houston

Blazon:

Gules, a fleur-de-lis forenceé Argent; on a chief Vert, per chevron a carpenter’s square between to chief two stars and to base a lily all of the second.

Significance:

The archepiscopal heraldic achievement or archbishop’s coat of arms is composed of a shield with its charges (symbols), a motto scroll and the external ornamentation. The shield, which is the central and most important feature of any heraldic device, is described (blazoned) in 12th century terms, that are archaic to our modern language, and this description is presented as if given by the bearer with the shield being worn on the arm. Thus, where it applies, the terms dexter and sinister are reversed as the device is viewed from the front.

For his personal arms, His Excellency, Archbishop Fiorenza continues to use the design that was adopted upon his selection to receive the fullness of Christ’s Priesthood, as a bishop, when he was appointed, ordained and install as Bishop of San Angelo and which he used as Bishop of Galveston-Houston until 2005 when he and the diocese were raised to archiepiscopal status.

The Archbishop’s design is represented in three colors; red, green and silver (white). These are the colors of the national flag of Italy – to honor the Archbishop’s Italian heritage. In the lower portion of the design is an ornate fleur-de-lis, called a “Florentine fleur-de-lis,” as it is the symbol of the City of Florence. This charge is used to honor the heritage that came to the Archbishop from his parents, Anthony and Grace (Galiano) Fiorenza and it is employed for the spelling of the Italian city is the same as the Archbishop’s surname.

The upper portion of the design, known as a “chief,” is green and is dominated by a carpenter’s square, for St. Joseph, and a lily, for St. Anthony, the Archbishop’s Baptismal patrons. Above the carpenter’s square are two stars, one for the Virgin Mary, in her title of “Star of the Sea,” patroness of the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston and the other is the Texas ,”Lone Star.”

For his motto, Archbishop Fiorenza continues to use the phrase, “THY KINGDOM COME.” By the use of these words from The Lord’s Prayer, Archbishop Fiorenza prays that all may share in the reign of God that comes through Jesus, the Christ, and in all that He teaches.

The achievement is completed with the external ornaments which are a gold archiepiscopal processional cross, that has two cross-members, that is placed in back of and which extends above and below the shield, and the pontifical hat, called a “gallero,” with its ten tassels, in four rows, on either side of the shield, all in green. These are the heraldic insignia of a prelate of the rank of archbishop by instruction of The Holy See of March 31, 1969.
 

by: Deacon Paul J. Sullivan

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