The following description of Bishop Bernardin’s Coat-of-Arms appeared in the April 14th issue of the Georgia Bulletin in a column written by Archbishop Hallinan.

In keeping with the spirit of Vatican II, Atlanta’s new auxiliary bishop has chosen his motto from one of its documents rather than from personal phrases of devotion. Bishop Joseph L. Bernardin who announced the traditional insignia for a new bishop this week has chosen as his motto, “As Those Who Serve.” It appears in paragraph 16 of the Decree on Bishops in the Latin language, “Sicut Qui Ministrant.”

A bishop’s motto expresses an ideal, a program of life and the spirit of the individual bishop. It has been noted that this paragraph of decree reads:

“Bishops should stand in the midst of their people as those who serve.... Let them be true fathers who excel in the spirit of love and solicitude for all, and to whose divinely conferred authority all gratefully commend themselves. Let them so gather and mold the whole family of their flock that everyone, conscious of his own duties, may live and work in the communion of love.”

Coat Of Arms Of Bishop Bernardin

The coat of arms of the new bishop is based on that of the Bernardin family, his parents coming from Trent, once part of the Austrian Tyrol mountain region and scene of the great 16th century General Council. The area passed to Italy after the First World War.

The study of ancient heraldry shows that the family arms consist of a shield with two black bears and a silver tower. One part has been “differenced” in accord with prelatial heraldry to include a cross of the Diocese of Charleston memorializing Bishop Bernardin’s origin and office as chancellor and vicar general in that diocese. The cross originated in the Gregorio Chiarmonte family whose son became Pius VII and established the Diocese of Charleston, July 12, 1820. Three “Fleurs-de-lis” are added to symbolize Mary (his mother’s name), Joseph (the bishop’s name and his father’s) and King St. Louis IX of France (the bishop’s second patron).

The usual external additions to the coat of arms show the pontifical hat with six tassels, the miter, the crozier, and processional cross -- all identified with the order of the episcopate.

The motto, however, it has been remarked shows that Bishop Bernardin rests his family and episcopal prestige upon the concept of service in complete harmony with the renewal of Christian life directed by the Second Vatican Council: “As those who Serve.”

Paul J. Hallinan

Archbishop of Atlanta