Description of the Coat of Arms of Most Rev. Gerard Pettipas, C.Ss.R.

Metropolitan Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Grouard-McLennan, Alberta, Canada

 

 

In accordance with Roman Catholic heraldic tradition, the Coat of Arms of Archbishop Pettipas consists of a shield, a golden processional cross placed behind the shield, a green hat or “galero” with tassels, a pallium with small black crosses, and a scroll on which is inscribed his personal motto. It was designed by Renato Poletti of Rome.

The two transversal bars on the processional cross indicate the rank of archbishop, as do the four rows of tassels attached to the galero and its color: green.

The pallium is only worn by an archbishop and is conferred on him by the pope.

The Archbishop’s personal motto is based on 1Thessalonians4:3: “God’s will is that you be holy.”

The symbols on the shield were chosen by Archbishop Pettipas and have particular religious,historical, familial and geographic significance.

On the left, the cross with sponge and spear on either side come from the Coat of Arms of the Redemptorist Congregation to which Archbishop Pettipas belongs. The color silver represents transparency: Justice and Truth. The mount on which the cross stands represents Golgotha, its color green to recall Hope, the virtue which holds us in our pilgrimage towards salvation.

In the upper right, the five-pointed star comes from the flag of Acadia and represents the Assumption of Mary, Patroness of Acadian people, root of the Archbishop’s family. The color blue symbolizes the separation from worldly values and the ascent of the soul toward God – from the things of the earth towards the sky.

In the lower right, the red Scottish lion is the symbol of Nova Scotia, birthplace of the Archbishop. The color gold represents the most noble metal, and stands for the first virtue: Faith, for with Faith we believe the Lord’s message of Love.

 

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