Veritas in Caritate – Truth in Love
Archbishop Etienne’s Motto comes from the Letter of St. Paul to the Ephesians 4:15:
Rather, living the truth in love, we should grow in every way into him who is the head, Christ.
As Church, we believe Christ is the ultimate expression of truth as well as the ultimate expression and experience of love. As one sent by Christ, I ask for his blessing as we, the Church of Seattle, begin this next chapter of faith together. When Christ sent his first disciples, he told them to take nothing with them for the journey. This was because he was to be their sole possession. May we rely only and always upon Christ.
Coat of Arms
The exterior is the traditional “framing” of a bishop’s coat of arms. An archbishop’s arms have 10 tassels on each side to represent his office. The pallium, the symbol of office of a metropolitan archbishop, is displayed below the shield.
As the Metropolitan Archbishop of Seattle, Archbishop Etienne’s personal coat of arms is joined with the coat of arms of the Archdiocese of Seattle, symbolizing his connection with the archdiocese. The symbols on the left side represent the Archdiocese of Seattle, and those on the right side represent Archbishop Etienne:
- The sword is for St. Paul, and the book represents the Sacred Scriptures and Preaching.
- The M is for Archbishop Etienne’s devotion to the Blessed Mother.
- The Star is for the Northern Star, commemorating the light of Christ as our guiding star and recalls his service in the Archdiocese of Anchorage.
- The waves separating the top and bottom of his arms represent the waters of the archdiocese as well as recalling the waters of Baptism.
As Coadjutor Archbishop, Archbishop Etienne’s coat of arms were not combined with the arms of the archdiocese. The pallium, as the symbol of office of a metropolitan archbishop also was not present.
As Archbishop of Anchorage, Archbishop Etienne’s coat of arms was combined with the coat of arms of the Archdiocese of Anchorage
For information on the creation of Archbishop Etienne’s coat of arms as Archbishop of Anchorage, you can read the article in the Catholic Anchor.
Archbishop Etienne’s original coat of arms as Bishop of Cheyenne included a sun, instead of the star, which symbolized Christ, the Dawn from on High, as well as the his general love of the outdoors.
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