|
|
|
History and Description of the Holy Family Crest Mother Bonnat, one of the early members of the Holy Family Association, suggested to Fr Noailles that he might incorporate the shamrock into the Holy Family coat of arms. It happened that an Irishman, Count O'Kelly, having heard of the Miracle of 3 February, 1822, came one day to find out all the details, so that he could give it the publicity it deserved. At a later visit he inquired about the coat of arms, and on hearing that one had not yet been devised, said: "Take the shamrock, then, the beloved and blessed emblem of my green Erin, this emblem of the three hearts of Jesus, Mary and Joseph, and surround it with a triangle, emblem of the Holy Trinity." The idea was adopted by the Founder. Later, with the help of one of the Sisters, he devised and completed the whole crest as follows: |
 |
| The colours on the three shamrock leaves are: blue or azure for Jesus, signifying beauty, majesty, serenity; silver or white for Mary, signifying innocence, openness, loyalty; black or sable for Joseph, signifying skill, fidelity, work. The purple or violet of the stem signifies dignity, power, sovereignty. A red shield forms the background for the shamrock . The shield rests on a half-sun which recalls the monstrance of the Miraculous Benediction. The motto is 'Glory to God Alone'. |
 |
The whole is surrounded by two olive branches (symbol of peace). This is a reminder of one of the principal feasts of the Association, the first Sunday after Easter. On this day the Church celebrates the appearance of Jesus to his disciples after his Resurrection and greeted them with the words: "Peace be with you." Let us listen to the conclusion of Mother Bonnat's reflection:
For further information click here: |
|
