Kateri Tekakwitha Coat of Arms Blazon and Meaning

Quarterly Or and Vert, a Cross flory Vert and Or, in dexter chief, an Christogram IHS over a Sunburst Sable, in sinister base, an open Bible Sable with Greek letters Alpha Omega, in sinister chief, a Fleur de Lis Argent, in dexter base, a Sea Turtle tergiant Argent

Meaning

Or represents Faith and generosity. Vert represents Hope and nature.

The Flory Cross represents the universal symbol of Christianity

Christogram IHS over the Eucharistic sun, borrowed from the emblem of the Jesuits. It was Fr. Jacques de Lamberville, S.J., a Jesuit priest, who guided Kateri to the faith. Hundreds of years later, VEYM embraces Ignatian spirituality in our activities. Overall, the Eucharist is the central guiding light of the VEYM.

The open Bible represents the story of God’s Love that St. Kateri abided to in her last breath “Jesus, I love you!”

The Fleur de Lis: St. Kateri, patroness of the Church in Canada is also known as Lily of the Mohawks. The lily represents her virginity and total surrender to our Lord.
The Sea Turtle: The turtle symbolizes a life of patience and resilience in living daily life in Christ. Patience is one of the qualities of love (1Cor 13:1) and love is the greatest of the theological virtues (13:13). Turtle also represents the environment that we’re called to be a good steward of God’s creation (Laudato Si 236). St. Kateri is patron of ecology and environment, she belonged to the turtle clan.

The Motto: Caritas Omnia Sustinet in Latin means Love Endures All Things

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