The Coat of Arms is a symbol that serves as a reminder of the dignity within the character of a community. Saint Francis de Sales and Saint John the Evangelist bring character rich with Wisdom-Scientia, Faith, Holiness-Sanctitas, and Charity-Caritas. Their lives were spent within the sinfulness of human nature, striving to make Christ manifest in the people of God through the virtues which we embrace as a Catholic Community.
St. Francis de Sales, embraced education, evangelization, the gentleness of the human heart, human conversion through spiritual direction, and is the author of The Treatise on the Love of God and The Introduction to the Devout Life—written specifically to lead the lay person towards a life of holiness. He is a Doctor of the Church—one who served to heal humanity, as Christ was sent to serve the sick in humanity. St. Francis is symbolized within the Coat of Arms within the cross of sacrifice and charity. The lamp is a symbol of education—St. John School was established in 1957. His witness to the love of Christ and the sanctity of the layperson is symbolized though the “M”—the Mother of God.
St. John the Evangelist, the “disciple whom Jesus loved” (John 20:2) was given the privilege of caring for the Blessed Mother after the death of Our Lord (John 19:27). St. John was by Jesus’ side through most of His ministry, is the human author of the Gospels according to John, and evangelized the Good News until dying at a very old age. His charism is within recognizing the mystery of our Triune God, the unique and divine love defined within the Trinity. Within our Coat of Arms, St. John is symbolized with the Book of Gospels and the eagle upon the book. The eagle too, is a symbol of St. John and his soaring to the freedom of the wisdom of Our Divine God. The flame from the lamp is a symbol of the Holy Spirit, the divine grace, free and available to all who yearn in Truth for Our God. He too is within the Marion symbol of the “M”, as well as the Fleur de Lis.
As a Catholic Community, our Coat of Arms signifies in Latin—the language of the Church, that we are guided to Christ in the light of Wisdom, Faith, Holiness, and Charity. Through education, evangelization, the intercession of the Blessed Mother, and the mystery of the Cross, we are a Eucharistic community; a community of Kentucky—the color blue, the United States—the red, white, and blue, and the Mother Church—the color gold as the Kingship of Christ, under the Chair of Peter. The shield serves as protection under the divine character of our Catholic faith and an outward sign of our community.