Seminary Coat of Arms

Significance

The Arms of Saint Mary Seminary are quartered with the basic colors and quarters of the Arms of Pope Pius IX, during whose pontificate the seminary was founded.  The two silver (white) wavy barrulets in the first and fourth quarters commemorate the first parish in the Diocese of Cleveland, St. Mary of the Lake, and honors the present dedication of the seminary. The ermine spots in the second and third quarters are derived from the Arms of the Diocese of Cleveland and are symbolic of the seminary as a diocesan theologate.  The quartered cross in gold and red symbolizes the truths that are central to theology and honors the founder of the seminary, Louis Amadeus Rappe, first Bishop of Cleveland, who bore a gold cross on his Arms.  The present development of the seminary owes much to Archbishop Joseph Schrembs, fifth Bishop of Cleveland, whose Arms were tinctured blue, gold and silver.  Historical research has shown the diocesan seminary was, for a very short time, dedicated to St. Francis de Sales, the colors of whose Arms were blue, gold, and red.  By a happy coincidence the Arms of Saint Mary Seminary incorporate these colors.