- The Governor General of Canada
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St. Mary's Cathedral Basilica
Halifax, Nova Scotia
Grant of Arms
July 15, 2009
Vol. V, p. 463
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Blazon
Arms
Barry wavy Or and Azure a lily flower proper, on a chief Azure a mullet Or between two mayflowers proper;
Motto
JESU FLOS MATRIS VIRGINIS;
Symbolism
Arms
The wavy bars represent water, referring to Halifax’s importance as an Atlantic sea port. The lily is a symbol of the Blessed Virgin Mary and is thus a reference to the Cathedral’s patron. The gold star, the Stella Maris or “star of the sea”, is another Marian symbol. The mayflowers are the provincial floral emblem of Nova Scotia.
Motto
JESU FLOS MATRIS VIRGINIS, meaning “Jesus, flower born of the Virgin Mother” is from the third hymn, fifth stanza (for Lauds) of the poem Jesu Dulcis Memoria, attributed to St. Bernard of Clairvaux (1090-1153).