- The Governor General of Canada
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The Roman Catholic Military Ordinariate of Canada
Ottawa, Ontario
Grant of Arms and Badge
November 20, 2009
Vol. V, p. 482
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Blazon
Arms
Argent a sword Sable between two halves of a cloak the cords tasselled, on a chief Gules three maple leaves Or;
Motto
PRAESIDEMUS;
Symbolism
Arms
Red and white are the colours of Canada. The sword and cloak symbolizes St. Martin of Tours, a soldier who cut his cloak in two to clothe a beggar. St. Martin is the patron saint of military chaplains and of the Roman Catholic Military Ordinariate of Canada. The maple leaves indicate the three branches of the Canadian Forces.
Motto
PRAESIDEMUS, meaning “We stand on guard”, indicates the pastoral mandate of the Ordinariate and is based on a line repeated several times in the national anthem.