- The Governor General of Canada
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Donald Joseph Bolen
Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
Grant of Arms
May 20, 2010
Vol. V, p. 517
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Blazon
Arms
Azure a crozier and a sword hilt in chief in saltire Or surmounted by an open book proper edged Or inscribed VERBUM VITAE, in letters Sable, all between in chief a garb and in base an escallop Or;
Motto
MERCY WITHIN MERCY WITHIN MERCY;
Symbolism
Arms
The blue colour refers to the open skies of the Canadian Prairies, the birthplace of Bishop Bolen. The crozier is a symbol of episcopal authority as the shepherd of a flock. The sword is a symbol of St. Paul, to whom the Diocese of Saskatoon is dedicated. The open book bearing the words VERBUM VITAE (meaning “the Word of Life”), a Pauline description of the scriptures, refers to the Bible and to the book in the assumed arms of the city of Saskatoon. The wheat is taken from the arms of the province of Saskatchewan and refers to the wheat farming occupation of Bishop Bolen’s family. The shell is a symbol of pilgrimage, and is also found in the arms of Pope Benedict XVI, who named Msgr. Bolen as Bishop of Saskatoon.
Motto
MERCY WITHIN MERCY WITHIN MERCY is a phrase taken from the epilogue of the 1953 book The Sign of Jonas by Thomas Merton. For Bishop Bolen, it represents the heart of the divine revelation of God’s nature in Christ.