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Robert Shane Bengry

Carberry, Manitoba
Grant of Arms and Badge
April 15, 2011
Vol. VI, p. 48

Arms of Robert Shane Bengry

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Blazon

Arms

Per fess Azure and Or, in chief a Loyalist civil coronet and in base a cross couped voided throughout counterchanged;

Motto

GEFEOÞ CHRISTES;


Symbolism

Arms

The gold and blue recall the Canadian Prairie where Father Bengry was born and raised and where his ancestors toiled as pioneers. The colours also represent the chief sacraments of which every Christian priest is steward: the wheat of the Holy Eucharist and the waters of Holy Baptism; the gold also represents Christ Himself while blue is the traditional colour of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The coronet recognizes his Loyalist ancestry and symbolizes Father Bengry’s enthusiastic support for the Canadian monarchy. The cross alludes to his primary identity in the Church as a priest and Benedictine Canon.

Motto

Meaning “Rejoice in Christ”, this exhortation, rendered in Old English, was inspired by Martin Luther’s quote “Be a sinner and sin stoutly, but more stoutly believe and rejoice in Christ!”