- The Governor General of Canada
The contents of this Register are intended for research purposes only. The heraldic emblems found in the Register may not be reproduced in any form or in any media without the written consent of the Canadian Heraldic Authority and/or the recipient.
Christian Heribert Riesbeck
Ottawa, Ontario
Grant of Arms
May 15, 2014
Vol. VI, p. 356
Click on each image to enlarge. The blazon and symbolism for each element will accompany the enlarged image.
Blazon
Arms
Per fess enarched Argent and Azure on a pale counterchanged between in chief two roses Gules barbed Vert seeded Or and in base two lilies, in chief a dove descending Argent holding in its beak a bezant inscribed IHS in letters Sable, in base a Latin cross potent Gules;
Motto
EVANGELII GAUDIUM;
Symbolism
Arms
The dove symbolizes the Holy Spirit, and the Host in its beak the importance of the Eucharist as the centre of the Church’s life. The roses represent the flowers given to St. Juan Diego by Our Lady of Guadalupe, patroness of the Americas, and they commemorate Bishop Riesbeck’s ministry to a predominantly Hispanic congregation in Houston, Texas. The lilies are a symbol of St. Joseph, the Patron saint of the universal Church, of Canada and of the Archdiocese of Ottawa, and on whose feast day Bishop Riesbeck was ordained a bishop. Along with the blue colour they also refer to the Blessed Virgin Mary and to the province of Quebec, Bishop Riesbeck’s birthplace. The cross, its red colour symbolizing the blood of Jesus, is taken from the emblem of the Society of the Companions of the Cross, Bishop Riesbeck being the first member of the Society to be made a bishop. The arching division line makes a further allusion to a Eucharistic host as well as to the idea of the Church throughout the world.
Motto
This Latin phrase, meaning “The joy of the Gospel”, is the title of the Apostolic Exhortation issued by Pope Francis shortly before Bishop Riesbeck was named to the episcopacy. Sharing the joy of the Gospel is the focal point of Bishop Riesbeck’s episcopal ministry.
Background
Canada Gazette Information
The announcement of the Letters Patent was made on March 14, 2015, in Volume 149, page 501 of the Canada Gazette.
Artist Information
Creator(s)
Original concept of Bruce Patterson, Deputy Chief Herald of Canada, assisted by the heralds of the Canadian Heraldic Authority.
Painter
Gordon Macpherson
Calligrapher
Shirley Mangione
Recipient Information
Individual