- 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.
José Avelino Bettencourt
Ottawa, Ontario
Grant of Arms
August 15, 2019
Vol. VII, p. 197
Click on each image to enlarge. The blazon and symbolism for each element will accompany the enlarged image.
Blazon
Arms
Gules on a chevron Argent three concentric stars of eight points Sable voided Argent between two lions passant Sable;
Motto
FIDES • SPES • CHARITAS;
Symbolism
Arms
To Archbishop Bettencourt, red symbolizes love, strength and faithful service. The chevron alludes to a carpenter’s square, the attribute of St. Joseph, Patron of the Universal Church, of Canada, and of the Archdiocese of Ottawa, as well as Archbishop Bettencourt’s namesake, José being Portuguese for Joseph. The Holy Trinity is represented by the three iterations of the star, Jesus Christ by its cross form, and the Blessed Virgin Mary by the star itself. The lions refer to Portuguese Bettencourt coats of arms, which feature a rampant black lion on white. The two of them indicate that Archbishop Bettencourt’s parents came from different branches of the Bettencourt family.
Motto
These Latin words meaning “Faith, hope, love” are taken from 1 Corinthians 13:13: “Now faith, hope and love abide; and the greatest of these is love.”
Background
Canada Gazette Information
The announcement of the Letters Patent was made on December 7, 2019, in Volume 153, page 4269 of the Canada Gazette.
Artist Information
Creator(s)
Original concept of José Avelino Bettencourt, assisted by the heralds of the Canadian Heraldic Authority.
Painter
Wendy Quirt
Calligrapher
Luc Saucier
Recipient Information
Individual