- The Governor General of Canada
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St. Clement Church
Ottawa, Ontario
Grant of Arms
November 23, 1996
Vol. III, p. 106
Click on each image to enlarge. The blazon and symbolism for each element will accompany the enlarged image.
Blazon
Arms
Azure on a cross Argent surmounted by a crown of thorns three nails of the Passion Gules the whole between in the first quarter an altar Or and Argent thereon the Agnus Dei proper vulned at the flank droplets Gules dripping into a chalice Or in the fourth quarter a hart Argent armed and unguled Or trippant on two bars wavy Argent bearing as the Agnus Dei a pennant Argent a cross Gules the second and third quarters each displaying two anchors of three flukes in saltire Or;
Motto
UNA VOCE DICENTES;
Motto
ANIMUM INTENDAMUS IN SANGUINEM CHRISTI;
Symbolism
Arms
The crown of thorns enclosing three nails is rendered in relief on the face of the main altar of St. Clement Church. The pierced lamb whose blood flows into the chalice is a symbolic representation of the Mass and emphasizes the notion of Mass as sacrifice. The stag and water are taken from a mosaic in the apse of the church of San Clemente in Rome where the stag is depicted drinking from the waters of salvation. The crossed grapnels recall the instrument of martyrdom of Saint Clement, the church’s namesake. The grapnels are also shown here to demonstrate the connection between St. Clement’s, Ottawa and San Clemente, Rome.
Motto
UNA VOCE DICENTES, meaning “With one voice”, is a phrase taken from the Preface of the Mass.
Motto
ANIMUM INTENDAMUS IN SANGUINEM CHRISTI, meaning “Let us turn our soul toward the blood of Christ”, is taken from St. Clement’s Epistle to the Church at Corinth, VII:4.
Background
Canada Gazette Information
The announcement of the Letters Patent was made on November 23, 1996, in Volume 130, page 3281 of the Canada Gazette.
Artist Information
Creator(s)
Original concept of Auguste Vachon, Saint-Laurent Herald, assisted by the heralds of the Canadian Heraldic Authority.
Painter
Hans Birk
Calligrapher
Judith Bainbridge
Recipient Information
Civil Institution
Local (church, synagogue)