Bishop Emmanuel B. Ledvina
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In the stain glass window, at the Corpus Christi Cathedral, depicting the “Multiplication of the loaves and fishes” can be found the coat of arms of Bishop Emmanuel B. Ledvina. Again on the left side of his seal is the insignia of the Diocese of Corpus Christi, and on the right side is his personal coat of arms.
The cross at top is a variation of the cross of St. George and can attest to the bishop’s heritage since the Basilica of St. George in Prague was founded in 920 and was the original burial site of the early Czech martyrs and royal dynasties. It was intended to be the main sanctuary in Bohemia, where Bishop Ledvina’s father was born. However, this particular cross consists of a silver field, with a cross of red and blue. In heraldry “silver” always replaces “white.” The red, white, and blue cross signifies the Extension Society (of which Bishop Ledvina had been an officer for many years) and its service to the American home missions.
Below the cross are the lilies of France reminding us that Bishop Ledvina was ordained for the Diocese of Vincennes (now the Archdiocese of Indianapolis) a territory settled by the French missionaries and explorers like Joillet and Marquette. The Carpenter’s Square signifies Bishop Ledvina’s father who was an architect and construction engineer. Significantly the bishop himself was also known as the “Great Builder” because of the number of churches, convents, rectories and schools he built during his administration–including the present Corpus Christi Cathedral. The star is the symbol of the Lone Star State as well as a symbol for the Blessed Virgin (Star of the Sea) and rests on a field of blue–the color of water and of the Blessed Mother. His motto “In Domino Confido” expresses his strong faith in what can be done when we act with God–“I trust in the Lord.”
Bishop Mariano S. Garriga
The stain glass window celebrating the “Last Supper” contains the coat of arms of Bishop Mariano Simon Garriga who served as auxiliary bishop to Bishop Ledvina and subsequently as the Ordinary of the Diocese of Corpus Christi. To the right in the coat of arms is the personal seal of Bishop Garriga. The laurel tree was a symbol of Barcelona, and “La Garriga” is a municipality in that area of Spain from which Bishop Garriga’s father came.
The star at the top of the tree represents Our Lady “Star” of the Sea—the parish church in Port Isabel, Texas where Bishop Garriga was baptized. It also points to the Lone Star State of Texas and is a reminder that Garriga was the first native Texan ordained a bishop in the state. His motto “Sub Tutela Matris” emphasizes his great devotion to Mother Mary—“Under the protection/guard/guidance of Mother.”
Auxiliary Bishop Adolph Marx
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During the administration of Bishop Garriga, an auxiliary bishop was also appointed because of the continued growth of the Diocese of Corpus Christi–a growth that eventually resulted in the division of the diocese after the death of Garriga in 1965. Msgr. Marx had served as Diocesan Chancellor under Bishop Ledvina and was appointed Vicar General to Bishop Garriga and shortly after was installed as auxiliary bishop of the Diocese of Corpus Christi.
In 1965 he became the first bishop of the newly erected Diocese of Brownsville when the four southern counties of the Diocese of Corpus Christi where separated from the mother diocese. The shield of Bishop Marx displays the family arms of the Marx family (the name “Marx” meaning “warrior”) which is described as being composed of a silver field with a black chief (upper compartment) bearing two human arms in natural colors. These “arms” are shortened to the wrist and fingers of hands “raised in benediction” on the bishop’s coat of arms so that they might more appropriately reflect this pastoral member of the Marx family who is a warrior for Christ but a source of blessing for his brothers and sisters. A central field of blue has been added to display a Silver Star that symbolizes the Lone Star of Texas, where Bishop Marx was called to serve. The star and colors of silver and blue also reflect his devotion to the Blessed Virgin.
The black upper compartment of the bishop’s arms bears three golden crowns from the coat of arms of Cologne where the bishop was born. These three crowns celebrate the tradition that the three Wise Men (the Magi Kings) are buried in the Cologne Cathedral. In this regard the Star of Texas on the shield has a double significance as it also represents the star of Bethlehem that the wise men followed. The motto “Plenitudo Legis Dilectio” is taken from the epistle to the Romans 13:10 which can be translated “Love is the fulfillment of the law.” This was especially fitting for Bishop Marx who was a Doctor of Canon Law.
Bishop Thomas J. Drury
The coat of arms prepared for Bishop Thomas J. Drury when he was consecrated a bishop is made up of a silver field with a green upper partition, bearing a Tau cross and stars, signifying his Irish ancestry as a son of County Sligo. In the principal portion are two crossed lances. As the reported instruments of martyrdom of St. Thomas the Apostle, the baptismal patron of Bishop Drury, the lances are tinctured in red, the liturgical color of martyrdom (blood). The lances also form the Greek letter “Chi,” the initial letter of “Christ,” for whom St. Thomas offered his life.
His motto “Deo Servire Regnare” was taken from the Post-Communion of the Votive Mass for Peace at the time of his consecration as a bishop and is translated “To Serve God is to reign.”
Editor’s note: This the second in a three-part series of stories on the coat of arms of each bishop of Corpus Christi.