Bernard Joseph Topel
BERNARD JOSEPH TOPEL
Born: March 31, 1903
Deceased: October 22, 1986
Bishop of Spokane, 1955-1978
| English | blazon wanted |
A bend counter compony argent and gules, between two lance- heads sable, on a chief azure two keys in saltire of the field between as many crescents of the second.
Motto: “Santificetur Nomen Tuum.”
Origin/meaning
As common in US episcopal heraldry, the arms show the arms of the diocese impaled with the personal arms of the bishop.
The colors and charges of the lower half are taken from the arms of a Topel family of Germany (probably not related to the bishop), which bears a gold field charged with black spearhead.
The Cistercian bend refers to St. Bernard of Clairvaux and refers to the first name of the bishop.
The chief, in the Marian colors of blue and silver, honors the Mother of God on the Bishop’s shield with a particular representation of the Immaculate Conceptions by means of the two crescent moons.
The golden keys symbolize St. John Vianney, better known as the Cure of Ars, to whom the Bishop has had special devotion in his mission as Director of Vocations in the Diocese of Helena. These keys of Peter - the keys of the power of the priesthood, to bind or loose in the Sacrament of Penance - best symbolize the saintly and simple sure of the obscure town of Ars who had all of France coming to his confessional for his inspirited advice.
The motto “Santificetur Nomen Tuum” is the simple petition, hallowed by the lips of Our Lord, from the “Our Father” or “Lord’s Prayer.” That the name of Jesus be praised and held in holy awe by all of his flock is at once the program and the ideal of Bishop Topel as another Successor of the Apostles; for such is the purpose of a motto: to exhort, to furnish an ideal, and to set forth a program of life.
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