Longley, Bernard (1955- ), vescovo, arcivescovo

Bernard Longley

Vescovo ausiliare di Westminster (2003-2009)

Vescovo titolare di Zarna (2003-2009)

Arcivescovo metropolita di Birmingham (2009- )

Ut unum sint

02

Blasonatura/descrizione

[?] D'azzurro all'alveare d'oro accompagnato nella parte superiore da 7 api dello stesso in posizione 1,2,2,2; col capo dentato d'oro ai tre gigli d'azzurro

 

Nell'immagine 02 lo stemma del Prelato è partito con quello dell'Archdiocesi di Birmingham. Lo stesso è così descritto alla pagina di www.stchadscathedral.org.uk

• The coat-of-arms is surrounded by an archbishop’s hat with its many tassels.

• The right-hand side of the coat-of-arms is made up of features which Archbishop Bernard has chosen himself. There is a beehive, because the bee is a symbol of Archbishop Bernard’s patron saint – St Bernard of Clarivaux. St Bernard was a monk who was born in France in 1090. He was such a good preacher and writer that people said his words were as sweet as honey. The bee is also part of the coat-of-arms of Manchester, where Archbishop Bernard was born. Manchester was a great centre of industry in the nineteenth century and the ‘busy bee’ was chosen as a symbol of the hard work of the people of that city. Bees also work together for the good of all the bees in the hive, so for this reason the beehive reminds Archbishop Bernard of unity within the Church. 

• Above the beehive are three blue fleurs de lys. The fleur de lys is a kind of lily and it is a symbol of Our Lady. It is a reference to another of Archbishop Bernard’s patrons, Blessed Dominic of the Mother of God. Blessed Dominic Barberi was an Italian priest who received Blessed John Henry Newman nto the Catholic Church. 

• The left-hand side of the coat-of-arms is used by all Archbishops of Birmingham and does not change when a new Archbishop is appointed. At the top is the cross of St Chad. Underneath is the pallium; a special woollen band, given to him by the Pope, which the Archbishop of Birmingham wears around his neck. The pallium is given to our Archbishop because he is a particularly important kind of archbishop; called a Metropolitan. 

• Underneath the coat-of-arms is Archbishop Bernard’s motto in Latin – Ut unum sint. This means ‘May they be one’ and is taken from Our Lord’s prayer that his disciples would be united (Jn 17:11). Archbishop Bernard chose it to emphasise the importance of unity within the Catholic Church and amongst all Christians.

Riferimenti biografici

scheda di www.catholic-hierarchy.com

Fonti immagini

01 pagina di www.facebook.com (post di Philippe Pille-Schoonvliet su ‎Ecclesiastical Heraldry Fan Club del 2 ottobre 2013)

02 pagina di ww.stchadscathedral.org.uk