MONROE — One of the Diocese of Charlotte’s youngest priests has an interest in a very old subject: heraldry.
Father Cory Catron’s interest in heraldic art and coats of arms began in college, and in the two years since his ordination, he has devoted more time to this endeavor – even designing coats of arms for parishes and clergy.
Heraldry is the systematic use of hereditary devices centered on a shield. The first known heraldic shield dates to the 12th century, and it has been linked to Church history since the 13th century. At first limited to high-ranking knights and noblemen, a personal coat of arms has usually been a mark of honor linked to social status, but now anyone can have one.
Pictured: Father Cory Catron, parochial vicar of Our Lady of Lourdes Church in Monroe, displays some of the coat of arms designs that he and Billy Griffith have developed over the past few years for parishes and priests of the Diocese of Charlotte. (SueAnn Howell | Catholic News Herald)
The rules and symbols used in heraldry continue to develop, and there’s more to it than just a shield or a motto, Father Catron explains.
“There are standards in heraldry, but then there is a lot of freedom in how you apply it. It’s almost like Church teaching. There’s a box within which we are talking about the truth, but you can talk about it however you want,” he says.
But some rules must be followed, he points out, and there is a logic as to how the colors and images are laid out in the design.
“The most important rule is the color rule. The rule is that color can never go on color and metal can never go on metal. Metal is gold or silver, yellow or white. The reason for that is heraldry originated by identifying people on the battlefield. There has to be contrast.”
In Church heraldry, militaristic images are typically avoided, but there are times when it may be appropriate – say if St. Paul were being referenced, or St. George was a patron saint.
Priests, bishops, archbishops, cardinals and even the pope have personal coats of arms, each with different symbols denoting their ecclesial rank: two black tassels on an ecclesiastical hat (also known as a galero) for a priest, 15 red tassels on a galero for a cardinal. Religious symbols including the cross, a fleur-de-lis representing Mary, and symbols of their office such as a mitre and crozier all appear on clergy’s coats of arms.
Over the past two years, Father Catron has drafted approximately 13 coats of arms. Most of them have been completely developed with the assistance of Billy Griffith, who has lent his graphic art talents which he regularly uses in his job in the diocese’s Education Vicariate office.
Father Catron and Griffith collaborate on the final designs of the coats of arms, and Griffith completes the design using a computer program to produce a high-resolution image that can be used for a variety of purposes.
“Designing for parishes is easy,” he says. “For a parish design I look at three things: the patron saint, the church’s location and its history.”
Father Catron and Griffith have created designs for Our Lady of Lourdes Parish in Monroe, where the priest serves as parochial vicar, as well as parishes in Charlotte, Huntersville and western North Carolina.
“Designing for priests is harder,” Father Catron says. “I ask them what are the first seven things you want people to know about you.”
He takes their lists of ideas and incorporates symbols into a cohesive design that’s personal and meaningful for that person.
Heraldry is a language of symbols, and for Church heraldry, a lot can be packed into what appears to be a simple design. That makes heraldry a lot like Jesus’ parables, Father Catron thinks.
“When we look at Jesus’ parables He is talking to His immediate audience. He is also talking to the Church through the ages. What does He have to say to His immediate listeners? To His Church throughout all time?”
That is what a coat of arms does as well, he says. It speaks of the person or parish as they are at present, preserving their message for the future.
— SueAnn Howell, Senior reporter
More online
Try it yourself: Thanks to free online heraldry creation websites, anyone who has an interest in creating a coat of arms can give it a try. Sites such as www.drawshield.net are a fun place to start.
At www.theheraldrysociety.com: Find out more about the history of heraldry
