Coat of arms of David John Malloy

In accordance with the heraldic tradition of the Roman Catholic Church, the Episcopal heraldic achievement, or bishop's coat of arms, is composed of:

A shield with its charges (symbols) coming from family, geographic, religious and historical meanings and/or referring to the name of the Bishop

• A golden processional cross, with one traversal bar, to represent the rank of the Bishop, “impaled” (vertically) behind the shield
• A wide-brimmed green pilgrim’s hat (galero) with 12 attached tassels, (six on each side, with one in the top row, two in the second and three on the bottom)
• A scroll with the Bishop’s motto, written generally in black and appearing below everything

The shield, which is the central and most important feature of any heraldic device, is described (blazoned) in 12th century terms that are archaic to our modern language. This description is done as if being given by the bearer with the shield being worn on the arm. Thus it must be remembered, where it applies, that the terms dexter and sinister are reversed as the device is viewed from the front.

For his shield, Bishop Malloy has chosen a gothic shape, frequently used in Roman Catholic Church heraldry, and a processional bottony cross with five red gemstones to represent the five Wounds of Christ.

Blazonry:

Arms impaled. Dexter: azure, a Latin cross argent issuing from a mount or, debruising three wavy barrulets surmounted by a crescent in dexter chief, all of the first. Sinister: party per fess; in first or, a lily proper in bend sinister; in second vert, a chevron argent, charged with three trefoils gules.

Motto: FIDES SPES CARITAS

The words of the motto chosen by Bishop Malloy, "FIDES SPES CARITAS," (in English: FAITH, HOPE and CHARITY) are the three Theological Virtues, that Bishop malloy wishes to be the basis of his pastoral program.

Reference:

• www.rockforddiocese.org