The Gate Of Heaven Shields

About St. Andrew and His Shield

St. Andrew was believed to have died while preaching the Gospel in Greece on a cross. Called by Jesus from their occupations as fishermen, Andrew and his brother, Peter, followed Jesus to become "fishers of men." St. Andrew is represented by a Greek cross and hook.

About St. Augustine and His Shield

The heart pierced by an arrow symbolizes contrition, deep repentance, and devotion under conditions of extreme trial. The flaming heart and, occasionally, the pierced heart are used as attributes of St. Augustine, symbolizing God's guidance of his zeal. The heart with a cross is an attribute of St. Catherine of Siena, with reference to the legend that, in response to her prayers, the Savior one day appeared to her and replaced her heart with His own. The heart is also used as an attribute of St. Bernardino of Siena.

St. Augustine (fifth century), one of the four Latin Fathers of the Church, was born in Numidia and educated in Carthage. He then went to Rome, where he studied law and became noteworthy for his learning. His mother, Monica, was a Christian and sought to have him follow the doctrine of the Church. Augustine, however, having previously embraced the Manichean teaching, refused her plea, although he became increasingly aware of a great moral struggle within himself. His argument for rejecting the Christian faith was that it was too simple, and valuable only for simple minds. It was not until he came to Milan, as professor of rhetoric, that he was attracted to Christianity. It was the influence of St. Ambrose, then Bishop of Milan, that finally led him to accept the Christian faith. He made a public confession and received baptism. It was on this occasion that the Te Deum was sung for the first time.

Augustine later became Bishop of Hippo, in Africa, where he remained for the rest of his life, and where he died of fever at the age of seventy-six during the siege of the city by the Vandals. He had a tremendous influence on the Christian religion, both through his writings and his spiritual example. In his famous literary work, his Confessions, he told the story of his spiritual life. St. Augustine is generally painted in the habit of a bishop bearing a book and pen, in reference to his writings. His special attribute, however, is a flaming heart, sometimes pierced by an arrow, suggestive of his flaming piety and love of God.

One episode of his life has been frequently represented. The story is that, while walking along the seashore, St. Augustine came upon a small boy who was apparently trying to empty the entire ocean into a hole in the sand. The saint remarked to the youngster that he was seemingly attempting the impossible. To this the boy replied, 'No more so than for thee to explain the mysteries on which thou are meditating.

About St. Barbara and Her Shield

Born in Egypt, her wealthy father feared she would marry and move away, so he built a tower to contain her.

When she learned of Christianity, she had a third window constructed in her tower, and explained to her father that the windows stood for the Father, Son and Holy Ghost.

He turned her over to the authorities to be tortured, and he was permitted to cut off her head.

She is often depicted with a three-windowed tower, and sometimes including the sacramental cup and wafer.

She is the only female saint who bears this attribute.

About St. Basil the Great and His Shield

Famous Bishop of Caesarea, he was a champion of the Church, an ardent exponent of the ascetic life, and was considered to be the father of monastic life.

He is often pictured holding a model of a church in his right hand.

About St. Bede and His Shield

Venerable Bede or St. Bede was born near St. Peter and St. Paul monastery at Wearmouth-Jarrow, England. He was sent there when he was three and educated by Abbots Benedict Bishop and Ceolfrid. He became a monk at the monastery, was ordained when thirty, and except for a few brief visits elsewhere, spent all of his life in the monastery, devoting himself to the study of Scripture and to teaching and writing.

He is considered one of the most learned men of his time and a major influence on English literature. His writings are a veritable summary of the learning of his time and include commentaries on the Pentateuch and various other books of the Bible, theological and scientific treaties, historical works, and biographies. His best-known work is HISTORIA ECCLESIASTICA, a history of the English Church and people, which he completed in 731. It is an account of Christianity in England up to 729 and is a primary source of early English history.

Called "the Venerable" to acknowledge his wisdom and learning, the title was formalized at the Council of Aachen in 853. He was a careful scholar and distinguished stylist, the "father" of English history, the first to date events anno domini (A.D.), and in 1899, was declared the only English doctor of the Church.

He and St. Narcissus are represented by a pitcher of water.

About the Believer Sheild

The lamb represents the believer and the palm fern represents the spiritual victory over sin and death.

About St. Bernard and His Shield

St. Bernard founded the Clairvaux monastery in France, and became the great spiritual leader of all of Europe. He was instrumental in influencing Louis VI of France to undertake the Second Crusade.

The two keys saltire represent Excommunication and Restoration, and the candle represents Jesus Christ, Light of the World.

About St. Catherine and Her Shield

Pursued by Maximim II to denounce her faith in God, Catherine challenged his philosophers to refute her teaching.

When they converted to her faith, the Emperor had them beheaded and jailed Catherine, intending to starve her until she renounced her faith.

Angels fed her, and when she refused to marry the Emperor, he had her bound to a wheel to be torn to pieces. A great burst of flame from heaven ignited the wheel, destroying it.

She was then beheaded.

She is represented by a broken wheel.

About St. Catherine of Siena and Her Shield

St. Catherine started having mystical experiences when she was only 6, seeing guardian angels as clearly as the people they protected. She became a Dominican tertiary when she was 16, and continued to have visions of Christ, Mary, and the saints.

St. Catherine was one of the most brilliant theological minds of her day, although she never had any formal education.

She persuaded the Pope to go back to Rome from Avignon, in 1377, and when she died she was endeavoring to heal the Great Western Schism.

In 1375 Our Lord gave her the Stigmata, which was visible only after her death.
St. Catherine's letters, and a treatise called "a dialogue" are considered among the most brilliant writings in the history of the Catholic Church.

She is represented by wedding rings.

About St. Clare and Her Shield

Foundress of an order of nuns now called "Poor Clares", who lived in poverty.

When an army of rough soldiers came to attack the convent, the very ill St. Clare had herself carried to the wall and right there, where the enemies could see it, she had the Blessed Sacrament placed. Then, on her knees, she begged God to save the Sisters. "O Lord, protect these Sisters whom I cannot protect now," she prayed. A voice seemed to answer: "I will keep them always in My care."

At the same time a sudden fright struck the attackers and they fled as fast as they could.

She is represented by a hand holding a monstrance, or a chalice with host.

About Edward Cardinal Egan and His Shield

Edward Michael Egan, later Edward Cardinal Egan (born April 2, 1932) is the twelfth bishop (ninth archbishop) of the Roman Catholic diocese of New York. He was born in Oak Park, Illinois and ordained a priest on December 15, 1957. He was appointed Auxiliary Bishop of New York, New York on April 1, 1985, and ordained bishop on May 22, 1985, with the titular see of Allegheny. He was appointed bishop of Bridgeport, Connecticut on November 5, 1988 and installed in that position on December 14, 1988. He was appointed Archbishop of New York on May 11, 2000 and installed in that position on June 19, 2000. He was elevated to Cardinal on February 21, 2001.

Egan was criticized in June 2003 for concealing the names of priests who have been accused of child molestation and cleared by the church. His spokesman argued that the innocent should be protected; groups including Voice of the Faithful were critical because the entire process was out of the public view.

About St. Elizabeth of Hungary and Her Shield

St. Elizabeth was born in Hungary in 1207, the daughter of Alexander II, King of Hungary. At the age of four she was sent for education to the court of the Landgrave of Thuringia, to whose infant son she was betrothed. As she grew in age, her piety also increased by leaps and bounds. In 1221, she married Louis of Thuringia and in spite of her position at court began to lead an austerely simple life, practiced penance, and devoted herself to works of charity.

Her husband was himself much inclined to religion and highly esteemed her virtue, encouraging her in her exemplary life. They had three children when tragedy struck--Louis was killed while fighting with the Crusaders. After his death, Elizabeth left the court, made arrangements for the care of her children, and in 1228, renounced the world, becoming a tertiary of St. Francis. She built the Franciscan hospital at Marburg and devoted herself to the care of the sick until her death at the age of 24 in 1231. She is represented by a triple crown or three crowns which symbolize virgin, wife, widow.

About the Eucharist Shield

The name given to the Blessed Sacrament of the Altar in its twofold aspect of sacrament and Sacrifice of Mass, and in which Jesus Christ is truly present under the bread and wine.

The Eucharist is represented by a hand holding a ripened ear of corn.

About the "God's Love" Shield

God's love is represented by the symbol of the right hand of God extending down from Heaven, palm open in the protective gesture holding a red heart.

About St. Hilda and Her Shield

Benedictine abbess, baptized by St. Paulinus.

She was the daughter of a king of Northumbria, England, and is considered one of England's greatest women.

At age thirty-three, Hilda entered Chelles Monastery in France, where her sister was a nun.

At the request of St. Aidan, she returned to Northumbria and became abbess of Hartlepool.

In time she became the head of the double monastery of Streaneschalch, at Whitby, and encouraged the poet Ceidmon.

She is represented by three coiled snakes.

About Archbishop John Hughes and His Shield

Archbishop John Joseph Hughes (June 24, 1797 - January 3, 1864) was the fourth bishop of the Roman Catholic diocese of New York. He was born in Ireland and followed his parents to America. Initially employed as a gardener at Mount St. Mary's College in Emmitsburg, Maryland, he was admitted as a student, and was ordained a priest on October 15, 1826 and ordained a bishop on January 7, 1838 with the titular see of Basileopolis. He succeeded to the bishopric of the diocese of New York on December 20, 1842 and became an archbishop on July 19, 1850, when the diocese was elevated to the status of archdiocese. He campaigned actively on behalf of Irish immigrants, and attempted to secure state support for religious schools. When he failed to secure state support, he founded an independent Catholic school system: he nearly died in the resulting anti-Catholic, anti-Irish riots. He founded St. John's College (now Fordham University) and began construction of St. Patrick's Cathedral. He served until his death. He was originally buried in old St. Patrick's Cathedral and was exhumed and reinterred in the crypt under the altar of the new St. Patrick's Cathedral.

About the "Jacob and His Sons" Shield

Jacob and his twelve sons are represented by the sun and moon with twelve stars.

Fourteen sheaves of wheat are also used with the tops of thirteen inclined towards the fourteenth one, which stands erect.

About the Immaculate Conception Shield

The wreath of lily and mystic roses has become a symbol of the Immaculate Conception of the Virgin, in a token of the purity she preserved amid the sins of the world.

About the Isaiah Shield

One of the Four Major Prophets, Isaiah is represented by a saw, which was the instrument of his martyrdom.

About St. James the Greater and His Shield

St. James the Greater was the brother of John and the first Apostle to suffer martyrdom.

He was with Jesus at the Transfiguration and at the Agony in the Garden of Olives.

He preached the Gospel in Judea and Samaria and even distant Spain.

He is represented by the scallop shell, which early pilgrims used as a drinking cup.

About the "Our Lord as King" Shield

A scepter tipped with the cross represents our Lord as King.

About the Mystic Rose Shield

In Christian symbolism, the red rose represents martyrdom. The Virgin Mary is called a "rose without thorns" because she was exempt from the consequences of original sin. A garland of roses is often an allusion to the Blessed Virgin's rosary.

About St. Neot and His Shield

St. Neot was a hermit, and relative of King Alfred the Great.
A monk of Gastonbury, England, he was ordained before he departed to become a hermit in Cornwall.

Tradition states that King Alfred visited him for his counsel.

He is represented by a pilgrim's hat, cross and purse.

About St. Patrick Apostle of Ireland and His Shield

St. Patrick Apostle of Ireland, born at Kilpatrick, near Dumbarton, in Scotland, in the year 387, died at Saul, Downpatrick, Ireland, 17 March, 461. His parents were Calpurnius and Conchessa, who were Romans living in Britain in charge of the colonies.

As a boy of fourteen or so, he was captured during a raiding party and taken to Ireland as a slave to herd and tend sheep. Patrick's captivity lasted until he was twenty, when he escaped after having a dream from God in which he was told to leave Ireland by going to the coast. There he found some sailors who took him back to Britain, where he reunited with his family. He began his studies for the priesthood. He was ordained by St. Germanus, the Bishop of Auxerre, whom he had studied under for years.

Later, Patrick was ordained a bishop, and was sent to take the Gospel to Ireland. He and his disciples preached and converted thousands and began building churches all over the country. Patrick preached and converted all of Ireland for 40 years. Patrick used the shamrock to explain the Trinity, and it has been associated with him and the Irish since that time.

About St. Paul and His Shield

St. Paul was known as Saul of Tarsus and a persecutor of the Christians. Through a powerful experience with God on the road to Damascus, he would become one of the early church's greatest apostles.

He embarked on three missionary journeys that took him to Syria, Cyprus, Asia Minor, Macedonia, Greece and elsewhere. He is the traditional author of 14 of the Epistles.

Paul would eventually be martyred by the Romans. Because he was a Roman citizen, he was martyred by beheading.

A symbol for Paul is the serpent that bit Paul on Melita and was cast into the fire.

About the Rosary of the Blessed Virgin Shield

Represented by a wreath of red roses, the rosary is a form of devotion to the virgin Mary. This devotion consists of a series of meditations and prayers centered about the events in the life of Christ and the Virgin. These meditations are known as the mysteries and are divided into three series: the Joyful, the Sorrowful, and the Glorious.

The rosary is an attribute of St. Dominic, who instituted the devotion of the rosary, and also to St. Catherine of Siena, one of the great Dominican saints.

About the Skull Shield

The skull is used as a symbol of the transitory nature of life on earth. It suggests, therefore, the useless vanity of earthly things. The skull is sometimes used as an attribute of penitent saints, such as St. Mary Magdalene, St. Paul, St. Jerome and St. Francis of Assisi. Hermits are usually shown with a skull to suggest their contemplation of death. When a cross is represented with the skull, it suggests their meditation upon eternal life after death.

In some Renaissance pictures, the Cross is shown with a skull and crossbones and its foot, referring to the Cross on Golgotha, 'the place of a skull.' There is a legend that the Cross rested upon the skull and bones of Adam, suggesting that through the Cross all men may rise to eternal life. 'And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit' (Corinthians 15: 45).

About the Virgin Mary's Cincture Shield

The cincture, or girdle, is an attribute of the Virgin Mary's chastity, and refers to the legend that she lowered her girdle from the sky to convince the unbelieving St. Thomas that she had ascended to Heaver.

About the "Blessed Virgin with Church" Shield

Blessed virgin with Church represents the Christian faith founded on Christ as a house of gold built on a rock.