Private Registrations: United
States Heraldic Registry, No: 20060515FArms designed with the
assistance of the International Association of Amateur Heralds (IAAH).
The Symbolism Behind the Armorial: The field tinctures of Azure and Argent and the charges of the lion rampant
Gules and the Dexter wing displayed Argent with a clover stalk Or were inspired
by the Arms for the village of Kippenheimweiler, the armiger's ancestral village in the
former state of Baden, Germany. The armiger differentiated his arms from that of Kippenheimweiler by dividing the field per bend and having the lion rampant
armed and langued Or. As the genealogist for his family it was important to him
to
reflect his ancestral roots in the design of the arms.
The tinctures and charges
clearly demonstrate the armiger's paternal connection to Kippenheimweiler, which
he has
traced back to 1739. The Arms for the former state of Baden, Germany (Or a bend
Gules) also served as inspiration for the design of the Arms for similar
reasons. The bend Gules was incorporated into the armiger's Arms to represent
his
paternal family's extended roots in many other villages in the state of Baden,
which he has traced back to the mid 1600s.The tincture Or for the
cross-crosslets was selected to further strengthen the tie to the Arms of Baden. The Arms three
dominant tinctures of Gules, Argent, and Azure when taken as a whole represent
the armiger's American heritage. It provides for a nice blending of his American heritage
and German roots in Kippenheimweiler and Baden. The cross-crosslet has been a
heraldic charge traditionally used to represent the fourfold mystery of the
Cross of Christ. The armiger's use of five cross-crosslets represents the five wounds
Christ suffered upon the cross. The five cross-crosslets displayed in bend
represent the importance and centrality to his Catholic faith, both personally
and professionally. The armiger works as a Director of Faith Formation with the Catholic
Archdiocese of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and is also as a professional
catechetical speaker.
The crest stands as a further testament to
the armiger's
professional role and the importance of his faith. A book displayed open in
heraldry traditionally symbolizes manifestation. Here as depicted in the crest
it represents the Bible and the armiger's professional responsibility to help make the Word
of God manifest in the lives of those to whom he minister's. The charges of the
Alpha and Omega, traditional Christian symbols representing Christ as the
beginning and the end, have been charged upon the Bible to represent Christ as
the fulfilment of Scripture. The crown of thorns represents the passion of
Christ, which is of central importance to the armiger in his ministry and his spirituality.
It encircles the Word of God as a symbol of how Christ fulfilled Scripture.
The armiger utilizes the crest on his business cards as a catechetical
speaker. "Sicut Ipse Ambulavet," roughly translates as "to walk as he
himself walked." It is adapted from and inspired by sacred Scripture (2 John
2:6). The motto encompasses the mission of his profession as a Director of Faith
Formation and catechetical speaker to form others in faith so that they too may
come walk as Christ walked. As a motto, it also reflects the armigers own personal desire
to remain faithful and walk in the footsteps of Christ.