Joseph Patrick Donahue

JOSEPH PATRICK DONAHUE

Born : November 6, 1870
Deceased : April 26, 1959

Auxiliary Bishop of New York, 1945-1959; Titular Bishop of Emmaüs

Official blazon

Vert, two foxes combatant argent, on a chief gules between two lilies argent a pale of the same charged with a trefoil slipped and pierced of the field vert.

Origin/meaning

The arms are based on the arms of a certain O'Donoghue More family from Ireland and are used here to symbolise the last name of the bishop. Those family arms showed in green two foxes combatant argent, on a chief of the second an eagle with wings outspread sable. The chief has been changed to recall the Bishop's primary patron, St. Joseph represented by the lilies. The trefoil symbolizes the Holy Trinity but also refers to his secondary patron, St. Patrick who is likewise patron of the Archdiocese of New York. The red of the background is an allusion to St. Stephen the Protomartyr, the titular of the parish in which Bishop Donahue passed a considerable portion of his priestly ministry.

The motto "Ite ad Joseph;' has been chosen by Bishop Donahue to signify his devotion to his patron, St. Joseph, on whose feast he is to be consecrated.

The achievement is completed with the heraldic insignia of a prelate of the rank of bishop.

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