Edward Matthew Rice

EDWARD MATTHEW RICE

Born : July 28, 1960
Deceased :

Auxiliary bishop of Saint Louis, 2010-2016
Bishop of Springfield-Cape Girardeau, 2016-present

Auxiliary Bishop of Saint Louis

Bishop of Springfield-Cape Girardeau

Official blazon

(personal arms) Gules, between three French crowns Or, a chevron Azure, fimbriated Argent, charged with two garbs of the second.

Origin/meaning

As common in US episcopal heraldry, the arms show the arms of the diocese impaled with the personal arms of the bishop.

Drawing upon heritage of his parents, John and Helen (Madden), a (non related) Rice "family arms" showing a red field with a blue chevron, has been varied and differenced to reflect its use by the Bishop. As solely a mark of difference the chevron is outlined in silver. Upon the chevron are two golden garbs of wheat, taken from the arms of the Robert James Carlson, Archbishop of Saint Louis and Principal Consecrator for Bishop Rice's elevation to the episcopacy of the Roman Catholic Church. The garbs are also emblematic of "The Bread of Life," The Eucharist, which is the core mystery of the catholic Faith and the central activity of the priesthood.

Above and below the chevron are three golden "French crowns". One crown honors Saint Louis, King of France, and titular of the See City of Saint Louis, that His Excellency has served as a priest and as a bishop. Another crown gives honor to Saint Edward the Confessor, His Excellency's baptismal patron. A third crown honors the Blessed Virgin Mary, especially in her title of Our Lady of Perpetual Help, the parish where His Excellency was baptized.

For his motto Bishop Rice has selected the Latin phrase" VENITE ET VIDEBITIDS." The phrase is taken from the Gospel of John, Chapter 1:39, the call of the first disciples, Andrew and John. When they ask Our Lord where He is staying Jesus responds, "Come and you will see". The verse was chosen to recognize His Excellency's seminary and vocation work and to highlight the call of Pope John Paul II and Pope Benedict XVI for a time of "new evangelization" in the Church.