Eldon Bernard Schuster
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ELDON BERNARD SCHUSTER
Born : March 10, 1911
Deceased : September 4, 1998
Auxiliary Bishop of Great Falls, 1961-1967
Bishop of Great Falls, 1967-1977
 Auxiliary Bishop |
 Bishop |
Official blazon
Origin/meaning
As common in US episcopal heraldry, the arms show the arms of the diocese impaled with the personal arms of the bishop.
The surname Schuster is a well-known family name in Germany and Austria. Since this surname is also the common noun for "shoemaker" or "cobbler," a boot is used here as a canting element.
The bend of silver and red checks on a black field is the attributed arms of St. Bernard of Clairvaux, the baptismal patron of the Bishop. St. Bernard antedated heraldry, but the Cistercians composed these arms to honor the great saint who reformed their rule and it is known as the Cistercian bend ever since.
The bend also commemorates the family name of the Bishop's mother, as several English Osborn families bear bends on their coats of arms.
The lily in the base of the shield is taken from the coat of arms of Bishop William Joseph Condon, to honor the prelate Bishop Schuster served as Auxiliary Bishop.
In his arms as bishop an additional star was added to the lily of St. Mary, the star being another of her symbols.
In addition a black lion was added to the bend. I have no information on its origin.
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