Noël-Mathieu-Victor-Marie Gaussail
NOËL-MATHIEU-VICTOR-MARIE GAUSSAIL
Born : December 24, 1825
Deceased : February 17, 1899
Bishop of Oran, 1884-1886
Bishop of Perpignan-Elne, 1886-1899
Official blazon
Ecartelé, aux 1 et 4 de gueules à un pélican avec sa piété d'argent ; au 2 et 3 d'azur à une clé contournée d'argent en pal accostée et surmontée de 3 cigales d'or ; sur le tout une croix brochant d'or.
Motto : Aperiet caelum.
Origin/meaning
The pelican is a well-known symbol of sacrifice, because it was believed that in the absence of food it wounds its chest to feed its chicks (called “piety” in heraldry).
The key and the bees are taken from the arms of Philippeville, the city where he held the role of parish priest for several years, who adopted them in 1858.
The motto can be translated as "heaven will open" and is directly linked to the figure of the key, it is taken from Deuteronomy (XXVIII, 12): "Aperiet Dominus thesaurum suum optimum, cœlum, ut tribuat pluviam terræ tuæ in tempore sua: benedicetque cunctis operibus manuum tuarum ”(the Lord will open to you his excellent treasure, which is heaven, to give your earth rain in due time; and he will bless all the works of your hands).
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