Thomas Matthew Burns
THOMAS MATTHEW BURNS
Born: June 3, 1944
Deceased:
Bishop of the military, 2002-2008
Bishop of Menevia, 2008-2019
| English | blazon wanted |
Azure three Pallets wavy Argent over all a Fess dancetty of two points upwards per pale Or and Guies semy of Muilets counterchanged.
Origin/meaning
The arms shows a shield with a background reflecting the new Bishop's former Naval career, with the wavy blue and white lines customarily used to represent water. In addition, the blue waves may be taken as streams or burns, in reference to his surname. Each of the white waves resembles a letter S, which together with the large M across the shield stands for SM, the Society of Mary or Marist Order of which the Bishop is a member. But SM also signifies Stella Maris, Mary as. the 'star of the sea' - emphasized by the starry form of the M and its division into two halves to indicate the two hemispheres of the earth in which the Bishop has served. Finally, of course, the M stands for Menevia, where the Bishop begins a new ministry of service.
Behind the shield is a simple crozier, emphasizing pastoral duty and care, and above it a bishop's mitre bearing the lily of St Joseph (Patron Saint of the Diocese of Menevia) and the dove of St David (Patron Saint of Wales) .
Below, the motto translates as 'Not To Be Served But To Serve' (Matthew 20: 28), reflecting Gospel values and the Bishop's military background.
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Index of the site http://www.dioceseofmenevia.org/bishop/bishop.htm