Michael David Pfeifer

MICHAEL DAVID PFEIFER

Born : May 18, 1937
Deceased :

Bishop of San Angelo, 1985-2013

Origin/meaning

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

For his personal arms, Bishop Pfeifer has selected symbols that are of extreme significance to him as a man, as a priest, as an Oblate of Mary Immaculate, and now as a Bishop.

The four colors: blue, black, gold and silver are the colors that are used in the family device of the Pfeifers and through the use of these colors, His Excellency pays particular honor to the heritage of his parents, Francis and Alice Savage Pfeifer.

In the upper half there are two silver wings above a silver rose. The wings serve to symbolize many things: St. Michael, the Archangel, the Bishop's baptismal patron, and they also represent the eagles that are displayed in the flags of Mexico and Zambia, where the Bishop served as a missionary. These wings are above arose to especially honor Our Blessed Mother, in her title Our Lady of Guadalupe, Empress of the Americas.

The lower half contains the seal of the Oblates of Mary Immaculate, the Bishop's religious order, and these on a gold field are composed of a blue cross on which is displayed a black crown of thorns and the placard in silver bearing the black letters "INRI" which is the Latin abbreviation for Jesus Nazarenus Rex Judaeorum (Jesus, the Nazarene, King of the Jews).

For his motto, Bishop Pfeifer has selected the Latin phrase "Christo et Populo per Mariam," which means "For Christ and His people through Mary." Thus putting into words His Excellency's deep devotion to Christ to His people, the Church, and to Mary, the Mother of Mankind.

The achievement is completed with the heraldic insignia of a prelate of the rank of bishop by instruction of the Holy See, of March 1969, confirmed in March 2001.

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Literature : information from Hans van Heijningen