Diocese of Jefferson City

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DIOCESE OF JEFFERSON CITY (Dioecesis Civitatis Jeffersoniensis)

Country : United States
Denomination : Roman Catholic

Established : 1956

Arms (crest) of Diocese of Jefferson City

Official blazon

Origin/meaning

The arms were adopted in 2021 and came into effect on July 1st, 2021.

The combination of red, white and blue on the shield refers to the See City’s namesake, Thomas Jefferson, drafter of the Declaration of Independence and chief promoter of the Louisiana Purchase. The blue and white also symbolize the Blessed Mother, the waters of baptism and the rivers that help define the topography of the 38 counties in the diocese.

The alternating red and white of the cross illustrate two mysteries of the Christian faith: the fully divine and fully human nature of Christ, and the blood and water that flowed from His pierced side on the cross, representing Baptism and Eucharist.

Together, the star and crescent moon echo Scriptural references to the Blessed Mother, who through her Immaculate Heart is patroness of the diocese. The star also indicates that the See City is also the state Capital. The colors, the crescent moon and the star also appear on the Missouri state flag.

The alternating colors of the rivers on both sides of the cross point to the fundamental change that comes through Baptism. The reflection of colors on the shield points to humanity and divinity becoming inextricably linked through Christ’s Incarnation.

The previous arms:

The red Phrygian cap honors president Thomas Jefferson for whom the diocesan city is named. The Phrygian cap became a mark of the patriots during the French Revolution. President Jefferson and other writers of the Declaration of Independence proposed including the symbol in the nations official seal.

One crescent honors the State and the other crescent honors the Blessed Virgin Mary in her title of Immaculate Conception, patroness of the RC-Church in the USA. The blue cross stands for the Faith.