Jeremiah Francis Minihan

JEREMIAH FRANCIS MINIHAN

Born : July 21, 1903
Deceased : August 14, 1973

Auxiliary Bishop of Boston, 1954-1973; Titular Bishop of Paphus

Official blazon

Azure, three spears, the two in saltire argent, the other or, enfiled with a crown of the last, between three trefoils of the second, on a chief of the same a lymphad sails furled, two pennons flying gules.

Motto: Fortitudo et mansuetudo

Origin/meaning

The blue field contains three charges: a crown, spears and shamrocks, they are an allusion to the family name of Minihan. The golden crown is taken from the shield of Munster (Ireland), since the surname of Minihan means in Gaelic "descendants of Munster men."

The three spears recall an ancient legend concerning the forebears of the Bishop's family, who were of the O'Driscoll sept. After they had returned to Munster from a defensive expedition in a neighbouring province, they alone retained the surname Minihan.

The three silver shamrocks around the crown are a tribute to Cardinal O'Connell, who bore these charges in his coat of arms, whom the Bishop served as secretary.

The red ship in the chief refers to the Prelate's descent from the O'Driscolls, who, before the twelfth century, were the first family of South Munster and whose silver shield bore a two-masted ship.