James Edward Fitzgerald

JAMES EDWARD FITZGERALD

Born : December 30, 1938
Deceased : September 11, 2003

Auxiliary Bishop of Joliet in Illinois and Titular Bishop of Walla Walla, 2002-2003

Official blazon

Party per pale and to dexter party per fess Or and Argent, to chief a trefoil Vert and to base a saltire Gules; to sin­ister of the last a bunch of grapes upon two stalks of wheat per saltire all of the second: on a base Vert per fess throughout, the 'Claddagh' of the first.

Origin/meaning

The design is composed of four sections. The two sections to the left of the main part of the design, repre­sent the bishop's Irish heritage; a green trefoil (shamrock) on a gold field and the arms of the family Fitzgerald, a red saltire on a silver field.

To the right, on a red field, are a bunch of grapes upon two stalks of wheat, all in silver (white), to represent the wine from grapes and the bread from wheat that became the Eucharistic elements central to priestly life.

The base of the design is green on which are seen the hands holding the crowned heart, all in gold which have come to be known as the "Claddagh", after the village near Galway where rings of this symbolism were first made over 300 years ago to express lasting love and eternal friendship. The heart of love, crowned with loyalty and fidelity, is held within the hands of friendh1ip, to be passed on, never purchased for oneself but only given as what it signifies from one person to another person, or other people, that are the object of the giver's love.

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.

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Literature : Information provided by the Diocese of Joliet in Illinois