Cirilo Flores

CIRILO FLORES

Born : June 20, 1948
Deceased : September 6, 2014

Auxiliary Bishop of Orange, 2009-2012
Bishop of San Diego, 2013-2014

Auxiliary Bishop of Orange

Bishop of San Diego

Official blazon

Origin/meaning

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

Bishop Flores' personal coat of arms is composed of a blue field on which is placed an open book, a Bible, which is resting upon a crozier. These two symbols are placed together to signify the role of a pastor, who is to shepherd his flock under the guidance of the Holy Word of God. For Bishop Flores, this was his ministry in the Diocese of Orange where he was a parish priest for eighteen years, a ministry that was transformed to a larger flock when he became Auxiliary Bishop of Orange and then was appointed to San Diego. The Bible and the staff are placed below a golden crown, which along with the blue background, honors the Blessed Virgin Mary, to whom the bishop is especially devoted. The crown also 'plays on' the name of the town where Bishop Flores was born - Corona.

The Bible and staff are above three roses, again in honor of our Lady and the Martyrs of Mexico. The roses are also canting for the Bishop's name - Flores - which means 'flowers'.

For his motto Bishop Flores selected the phrase "For the Greater Glory of God." These words express that for a Christian, and especially for a cleric in God's Holy Church, all that is done is to be done for the greater glory of God. This phrase is also the motto which St. Ignatius of Loyola chose for the Society of Jesus, the religious order he founded, and the religious order by whom Bishop Flores was educated at Loyola University of Los Angeles.

The achievement is completed with the heraldic insignia of a prelate of the rank of bishop.

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