Edwin Frederick O'Brien

EDWIN FREDERICK O'BRIEN

Born : April 8, 1939
Deceased :

Auxiliary Bishop of New York, 1996-1997
Archbishop for the Military Services, 1997-2007
Archbishop of Baltimore, 2007-2011
Cardinal 2012
Grand Master of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem, 2011-present

Auxiliary Bishop of New York	Archbishop of the Military
Archbishop of Baltimore	Grand Master of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem

Official blazon

(military) Azure, a Chi-Rho Or, below the crook of a crozier Argent, having within the crook a "tau" of the second, and in base an "M" of the second.

Origin/meaning

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

The crozier, a shepherd's staff, that has a Tau cross within the crook, is used to represent the Archbishop's deep devotion to The Lord, Jesus Christ, in his title of' 'The Good Shepherd." The "Tau" that is placed within the crook is taken from the arms of Cardinal Terence James Cooke, whom the Archbishop had the honor to serve as secretary. The "M" is taken from the arms of Pope John Paul II who named Archbishop O'Brien to the episcopacy.

In the center is the symbol of Christ, the Greek letters Chi and Rho, that are the first two letters of the Greek word for Christ (XPICTOC). This charge, taken from the arms of Cardinal John Joseph O'Connor is used to honor the prelate who ordained Archbishop O'Brien to the episcopacy, but by using this charge of the local bishop, His Excellency is also honoring all of the Archdiocese of New York, that he had served for so many years.

The motto "PASTORES DABO VOBIS" is taken from the Book of Jeremiah (Jer.3:15).

When appointed Archbihop of Baltimore the personal arms were changed. In the base the globe, taken from the arms of the Archdiocese of the Military Services was added and the silver crosier became gold.

In his arms as Grand Master of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem, his full arms as Archbishop of baltimore were quartered with the symbols of the Order.

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