Michael Brehl
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Born: January 7, 1955 Bishop of Pembroke, 2024-present |
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| English | Or a cross Vert surmounted by a reed topped with a sponge and a spear in saltire proper, overall an open book proper bound Gules and charged with a mullet of eight points irradiated Or. |
Origin/meaning
The arms includes elements of the Redemptorist Arms (the cross, sponge topped reed, and spear) as a way of recognizing him as a spiritual son of St Alphonsus Liguori, and in recognition of his service as the Superior General or the Redemptorists from 2009 to 2022.
The colour green, often representing growth and new life, was chosen to contrast with the elements of the crucifixion in order to remind the viewer that these implements, while appearing to be instruments of death, are actually the path to new and eternal life—“take up your cross and follow me”, Jesus says in the sixteenth chapter of Matthew. This idea of new and eternal life is underscored in the achievement by the use of gold (an incorruptible metal) which is a symbol of eternity and of Jesus Christ Himself.
The open book reminds us of the Gospels—the binding in red shows us the blood of Christ. The book is also used on the Arms to allude to Bishop’s love of history and reading. The final element—the eight-pointed ‘Stella Maris’—comes from the veil of Our Lady of Perpetual Help, while the radiating lines subtly speak of the Holy Spirit.
The motto, coming from the second chapter of John, further emphasizes Bishop Brehl’s love of Mary, the Mother of God, for they are her last words recorded in Holy Scripture: “do whatever He tells you”. These words of Our Lady of course do not only apply to the waiters at the Wedding Feast in Cana, but to every Christian throughout history. The green hat and external ornaments are that proper to a Bishop.
Literature: https://pembrokediocese.com/bishop/
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