The practice of heraldry came about to allow people to see who you are. Originating in England in the 12th century, the coat of arms of a family, soldier and eventually a bishop, revealed much about the personal history and purpose of the person or unit.
With the 50th anniversary of the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City and the Diocese of Tulsa becoming separate entities being celebrated this year; here is an explanation of the heraldry of the first two bishops making up two-thirds of the Province of Oklahoma City (Little Rock being the other third).
Archbishop John R. Quinn, who had been the Auxiliary Bishop of San Diego, arrived in 1972 to become the Bishop of Oklahoma City and Tulsa. With the division of the state into two dioceses in February of 1973, he became the first archbishop of Oklahoma City. In examining his coat of arms, the left half is the diocesan coat of arms in this case showing the five arrow heads symbolizing the Five Civilized Tribes in the downward posture symbolizing peace. Since the early missionaries came to Oklahoma to minister to the tribes, it is fitting. The right half is more personal to the prelate. The Pegasus, the winged horse of mythology, was the symbol of the Quinn family of Galwaym in Ireland. At the top the pierced heart is representing the Immaculate Heart of Mary, the patroness of the seminary where he had been rector. The two stars with wavy points (properly called estoiles) derive from the crest of Saint Francis Seminary where he had also been rector. The rose represents the North American College in Rome where he was a seminarian.
The addition of the bar to the cross on top of the shield shows his rank as an archbishop as do the tassels on each side as row of four has been added. The motto of his episcopacy was “Lumen Gentium Christus,” meaning “Christ is Light of the Nations,” the first three words of a major document of the Second Vatican Council and his intentions to remain in solidarity with its teachings.
Bernard Ganter was appointed as the first bishop of the Diocese of Tulsa and brought his story in his crest from his home state of Texas. The left side is the new diocesan heraldry, basically a modification of the old Diocese of Oklahoma City and Tulsa symbolism except the cross is Y-shaped. It is also surrounded by drops of oil so critical to the history of Tulsa.
On the right side, the family and personal history is illustrated by the glove, whose family name originally meant glovemaker and the heart in the hand is an homage to the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart in Houston where he served as rector until his appointment as bishop. The star has a dual purpose showing his devotion to the Blessed Mother and his life-long home of Texas.
Bishop Ganter chose the motto, “In Corde Jesu,” translated as “In the Heart of Jesus.” Those who knew the good bishop were quick to point out that was indeed how he conducted his vocation.