Heraldic Commentary Update 2

The old documents tell us that there were two seals of the Order in 1731: one small and one larger (both oval in shape and measuring 28x25 mm and 35x30 mm [cf. J. Bukowicz, MIC, Wprowadzenie [Introduction] , in: Album zmarłych ojców i braci Zgromadzenia Księży Marianów [Album of the De- ceased Fathers and Brothers of the Congregation of Marian Fathers] , Warsaw 1990, p.1]) . Along with their signatures, all Superior Generals’ letters also bore the Order’s seal. In addition, every monastery was obliged to obtain a seal bearing the name of the monastery and its church’s title. (cf. S.M. Sydry MIC, Organizacja Zgromadzenia Księży Marianów w XVIII wieku [Organization of the Congregation of Marian Fathers in the 18 th century], Stockbridge 2002, s.109 ) . Thus, we may conclude that shortly after its establishment, the Congregation of Marian Fathers took the image of the Immaculate Conception of the B.V.M. as its sign. Since the elec- tion of Fr. Andrzej of St. Matthew Deszpot as Superior General in 1722 and the ratification of the Marian regulations by Pope Innocent XIII in 1723, it remains the Order’s emblem. At the end of 1980s the Marian religious emblemwas plac- ed on a shield complemented with a motto-bearing scroll, thus obtaining the features of a full coat of arms. By making a com- parison with coats of arms of other religious Orders, we may surmise as credible that, according to the tradition and way of thinking of their times, creators intuitively saw the Marian em- blem placed in the field of a shield. Certain Baroque seals of the Order can be even treated as oval heraldic cartouches, which were extremely popular during the Baroque era. Heraldry uses a precise language, which has been devel- oped since the Middle Ages. The written description of an ar- morial bearing is called a blazon , and the process is called th e blazoning of arms . Knowledge of rules governing the blazoning of arms makes it possible to describe each coat of arms so pre- cisely and accurately that it may be recreated on the base of this description alone. 20