Lawrence Joseph Shehan

LAWRENCE JOSEPH SHEHAN

Born : March 18, 1898
Deceased : August 26, 1984

Auxiliary Bishop of Baltimore, 1945-1953
Bishop of Bridgeport, 1953-1961
Archbishop of Baltimore, 1961-1974
Cardinal : 1965

Auxiliary Bishop of Baltimore	Bishop of Bridgeport
Archbishop of Baltimore	Cardinal

Official blazon

(personal arms) Sinister: Azure, on a mount vert, a dove regardant argent holding in its beak an olive branch 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 bishop.

The personal coat of arms of Bishop Shehan were adopted in 1945 when he was consecrated auxiliary Bishop of Baltimore.

This design is taken from the arms of an Irish Shehan family and is used here to symbolise the last name of the bishop. The silver dove on a green mound, holding a green olive branch in its beak is a reference to the Gaelic derivation of the name which means "peace." It is interesting to note that Pope Pius XII also bears a dove on his arms because of the derivation of his family name, Pacelli - "peace."

He used the motto Sectamini Caritatem (Follow after Charity) until his elevatin to Cardinal, when he changed it to Omnia in Caritate (All in charity/love).