Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, Washington, D.C.
BASILICA OF THE NATIONAL SHRINE OF THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION, WASHINGTON, D.C.
Country: United States
Denomination: Roman Catholic
City: Washington, D.C.
| English | blazon wanted |
Origin/meaning
Divided into two halves, the left represents the Archdioceses of Baltimore and Washington with gold, red, and white cross bottony, as well as the Immaculate Conception, who is represented by a gold and white crescent. Three white stars are taken from the arms of George Washington, tying in the city of Washington, D.C.
On the right side, a gold pile on a white field serves as a symbol of the Church’s stability in Christ, while the dark chevron represents the structure of the church. Hope and constancy are represented by a sable anchor, inspired by the crests of Bishop Shahan, the Basilica’s founder, and Pope Pius X. The cockleshell represents pilgrimage, and trefoils (shamrocks) refer to the many builders, architects, and clergymen of Irish descent who helped complete the National Shrine, as well as serving as a symbol of perpetuity.
The Motto "Ad Iesum per Mairam Immaculatum", is translated “To Jesus through Mary Immaculate,” and the Coat of Arms is completed by the Papal Keys.
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