Private
Registrations: United States Heraldic Registry, No:
20060515FArms designed with the assistance of the International
Association of Amateur Heralds (IAAH).
The Symbolism Behind the Armorial: The field
tinctures of Azure and Argent and the charges of the lion rampant
Gules and the Dexter wing displayed Argent with a clover stalk Or were
inspired by the Arms for the village of Kippenheimweiler, the
armiger's ancestral village in the former state of Baden, Germany.
The armiger differentiated his arms from that of Kippenheimweiler by
dividing the field per bend and having the lion rampant armed and
langued Or. As the genealogist for his family it was important to him
to reflect his ancestral roots in the design of the arms.
The tinctures and charges clearly demonstrate the
armiger's paternal connection to Kippenheimweiler, which he has traced
back to 1739. The Arms for the former state of Baden, Germany (Or a
bend Gules) also served as inspiration for the design of the Arms for
similar reasons. The bend Gules was incorporated into the armiger's
Arms to represent his paternal family's extended roots in many other
villages in the state of Baden, which he has traced back to the mid
1600s.The tincture Or for the cross-crosslets was selected to further
strengthen the tie to the Arms of Baden. The Arms three dominant
tinctures of Gules, Argent, and Azure when taken as a whole represent
the armiger's American heritage. It provides for a nice blending of
his American heritage and German roots in Kippenheimweiler and Baden.
The cross-crosslet has been a heraldic charge traditionally used to
represent the fourfold mystery of the Cross of Christ. The armiger's
use of five cross-crosslets represents the five wounds Christ suffered
upon the cross. The five cross-crosslets displayed in bend represent
the importance and centrality to his Catholic faith, both personally
and professionally. The armiger works as a Director of Faith Formation
with the Catholic Archdiocese of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and is
also as a professional catechetical speaker.
The crest stands as a further testament to the
armiger's professional role and the importance of his faith. A book
displayed open in heraldry traditionally symbolizes manifestation.
Here as depicted in the crest it represents the Bible and the
armiger's professional responsibility to help make the Word of God
manifest in the lives of those to whom he minister's. The charges of
the Alpha and Omega, traditional Christian symbols representing Christ
as the beginning and the end, have been charged upon the Bible to
represent Christ as the fulfilment of Scripture. The crown of thorns
represents the passion of Christ, which is of central importance to
the armiger in his ministry and his spirituality. It encircles the
Word of God as a symbol of how Christ fulfilled Scripture.
The armiger utilizes the crest on his business
cards as a catechetical speaker. "Sicut Ipse Ambulavet," roughly
translates as "to walk as he himself walked." It is adapted from and
inspired by sacred Scripture (2 John 2:6). The motto encompasses the
mission of his profession as a Director of Faith Formation and
catechetical speaker to form others in faith so that they too may come
walk as Christ walked. As a motto, it also reflects the armigers own
personal desire to remain faithful and walk in the footsteps of
Christ.