The School Coat of Arms

      The School Coat of Arms is an important emblem that reflects many things about St. Anthony Claret. This is a symbol, which every Claretian should know, understand, and cherish with pride and affection.

      The school emblem is distinctly divided into two portions: the deep blue at the right and the radiant red at the left.

      Within the deep blue sphere, St. Anthony Mary Claret describes his origin and relationship. The sun represents his father Juan who hails from the eastern part of Sallent, Barcelona, Spain. Amazingly the family name Claret can be associated with the reddish light of dawn that the rising sun symbolically represents. The moon represents his mother Josefa who comes from the western part of the town of Sallent. Surprisingly, the family name of his mother Clara indicates the presence of light that the new rising moon appropriately symbolizes. The bridge in Sallent indicates the sacramental union between Juan and Josefa that makes possible his corporal birth.

      Spiritually, the sun symbolizes the Son of God made Man, Jesus Christ, resplendent in his might and love; while the moon stands for Mary who like the moon receives and reflects the radiant light of the sun, the sunlight of God’s love. These symbolisms express St. Anthony’s utmost love to Jesus Christ and his filial love to the Blessed Mother, thus establishing his spiritual birth.

      The inner life of St. Anthony Mary Claret is revealed within the radiant red sphere. The prominent heart is the symbol of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, Patroness of the Congregation of the Missionary Sons of the Immaculate Heart of the Blessed Virgin Mary that St. Anthony Mary Claret founded on July 16, 1849. The fire bursting forth symbolizes Mary’s limitless love for her Son Jesus; the roses stand for her tenderness; and the sword represents her suffering. The three white lilies represent her purity. The lilies refer also to his favorite saints: St. Anthony de Padua, St. Louis Gonzaga, and St. Dominic de Guzman who are known for their practice of purity and exemplary devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary. It was on St. Anthony de Padua’s Feast, June 13, 1835 that Anthony Mary Claret was ordained as priest. It was at the Church of St. Anthony de Padua where he celebrated his First Mass on the Feast of St. Louis Gonzaga, the patron of an organization that St. Anthony Mary Claret belonged as a seminarian.

      At the bottom part of the emblem are the words: SCIENTIA MAXIME CUM VIRTUTE. Translated, it means “Knowledge is best with virtue.” This statement has been embodied by the school as its motto for the institution’s search for knowledge and the promotion of the intellectual growth, which is made more sublime with the practice of virtue. The school coat of arms has a history of its own. Every single detail brings with it deep meaning. The motto SCIENTIA MAXIME CUM VIRTUTE leads us to the ultimate ideal, which every Claretian should live.