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EXPLANATION OF BISHOP FERNANDO ISERN'S COAT OF ARMS

Bishop Isern's Coat of Arms includes the Shield of the Diocese of Pueblo on the left and his personal arms on the right. The crenellated wall on the Diocesan Shield symbolizes old Fort Pueblo and the curving line below the wall represents the Arkansas River which divides the city. The Sacred Heart of jesus represents the Sacred Heart Cathedral and is flanked on each side by a rose. The rose to the immediate left represents Mary under the title of the "Mystical Rose." The rose to the immediate right represents St. Therese of Lisieux (The Little Flower) Principal Patroness of the Diocese.

The right side of the Coat of Arms includes two red (gules) fish, taken from the Crest of the Isern Family; they symbolize the miracle of the Multiplication. The Lord takes, blesses and multiplies, the He returns to the disciples entrusting them with the distribution and the care of the vast crowd.

The cross and the crescent moon symbolize God's love shed over humanity: the Father, whose heart is broken in seeing his Son dying on the Cross for love of us; the Son, giving himself as a oblation for Love of us; and Mary, symbolized by the crescent of the moon at the foot of the Cross, her heart symbolically pierced by a sword, for love of us.

Within the banner at the bottom of the Coat of Arms is the Motto chosen by Bishop Isern: THE LOVE OF CHRIST COMPELS US ON.