Below are the "new" arms of the Pontifical College Josephinum. I say "new" because I’m not sure it’s intended to be a coat of arms in the true sense and not just a logo… which is how it was described to me. Also, they already had arms even though those hadn’t been used in some time. The last few years they had been using the tiara and crossed keys alone… as if they were a part of the Holy See… so this is an improvement in that sense.
Their "old" arms were (don’t have an image yet) ARMS: quarterly Argent and Or, on an escutcheon the arms of the Holy See. CREST: A sailing ship of three masts at full sail with pennons Or. I don’t know who designed these arm though Dcn. Sullivan emblazoned them back in the mid-80s. Maybe he designed them.
The "new" arms are the arms look to be those of the Diocese of Columbus (don’t have my reference books with me at the moment) differenced with a fleur-de-lis in chief dexter. I don’t know who designed these or who did the art. Unlike the "old" arms which had secular external ornaments, these make use of the same ecclesiastical external ornaments as used other pontifical colleges.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v209/Resine/Heraldry/pcjnewarms_zpsc2e43429-1.png
Apologies for perhaps dumb questions from a lapsed Presbyterian—but what is a Pontifical college, & especially this one? Is it appropriate for such a body to use the tiara & crossed keys? & if the arms are similar, does this one have any connection with Columbus diocese?
Aside from these questions bearing on the appropriateness of this achievement, both the arms themselves, and the combination with the external additaments, are IMHO quite attractive—far above the "we’ve seen worse" bar 
Pontifical colleges/universities are educational institutions that focus on disciplines related to Christian doctrine and which are established or approved by the Holy See. In the case of the Pontifical College Josephinum, it’s under the Holy See’s Congregation for Education. It is, in fact, located in Columbus, Ohio, which would explain the Columbus arms.
As for the keys and tiara, this is pretty standard, at least, among the pontifical universities/colleges in Rome (e.g. the Pontifical North American College, the Pontifical Gregorian University, the Pontifical Lateran University, the Pontifical University of the Holy Cross, and the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas). It appears to be less common outside of Rome, but I found these two examples: the International Theological Institute in Austria, and the Pontifical University of Salamanca in Spain. More may, in fact, use the crossed keys and tiara in their seals, but not in their logos displayed on their websites.
This is not a bad looking emblazonment, imo. My uncle, now retired from the Diocese of Superior, WI, studied for the priesthood at this seminary back in the late 40’s or early 50’s.
I grew up in Columbus and am very familiar with the Josephinum; I attended several retreats there throughout my years in the Catholic schools.
I do not think that use of Columbus’ diocesan arms as a basis is appropriate here. The Diocese of Columbus has nothing to do with the Josephinum, since Pontifical Colleges report directly to Rome.
Dcgb7f;100975 wrote:
Below are the "new" arms of the Pontifical College Josephinum. I say "new" because I’m not sure it’s intended to be a coat of arms in the true sense and not just a logo… which is how it was described to me. Also, they already had arms even though those hadn’t been used in some time. The last few years they had been using the tiara and crossed keys alone… as if they were a part of the Holy See… so this is an improvement in that sense.
Their "old" arms were (don’t have an image yet) ARMS: quarterly Argent and Or, on an escutcheon the arms of the Holy See. CREST: A sailing ship of three masts at full sail with pennons Or. I don’t know who designed these arm though Dcn. Sullivan emblazoned them back in the mid-80s. Maybe he designed them.
The "new" arms are the arms look to be those of the Diocese of Columbus (don’t have my reference books with me at the moment) differenced with a fleur-de-lis in chief dexter. I don’t know who designed these or who did the art. Unlike the "old" arms which had secular external ornaments, these make use of the same ecclesiastical external ornaments as used other pontifical colleges.
This is an interesting development. I think it’s definitely an improvement that they’re switching to the standard ornaments for a pontifical college, but I agree with the opinions here that the close association with Columbus is not well-advised. It would be a bit bizarre, also, if the "old" arms and these "new" ones were somehow being used simultaneously.
As for the old arms, I actually saw them in pretty frequent use around the college and among its seminarians. (I visited the Josephinum three or four times in the past two years, while I was in minor seminary in Pittsburgh, and now that I am at the NAC, the Josephinum guys here all seem to have sweaters and folders with the "old" arms on them.)
I don’t know what the plans are for the "old" arms. A lot of the promo stuff (sweaters, cuff links, etc.) have them. I don’t know if they will be phased out. More difficult to get ride of is the nice marble inset of the "old" arm in the foyer of the old library.
FWIW (maybe not much!)—but since both the college & the diocese, though not directly connected, are dependent on the Holy See, the use of slightly differenced arms for these two entities located in Columbus doesn’t seem all that inappropriate. After all, several dioceses use arms derived from the arms of the state or city i which they are located—e.g. IIRC New York City & Baltimore/Maryland.
Not that dissimilar arms would be inappropriate—maybe would be preferable - but that doesn’t make similar arms inappropriate.
Here are the old arms as illustrated by Dcn. Paul Sullivan in 1986. Looks like I missed a few details in my blazon in the first post.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v209/Resine/Heraldry/pcjoldarms_zps1771b5fd.png
Nice enough arms, and likely more meaningful to the alumni; but FWIW, IMO the new design is more visually interesting & powerful.
It reminds me a little of the CoA of
"Johannes Nauclerus" aka "Johann Vergenhans"
http://85.214.48.237/kunst/pic570/379/411100966.jpg
After asking around a bit, I found out that the arms were designed and executed by Matthew Alderman. We’ve discussed his work before on this forum, but I can’t recall the topics off hand, otherwise I would link you to them.
I heard from Matthew Alderman today that he was really happy to do this coat of arms and that it is getting some attention. He confirmed for me that the design is based on the old arms; the ship being from the crest of the old arms and not at all based in any way on the arms of the local diocese (which depicts a ship but from the side not head on and with a letter "M" on the sail not a cross). Any resemblance to the arms of the diocese of Columbus is coincidental.
Fr Guy—interesting background info from the artist. Hiopefully the publicity will generate additional clerical commissions, both for his benefit & that of church heraldry generally.
Dcgb7f;100981 wrote:
Pontifical colleges/universities are educational institutions that focus on disciplines related to Christian doctrine and which are established or approved by the Holy See. In the case of the Pontifical College Josephinum, it’s under the Holy See’s Congregation for Education. It is, in fact, located in Columbus, Ohio, which would explain the Columbus arms.
As for the keys and tiara, this is pretty standard, at least, among the pontifical universities/colleges in Rome (e.g. the Pontifical North American College, the Pontifical Gregorian University, the Pontifical Lateran University, the Pontifical University of the Holy Cross, and the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas). It appears to be less common outside of Rome, but I found these two examples: the International Theological Institute in Austria, and the Pontifical University of Salamanca in Spain. More may, in fact, use the crossed keys and tiara in their seals, but not in their logos displayed on their websites.
The usage is also fairly common in Brazil, amongst others The Pontificial Catholic University of Campinas, The Pontificial Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul and the Pontificial Catholic University of Rio de Janerio.
