THE COAT OF ARMS OF BISHOP ENRIQUE V. MACARAEG, BISHOP OF TARLAC
Source: Diocese of Tarlac FB Page
The right side of the seal refers to the personal life story and mission of the new bishop.
The red upper part refers to Lingayen Gulf rendered in such color by the blood of Filipino soldiers who died there during the Second World War. It also refers to the courage of Pangasinense Catholics who have braved many religious and political upheavals but have remained steadfast through centuries. There is flash of lightning across the red signifying Malasiqui from which town the Macaraeg family hail from. Lasi in Pangasinan means lightning and Malasiqui means a place of intense lightning. A bishop from the land of intense lightning is a sign that the Gospel is no longer just a flash of lightning. The light of the Gospel has stayed on in Malasiqui and now has produced its first bishop son.
The green lower part refers to the vast fertile plains of Pangasinan where crops of various kinds grow but this vast fertile soil has also given rise to many Pangasinense heroes and illustrious men of the Church and the bishop now joins the ranks of the fruitful harvest from the fertile soil. The Dominican cross on the lower middle left refers to the UST Central Seminary while opposite it is the Marian symbol referring the Mary Help of Christians High School Seminary where the bishop underwent formation for the priesthood.
The left side of the seal refers to the Diocese of Tarlac.
The cudgel and the two arrows refer to San Sebastian, the patron of the Cathedral and the diocese. On orders of Diocletian, Sebastian was made a target practice for archery and his body was riddled with arrows almost like an urchin. Finally Sebastian was beaten to death with clubs and his remains thrown into the sewers.
The motto of the bishop is Vivere Christus Est taken from the letter of Saint Paul to the Philippians 1:21. His life mission may be summarized in these simple verses:
My life is Jesus Christ
My love is Christ the Lord
My mission is Him alone
Jesus Christ is all for me.
Fullness of life from him
True peace and joy in him
We begin and end in him
Christ is my love, my only love!
Kabalens Klasmeyt Bishop Ric, Let's keep on praying for each other. Please do coordinate with our klasmeyt Kabalens Bishop Rene that you both could come over for a well deserve vacation to come over to the States. I thank the Almighty everyday that He Made our Batch as His Instrument in having two of you as one of His Prince of His Church forever!
ReplyDelete