The Diocesan Coat of Arms
By Paul J. Sullivan, heraldist
The first coats of arms were used by Catholic knights from western Europe who battled for the liberation of the Holy Land during the twelfth century Crusades. These Crusaders displayed coats of arms on their shields and flags so their followers could recognize them on the battlefield.
The arms of the Diocese of Lubbock are composed of a red shield on which is displayed a silver cross. On this cross is displayed a gold crown (diadem). The conjunction of those symbols form the representation traditionally used to signify Christ, the King; titular of the cathedral church for the diocese.
The symbolism of Christ the King is issuant from a base which is used to represent the Caprock Escarpment that stands at the center of diocesan lands and upon which the city is built. This base is black to represent the petroleum under the ground in diocesan territories. On the black background is superimposed a silver sprig of cotton, the primary agricultural crop and economic mainstay of the region.
The shield - which is the central and most important feature of any heraldic device - is surmounted by a bishop's miter, in gold; the heraldic insignia of a diocese in the Roman Catholic Church.
