Arms of St. Clement Church

Blazon

Azure on a cross Argent surmounted by a crown of thorns three nails of the Passion Gules the whole between in the first quarter an altar Or and Argent thereon the Agnus Dei proper vulned at the flank droplets Gules dripping into a chalice Or in the fourth quarter a hart Argent armed and unguled Or trippant on two bars wavy Argent bearing as the Agnus Dei a pennant Argent a cross Gules the second and third quarters each displaying two anchors of three flukes in saltire Or;

Symbolism

The crown of thorns enclosing three nails is rendered in relief on the face of the main altar of St. Clement Church. The pierced lamb whose blood flows into the chalice is a symbolic representation of the Mass and emphasizes the notion of Mass as sacrifice. The stag and water are taken from a mosaic in the apse of the church of San Clemente in Rome where the stag is depicted drinking from the waters of salvation. The crossed grapnels recall the instrument of martyrdom of Saint Clement, the church’s namesake. The grapnels are also shown here to demonstrate the connection between St. Clement’s, Ottawa and San Clemente, Rome.