Arms of St. Thomas University

Blazon

Party per chevron Vert and Or in chief a lymphad under sail oars in action between two suns in their splendour and in base a Latin cross bottony all counterchanged;

Symbolism

Green and gold are the University’s colours. The chevron division is taken from the arms of the Dominican Order, to which the University’s patron, St. Thomas Aquinas, belonged. The suns are symbolic of the learning or light of knowledge for which the community at St. Thomas strives, one indicating the light of the mind as exercised by the philosopher, and the other being the informing light of revelation as experienced by the theologian, each of which finds expression in St. Thomas Aquinas. The Latin cross is symbolic of Christianity, which guides the University’s learning and speaks to the Roman Catholic tradition of its community. The tips of the cross resemble shamrocks, which St. Patrick used to illustrate the doctrine of the Holy Trinity. St. Thomas University owes much to the faith of the Irish Catholic community in New Brunswick. The lymphad, or ship, is found in the arms of New Brunswick, and also alludes to the Miramichi and Saint John rivers along whose banks St. Thomas University has been located. The placement of the ship between the suns can allude to the daily journey of learning. The appearance of the chevron division also creates the idea of the ship’s wake, the ship as a metaphor for the church, and the cross indicative of Christian learning.