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The Coat of Arms of
the Most Reverend Ronald Fabbro CSB, Bishop of London. Ordained to the Episcopate in the Cathedral Church and Minor
Basilica of St Peter, London, Ontario 15 August, 2002.
Arms: Gules a chevron Or charged with a Chalice Vert between in dexter chief two Pick-axes in saltire also Or and in sinister chief a roundel irradiated Argent thereon a Fleur de lis Azure and in base an Open Book Argent bound and edged Gold.
The crossed pick-axes represent the mining industry of Sudbury, the bishop’s place of birth, as well as “a worker” (faber in Latin), from which “Fabbro” is derived.
Three symbols are taken from the Arms of the bishop’s religious congregation, the Basilian Fathers. The Fleur de lis is a symbol of the Blessed Virgin Mary and of France, the country of origin of the Basilians. The chalice represents the fullness of the priesthood. The open book represents learning, and is also symbolic of the word of God.
Motto: “SECUNDUM VERBUM TUUM DOCE ME”
Secundum verbum tuum doce me - Teach me according to your word—is from the Book of Psalms 119, v. 169, and expresses the fundamental attitude of heart and mind of the believer before the word of God. Jesus lived and gave his life in complete obedience to God’s word. He taught this word, entrusted it to his disciples and sent them out to bear witness to it.
The bishop’s motto is closely related to the Basilian motto, Teach me goodness, discipline and knowledge. As a teacher, he was inspired by the Basilian charism of education in the Church’s mission of evangelization. Trusting in Jesus who sends the Holy Spirit to teach us, the bishop seeks to give his life in service of God’s word.