Aquinas High School - Aquinian Yearbook (Augusta, GA)

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This Is Our Heritage... This is the official seal of our school—Aquinas. Adopted by our administrators on October 1, 1963, it tells, with a single emblem, the heritage that is ours as students of Aquinas High School. This seal is an enduring symbol of the courage, vision, and selflessness of all those who have made Aquinas a school of which we are proud. The Aquinas seal will appear on all official papers, as well as on our uniforms, class rings, and diplo- mas. May it ever be a reminder of our heritage of a glorious past, of those who have made Aquinas an ever advancing school in the field of education, of the spirit which will make tomorrow the full realization of today’s hopes and plans. 2

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AQUINIAN 1964 VOLUME SEVEN PRESENTED BY THE SENIOR CLASS OF

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Significance The upper left hand corner displays the shield bearing the coat of arms of the Diocese of Savannah. In the center is the Cross of Faith. This cross is also the heraldic Cross of St. George, the patron saint of all the monarchs of England who were named after this illustrious saint and martyr of the fourth century. Georgia was named after George II of Great Britain. The four crosses in the cantons of the cross commemorate the historic inci- dent that Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the Federal Constitution on January 2, 1788. On the upper right is a Fleur-de-lis cross which is part of the Domini- can escutcheon. This cross is a symbol of the brilliant Dominican, St. Thomas Aquinas, who, because of his magnificent writings and exemplary life is the patron of Catholic education. St. Thomas Aquinas is the special patron of Aquinas High School. On the lower left is the coat of arms of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet. The carpenter’s square symbolizes the life and work of the Sisters in imitation of their patron, St. Joseph. The “square” bears the words Humility and Charity, the two virtues which are at once the founda- tion and fruition of all their labors. The lily in full bloom proclaims the vow of Chastity taken by the Sisters. The Fleur-de-lis points to their origin in France. The lower right portrays the symbol of the Marist Brothers of the Schools, whose principal purpose is to work for the glory of God and the honor of the Blessed Virgin. The “A” “M” is the emblem for “Ave Maria,” and the twelve stars symbolize the twelve prerogatives of Mary. The Marist Brothers have a very special devotion to Mary and instill this devotion in their students. Their motto “Ad Jesum per Mariam”—All to Jesus through Mary—is the high ideal towards which all Marists strive. The external ornaments are composed of a collar on which is inscribed the name of the school, the Shamrock which is a symbol of the athletic teams of Aquinas, and a Cross, symbolic of the Faith. The entire achievement is gold, set in a green background, thus depicting the school colors. 3