Logo Description
The crest of WPI contains several elements that are of significance to the mission of our Institute. They are tied together by the experience of the Word of God entwined with fire, a fire that does not consume but enlightens, purifies, and delights.
- Our Lady of the Burning Bush is the patroness of The Word Proclaimed Institute. The burning bush is the place of God’s revelation to Moses calling him to lead his people to freedom (Exodus 3-4.) The fiery place of revelation that gave light but was not itself consumed became for the Fathers of the Church an image of Mary who welcomed the seed of the Word in her heart and body and gave birth to the Word while remaining a virgin. She most perfectly exemplifies God’s call to His people to accept willingly the seed of the Word so that it may bear much fruit within us and through us as well.
- Mount Sinai, the Source of Revelation, is in the background. A Rabbinic tradition speaks of the fire from Sinai coming to those who earnestly pondered the Scriptures in a practice known “as stringing Pearls.” Stories tell us about the fire coming from Sinai and enveloping the Rabbis as they were stringing together the words of the Torah, the Prophets and the Writings:
“'…And a fire came down and enveloped them…' We were sitting and stringing together the words of the Torah, from the Torah to the Prophets and from the Prophets to the Writings. And the words were full of joy as when they were delivered from Sinai. The fire was lapping at them as it lapped at them [coming] from Sinai. Originally, when they were given from Sinai, they were only given in fire: 'And the mountain was burning with fire right up to the heart of heaven.' As we read - 'And you came near and stood at the foot of the mountain, while the mountain burned with fire to the heart of heaven, wrapped in darkness, cloud, and gloom.'” (Deut. 4:11). - From the Jerusalem Talmud
- Emmaus, meaning “warm spring”, recounts how Jesus brought the disciples back to Mt. Sinai and the stringing of pearls, when he walked with his disciples to Emmaus. “And beginning with Moses and all the prophets, he interpreted to them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself… They said to each other, "Did not our hearts burn within us while he talked to us on the road, while he opened to us the scriptures?” (Luke 24:27,32).
In the crest of WPI, the two disciples from Emmaus are walking down the path through Scripture led by Jesus and Our Lady of the Burning Bush, a journey that takes them back to Mt. Sinai. The Word took life in her heart and body. The Word Proclaimed Institute aims to bring the Word to life in the preaching of the disciples of Jesus in our age.