Diocesan Coat of Arms

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The red (field) and gold (charges) are the heraldic colors of Spain, recalling the historic roots of California, the Santa Clara Valley, and the city of San Jose.  The diagonal band of latin crosses represents the missionary tradition of "El Camino Real", the chain of twenty-one missions founded by the Franciscan friars, the eighth mission being "Santa Clara de Asis" (1777).  The latin cross is also central to the arms of the Archdiocese of San Francisco from which the Diocese of San Jose has been formed. 

The devices in the upper right of the shield (the viewer's right) represent the patrons of the See city, called at its founding (also in 1777) "El Pueblo de San José de Guadalupe".  The rose is a traditional heraldic emblem of Mary, mother of Jesus, and specifically of Our Lady of Guadalupe.  The carpenter's square represents Saint Joseph.  The range of mountains in the lower portion of the shield evokes the character and fruitfulness of the Santa Clara Valley, as well as the Umbrian hills surrounding the Assisi of Saint Clare.