Religious Inscriptions

Over the years the St. John's University Librarians have received queries regarding the meanings of the symbols and phrases found on the exterior of a number of University buildings and within the Seal and the Coat of Arms of the University. As there has been no readily available file listing this information, each query has generated a flurry of activity to find the answers to these questions.

These pages should serve as a central location for anyone who is curious about the meanings and source of these inscriptions and symbols.

Buildings

Carnesecca Arena     Library     Marillac Hall     Newman Hall     St. Albert Hall     St. John Hall     St. Vincent Hall
Taffner Fieldhouse

 

Sculptures

St. John the Baptist     St. Vincent de Paul and Friends

 

Inscriptions

Caritas Christi urget nos - - "The love of Christ impels us" - - 2 Cor 5: 14 - Marillac Hall
"Christian Education Perfects the Soul" - - Educatio Christiana Animae Perfectio - St. John Hall
Deus Scientiae est Dominus - - “God is the Lord of Knowledge” - - I Samuel 2:3 - St. Albert Hall
Educatio Christiana Animae Perfectio - - "Christian Education Perfects the Soul" - St. John Hall
Evangelizare Pauperibus Misit Me - - “Preach the gospel to the poor” - - Luke 4:18 - St. Vincent Hall
“God is the Lord of Knowledge” - - Deus Scientiae est Dominus - - I Samuel 2:3 - St. Albert Hall
"God will take the place of father and mother for you" - St. Vincent and Friends
“He was the lamp, burning and shining” (John V:35) - Library
“He was the lamp, burning and shining” (John V:35) - Statue of St. John the Baptist
Ministrare Non Ministrari - - “To serve, not to be served” - - Matthew 20:28 - Newman Hall
“Not that we are sufficient to think anything of ourselves, as of ourselves;
but our sufficiency is from God.” - - 2 Cor 3:5 - Carnesecca Arena
"The love of Christ impels us" - - Caritas Christi urget nos - - 2 Cor 5: 14 - Marillac Hall
“Preach the gospel to the poor” - -Evangelizare Pauperibus Misit Me - - Luke 4:18 - St. Vincent Hall
“Take up and Read” - - Tolle Lege - - St. Augustine “Confessions" - Library
Tolle Lege - - “Take up and Read” - - St. Augustine “Confessions" - Library
“To serve, not to be served” - - Ministrare Non Ministrari - - Matthew 20:28 - Newman Hall
Verbum Dei Non Est Alligatum - - “The Word of God is not Bound” - - Timothy II 2:9 - Library
“The Word of God is not Bound” - - Verbum Dei Non Est Alligatum - - Timothy II 2:9 - Library
Tolle Lege - - “Take up and Read” - - St. Augustine “Confessions" - Library

 

These pages and its photographs were created by P. Charles Livermore. June, 2007.