The University Seal
The official seal of Gwynedd Mercy University bears the University’s name and location,
date of founding, coat of arms and motto.
The left side of the University shield contains symbols of the Sisters of Mercy who came
to Philadelphia in 1861 and founded Gwynedd Mercy Junior College in 1948. It depicts
four red stripes on a gold shield surmounted by a white cross. In 1831, Catherine McAuley,
foundress of the Sisters of Mercy, officially adopted this shield from the Order of Mercy, a
13th century order of monks devoted to the care of the sick in hospitals.
The right side of the shield bears symbols reflecting the University. The upper right field
contains the Griffin, the Celtic mythical creature that acknowledges the Welsh ancestry of
Gwynedd Valley. In English armory, a Griffin has the foreparts of an eagle and the hind parts
of a lion with each body part having special significance – the ears, signifying attention;
the wings, celerity of execution; the lion-like shape, courage; the hooked bill, perseverance
and tenacity. In folklore, the Griffin is envisioned as a creature of enormous strength and
vigor and an emblem of valor and magnanimity; the Griffin is also acknowledged as the
guardian of hidden treasure.
In the right center are three roundels taken from the coat-of-arms of William Penn, which
acknowledges the University’s location in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. These three
roundels symbolize Byzantine coins denoting an ancestor of Penn who was involved in the
Crusades. In the lower right field, the lamp of learning represents the passing of knowledge
from one generation to another.
The gold crown of the House of Aragon (rulers in medieval Spain during the Crusades
when the Order of Mercy was founded in 1216) sits atop the shield of honor and protects
the followers of Mercy. Below the shield, the Latin motto “Veritas et Misericordia” is
translated as “Truth and Mercy.” The entire University community is called to embrace
Truth and Mercy.