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Every
Campionite treasures his School Badge
for it speaks volumes to him. The
Campion School Badge is prepared along
strictly medieval lines. It is in the
form of a shield originating from the
shields of the knights of old. The
shield has three major divisions, each
with a different colour background and a
scroll containing the school motto
“Joy
in Truth”, a motto that each Campionite
must make his own. Where Truth is
achieved, the natural outcome is Joy,
and every Campionite in coming to
Campion is in search of true knowledge
that will enhance his personality,
bringing a wholesome joy and light to
his life.
This motto is symbolically expressed
by three birds that stand for joy while
the star, firmly fixed and shedding its
radiance, stands for Truth. In days of
yore, stars were always guide-posts to
lost travelers. Truth achieved through
the three R’s brings true joy. This is
represented by the three birds flying
merrily around the guide-post, Truth.
On the left side, against a red
background is a rope shaped like a
noose. It stands for the barbarous and
gruesome death of Saint Edmund Campion
who sacrificed his life joyfully for the
love of Truth. He, a great Jesuit
scholar at Oxford, was put to death by
Queen Elizabeth I. His loyalty to Truth
and joy in sacrificing his life for the
highest principles is fittingly
represented.
Finally, at the base of the shield is
to be found the motto of the Society of
Jesus. It consists of the Holy Name of
Jesus in abbreviated form. This
abbreviation is peculiar in the sense
that the letters have been taken from
the Greek word for ‘first’ which was a
symbol of Christ. The little Cross on
the top, the three nails below and the
whole encircled in a halo of light,
further enhance the Holy Name as a
symbol that a Jesuit’s life must be
permeated with a spirit of love and
sacrifice characteristic of His Master,
Christ. This symbol of the Jesuits
originated from the decorative art of
the XVI century and is always in yellow
and blue. May the short explanation help
each Campionite to treasure his School
Badge and ever be loyal and true to
Campion. |