| Q: Does the City Seal of Los Angeles,
California contain Marian Content?
A. Yes, as indicated in the article "Rosary Retained in
L.A. City Seal" quoted below.
"The Rosary, if there were any doubt about it,
is officially and definitely a part of the seal of the City of Los
Angeles. Minor variations in the city seal, including occasional
omissions of the beaded circlet were ordered ended in a City Council
ordinance signed January 6 by Mayor Sam Yorty. The Rosary -- ten decades
at first, and the seven-decade Franciscan Crown since 1949 -- has
been part of the city seal since it was adopted in March, 1905. But
in recent years, some city councilmen and departments used a
simplified seal in their letterheads; the beads sometimes become a
solid line. Mayor Yorty wrote the city council in 1966 urging
adoption of a uniform seal. The Cultural Heritage Board approved an
official seal last year and sent its recommendations to the City
Attorney. These were adopted in the council ordinance signed by the
mayor. The Rosary or Franciscan Crown represents the Franciscan
fathers who civilized and settled in much of California, according to
the Mayor's office. The city shield, surrounded by the beads,
includes the stars and stripes of the Unites States, the California
Bear Flag, the eagle and serpent from the arms of Mexico, and the
castle of Castile and lion of Leon from the arms of Spain. Sprays of
olive, grape and orange suggest the location of Los Angeles as a
'city set in a garden'."
Source: The Tidings (January 15,
1971)
Explanation of the City
Seal
The lion of Leon and the castle of
Castile are from the Arms of Spain and represent Los Angeles
under Spanish control from 1542 to 1821.
The eagle holding a serpent is from the
Arms of Mexico and represents the period of Mexican
sovereignty from 1822 to 1846.
The Bear Flag typifies the California
Republic of 1846.
The Stars and Stripes indicate the
present status of Los Angeles as an American City.
The sprays of olive, grape and orange
suggest the location of Los Angeles as a City set in a
garden
The beaded circle surrounding the
shield represents a Rosary, suggesting the part played by the
Mission Padres in founding the City.
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