Luther’s Rose

The Luther Coat of Arms was designed by Dr Martin Luther, a monk/lecturer/pastor, who lived in the mid 1500′s AD. The following explanation is from a letter written to his friend Spengler, a town clerk of Nuremberg.

“The first thing expressed in my seal is a cross, black, its home in the heart, to remind me that faith in Christ crucified saves us. For with the heart a person believes and is saved”

“Now, although the cross is black, it was intended to give shame to the one on it, and intended to cause pain, yet it does not change the colour of the heart, it does not destroy the nature of the heart (i.e. it does not kill it, but Jesus’ cross actually keeps us eternally alive). For the just (those who are justified by Christ) shall live by faith, by faith in the Saviour.”

“But this heart rests on the centre of a white rose, to show that faith causes joy, hope and peace (a white rose was said to be a symbol of joy, hope and peace in Luther’s time) and …”

“The rose is white, not red, because white is also the ideal colour of all angels and Godly spirits.”

“This rose is also fixed in a sky coloured background, to convey the joy of faith in the spirit is like a taste of the heavenly joy to come, as we hope for it, though not yet fully revealed (and experienced).”

“And it is bordered by a golden ring; ring, to signify that such bliss in heaven is endless, and more precious than all present joys and treasures, and gold in colour, since gold is the best and most precious metal that does not corrode like many other metals do. Gold also to represent Christ, our dear Lord, who will graciously give eternal life.”