We are pleased to introduce a new logo for Subiaco Academy! Over the coming months, you will begin to see this new branding reflected in our communications, our marketing materials, and throughout our campus.
The new shield for Subiaco and its apostolates incorporates five distinctive elements:
1) Abbey
The top of the shield reflects the south-facing entrance to the Abbey complex located in the city of Subiaco in Logan County, Arkansas, USA. Subiaco Abbey was founded as a monastery of monks, which is symbolized by the bell tower of the Church. In addition to their primary work of personal and communal prayer throughout the day, the monks chose two additional apostolates to devote their time and resources: Education and Hospitality.
2) Bell Tower
Subiaco Abbey was founded as a dependent priory on March 15, 1878, by three monks of St. Meinrad Abbey in Indiana. In March 1878, on the Second Sunday of Lent, over fifty persons assembled around a small log cabin near a small field west of Michael’s pond on the “Ridge.” A small handbell was rung at ten in the morning, notifying the congregation that services were about to begin. Since that Sunday in 1878, bells of various sizes and numbers have continued to ring out over the hills and valleys, inviting all to come and join the Subiaco monks in praising God. On June 29, 1957, the Most Reverend Albert L. Fletcher of Little Rock consecrated our four tower bells to be placed in the 132-foot, 7-inch tower completed in 1959. Each bell has a specific tone and a monastic patroness. St. CECILIA (patroness of music) weighs 1,540 lbs., has a diameter of 41 inches, and her note is a G. St. GERTRUDE (mystic) weighs 880 lbs., has a diameter of 34 inches, and her note is an A#. St. MECHTILD (mystic) weighs 640 lbs., has a diameter of 31 inches, and her note is a C. St. HILDEGARD (mystic), weighs 440 lbs., has a diameter of 27 inches, and her note is a D. They were cast in a foundry in Aarle-Rixtel, Holland, in 1956 by Verdin Bell Company of Cincinnati, OH. They are made of 80% virgin red copper and 20% Banka Tin. Therefore, the bell tower represents the monastery as the foundation of the entire Abbey complex.
3) Ravens
The small priory established in 1878 immediately began an apostolate of hospitality, which flowed from the Rule of St. Benedict, chapter 53, where the monks were to welcome all people as Christ. The monks initially welcomed only visiting priests and religious but soon built its own Coury Guest House to welcome people from anywhere. Our hospitality ministry is undertaken in the name of Saint Meinrad, a monk born about 800 in what is now Germany. Meinrad was a Benedictine monk who lived as a hermit for much of his life, dedicated to prayer and solitude. Even as a hermit, his reputation as a wise and holy man led people to seek him out for counsel and prayer. Despite his desire for solitude, the monk Meinrad graciously attended to his guests’ physical and spiritual needs. In 861, Meinrad had a vision that two robbers would kill him. Shortly after the vision, the two evil men arrived at Meinrad’s hermitage. After finishing what he knew would be his last Mass, Meinrad invited the robbers in and offered them food, drink, and a rest from their travels. Once the robbers realized Meinrad did not have the many treasures they expected, they clubbed him to death and then fled out of fear. As if wishing to avenge their friend, his two ravens followed the men through the woods back into town, loudly cawing and pecking at the men’s heads. The birds drew such attention to the men that the townspeople realized what they had done, and they were quickly arrested and convicted of their crime. Over the centuries, these ravens have been symbols of Benedictine hospitality, with Saint Meinrad as the patron and martyr of hospitality.
4) Trojan Head
In December 1878, the monks began an apostolate of education by founding a coed parish school. In 1887, the monks established a second education institution for what is today known as Subiaco Academy. Today, the Education apostolate is symbolized by the orange and blue Trojan head, which serves as the mascot of Subiaco Academy, the Abbey’s internationally known all-boys day and boarding secondary school for grades 7-12.
5) Colors
Like its mother abbey of St. Meinrad and grandmother abbey of Maria Einsiedeln in Switzerland, Subiaco maintains a strong Marian devotion. The darker “Marian blue” is a foundation color in art at all three abbeys. At Subiaco, it can be seen in the 19th-century Swiss painting of ‘Our Lady of Maria Einsiedeln,’ brought to the monastery in 1887, that the monks pray before each night for Compline. This same blue is the base color for the Church’s ‘Life of St. Benedict’ stained glass windows. The lighter blue can be seen in the painted eye color of the baby Jesus, which traditionally reflects his gaze upon his mother, Mary. In the east apse of the Church, you will see the Latin phrase ‘Regina Monachorum--Ora Pro Nobis’ (Queen of Monks--Pray for Us) that reflects the call of the monks to model the life of Mary in bearing Christ, sharing Christ, and seeing Christ in all. Additional colors are yellow, which reflects the coronas around the persons of Mary and Jesus, as found in the painting; the Trojan blue and gold, reflecting the traditions of Subiaco Academy; and green, which reflects the distinctive corona of Mary and Jesus in the Einsiedeln stained glass window in the Church.
Please know that the Trojan Head is not going away! In addition to the new Subiaco logo, the Academy will continue to use the beloved Trojan Head for our programs and sports.
We look forward to sharing this new branding with our Subiaco community. Onward Trojans! Onward Together!
-Abbot Elijah Owens & David Wright, Headmaster
