Unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it does not bear fruit.
The arms of Bishop Solis are composed of three sections. In the upper left section (heraldic “dexter”) is a silver (white) field that is charged with a blue Jerusalem Cross which refers to the mission of the Church and the ministry of the Bishop to bring the good news of salvation to the four corners of the world.
On a blue field to the right (heraldic “sinister”) is a garb of rice with silver stalks and golden seeds, representing his home province which is the “rice granary” of the Philippines. Like wheat, rice can be transformed to many uses. The symbol reminds us that like rice or wheat, we are called to be transformed to whatever God can use us for the building up of His Kingdom. In Jesus’ words: “Unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it does not bear fruit.” (Jn 12:24).
The base of the shield bears a golden sunburst on a red background. Representing the origin of the Bishop’s family name from Latin -“sol” the “sun” as center of our universe, it also refers to Jesus Christ, the Son of God whose blood saved us. At the center of the sun is an eight-pointed blue star representing the Blessed Virgin Mary in her title, “Stella Maris,” the patroness of the seafaring people of Asia and Louisiana. Mindful of his first and last parishes in his former Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux, Louisiana, the bishop expresses his special devotion to our Blessed Mother invoking her guidance on his pastoral ministry.
For his motto, the bishop adopted the Latin phrase “Fiat Voluntas Tua”, from the Lord’s Prayer “your will be done” (Matthew 6:10). The phrase echoes the Virgin Mary’s “yes” at the Annunciation, her openness and obedience to God’s saving plan which we all are called to do. Like Mary, the motto expresses the bishop’s total surrender and complete trust to the will of God.
The device is completed with the external ornaments, a processional cross placed in back of the shield extending above and below the shield, and a pontifical hat, called a “gallero.” These are the heraldic insignia of a prelate of the rank of Bishop (by instruction of the Holy See - March 31, 1969).
