Cincuenta y cuatro banderas

Dang! What a cool coat of arms. Description from Wikipedia follows:

Escudo de Puerto Rico: un escudo verde y dentro de él un cordero plateado encima de un libro colorado e atravesado por una bandera con una cruz e su veleta como la trae la devysa de Sanct Joan e por orla castillos e leones e banderas e cruzes de Iherusalen e por devysa una F. e una Y. con sus coronas e yugos e flechas e un letrero a la redonda de la manera siguiente: Joanne est nomine jus".Escudo de Puerto Rico (Según Real Cédula del 8 de noviembre de 1511). Posteriormente la leyenda se fijó en Joannes est nomen ejus. Esta versión muestra la bandera de la bordura como de Castilla y León, según se muestra en la web oficial del Gobierno de Puerto Rico.

The island of Puerto Rico was originally named San Juan Bautista, hence the Lamb of God symbolism associated with John the Forerunner and the phrase spoken by his mother Elizabeth and his father Zechariah "his name is John" (Luke 1:57-64). The initials are for the Spanish monarchs: Fernando el católico and Ysabel la católica. This is the oldest coat of arms in the Americas, having been granted in 1511.

Our 54th flag comes through a visitor today from the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. Welcome to this site.

There were two really great ladies with Puerto Rican roots at St Cuddy's in Oakland. You know this means good food! And passion! And fun! They were both bricks. One just sent me a Chinese New Year greeting, having absorbed many traditions from her former husband's family. She also sends me outrageously funny items now and again--not being one of those who forwards everything but who every once in a while shoots off a real zinger. The other lady has crossed to the other side but I could count on her to keep my sermonizing alert. She would not only toss in the occasional "amen" but also chime in with full sentences and questions. I once asked a rhetorical (I thought) question and she instantly filled the pause I had left, saying, "Yeah, why is that, Father Paul?" Sort of like preaching with kids, you just never knew what she might say. I loved it and I miss her dearly.

So, here's a shout out to my girlfriends, BJ and Peggy. I loves ya!

And welcome to our Puerto Rican guest today. Regrese; el bienvenido le espera.
--the BB