Interpretation of the Logo

An Interpretation of the St. Mary's University Logo

Blending the legacy of the past with momentum for the future, the name of the University appears in Bauer Text Initials, a style that is a fresh, modern rendering of a very old and stately typeface. The essence of the University Catholic nature is portrayed by the cross. Creating an appropriately Hispanic motif reflecting the decades of service that St. Mary's has committed to the people of San Antonio and the Southwest the cross also is reminiscent of the design of a medieval cathedral in Saragossa, Spain, where, according to tradition, Blessed William Joseph Chaminade first witnessed his inspiration to found the Society of Mary.

The interlocking hearts that form the center of the cross testify to the Marianist charisms of community and caring. The lines of the hearts that draw out to the sides and curve back to the center allude to the sense of community and caring that is fostered within the University family, itself. This special posture does not remain trapped within however; it is projected out conveyed through the upward thrust of the vertical lines toward the larger communities of city, country and cosmos as St. Mary's students, faculty and staff take leave of the school to proceed along lifes paths. The symbol pays tribute to the renowned architectural features of the campus with the curves of the horizontal crossbar imitating the graceful archways of the Universitys contemporary structures, and the pointed vertexes signifying the distinguishing apex of the revered St. Louis Hall.

Finally, the four directions created by the cross subtly portray the four tenets comprising the institutions mission statement: "Founded and fostered as a community of faith, the University gives Christian purpose and dynamism to a pursuit in which people of varied traditions and experiences unite in commitment to an educational venture, in dedication to a life of scholarship, and in the extension of service to society."