Blazon:

Arms:  Per Fess Argent and Gules, in chief upon a cross patee’ Gules with an annular arch Sable between each arm, a triquerta Or; in base a sword scales of justice OR; and on a bar Azure, between two heraldic roses a spikenard all Or, Behind the Shield an episcopal cross Or.

Crest:  Thereabove a Bishop’s galero with twin cords of six tassels disposed in three rows of one, two and three all Vert.

Motto:  Veritatis Splendor

Design Rationale:

  For his personal arms, His Excellency, Bishop Olson has adopted a design to signify the important aspects of his life. The upper section, is silver (white) on which is seen a black ring, upon which is a red cross pattée that has on it three interlaced gold (yellow) rings of Irish knot-work. The knots are a traditional representation of The Most Blessed Trinity and are placed on the cross and ring forming the logotype of Holy Trinity Seminary, in Irving, Texas, where Bishop Olson served as Rector. The lower portion is red on which is seen a gold (yellow) sword, for Saint Michael, the Archangel, the Bishop's Baptismal patron, that has been converted to a pan-balance of justice, to reflect that justice is the prime call of all clerics and most especially bishops. Across the center of the design is a blue bar that bears a spikenard between two roses, all gold (yellow). The spikenard is taken from the arms of our Holy Father, Pope Francis, who appointed Bishop Olson to the episcopacy and is between two roses, one for Mary in her title as Our Lady of Guadalupe, and the other for Saint Thérèse, the "Little Flower." For his motto, His Excellency Bishop Olson has chosen the phrase "VERITATIS SPLENDOR," the title of an encyclical by Blessed Pope John Paul II. The words “the Splendor of Truth,” express Bishop Olson's profound belief that the truth of Jesus Christ is splendid beyond belief.