Immediately, my mind turned to the NLM masthead which, for the past couple of years, has included a wonderful drawing of Benedict XVI's coat of arms -- though with the tiara instead of the mitre found in his official arms. Of course, the use of these arms helped to highlight the idea of a "Benedictine (new) liturgical movement"; this made manifest sense given that it was Benedict (as Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger) who helped to popularize this idea of a new liturgical movement, and who as reigning pontiff has made the sacred liturgy such an important aspect of his pontificate.
For the moment, I have altered this drawing to now include a cross, and to capture the connection with St. Benedict (and by extension Benedict XVI himself), as well as our other patron, John Henry Cardinal Newman, I have included an image of St. Benedict and a heart -- which was such a characteristic aspect of Newman's arms and motto.While I am certain many will miss the arms of Benedict XVI, I must confess that this has provided an opportunity to pursue an idea I have long pondered: namely, the development of a truly original NLM design, or "branding", which can be placed in the masthead and elsewhere.
To that end, I would like to encourage our artistically inclined readers to send in their sketches and design ideas for an NLM logo and submit them to me in email.
