words a bishop chooses for his motto often reflect the values, hopes and faith that shape his ministry.

In this video, Archbishop Cushley reflects on the meaning behind his episcopal motto: “Amare quod praecipis” — “To love what you command.”

Reflecting on vocation, service and the call to follow God’s will, he shares why these particular words became the guiding thread of his episcopal ministry.

Transcript

“I’m Archbishop Leo Cushley of St Andrews & Edinburgh and for the motto on my coat of arms I chose ‘Amare quod praecipis’ which is ‘to love what you command’.

It’s something I chose because I was looking for something aspirational. That is what a motto is meant to be.

And to say to love what you command, to embrace the Lord’s will for you, was the the the best thing, the finest thing I could think of for myself to aspire to, to willingly do what God wants me to do with my life, especially when you’re called to something as important as leadership in the church.

And so, it’s something I picked up from the liturgy: if you want to go and look at the 30th Sunday of the Year, you will find it there – to love what you command.

And it also mentions faith and hope and charity, the theological virtues.

So I quite liked the shape of all of that. And there you are, ‘something to aspire to’. And for those of us who are called to leadership, ‘Amare quod praecipis’.”