Via et veritas et vita

Via, Veritas, Vita (Latin pronunciation: [ˈwi.a ˈweːritaːs ˈwiːta], Latin pronunciation: [ˈvi.a ˈveritas ˈvita]) is a Latin phrase meaning "The Way, The Truth, The Life" in English. It is taken from the Bible, and was spoken by Jesus Christ in reference to himself. It has since been used as motto by various educational institutions and governments.

History

It is found in verse 6 of chapter 14 of the Gospel of John, as part of Christ's Farewell Discourse during the Last Supper:

"⁵Thomas said to him, ‘Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?’ ⁶Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. ⁷If you know me, you will know my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him.’"(New Revised Standard Version)

In the Latin Vulgate, it is written as via et veritas et vita.^[1]

Usage as a motto

Government

Arad, the capital of Arad County, Romania.
The variation Veritas, Via, Vitae, appears on the seal of the Province of Negros Oriental, the Philippines.

Educational institutions

File:New Glasgow Crest.png

The motto also appears on the arms of the University of Glasgow in Scotland.

Higher education

University of Glasgow in Glasgow, Scotland founded 1451
Saint Xavier University in Chicago, Illinois, United States, founded 1846
Wycliffe Hall, Oxford, Anglican theological college, Permanent Private Hall of University of Oxford, founded 1877
Kings University College at The University of Western Ontario in London, Ontario, Canada, founded 1878
Eastern Nazarene College in Quincy, Massachusetts, founded 1900
Japan Women's University in Tokyo, Japan, founded 1901
Silliman University in Dumaguete City, Philippines, founded 1901
Providence University College and Theological Seminary in Otterburne, Manitoba, Canada founded 1925
Tamil Nadu Theological Seminary in Madurai, India, founded 1969

Secondary education

Our Lady of Mercy High School in Brighton, Monroe County, New York, founded 1928
Bishop Garcia Diego High School in Santa Barbara, California, founded 1959
St. Thomas High School in Pointe-Claire, Quebec, Canada, founded 1960
St. Francis Xavier College in Beaconsfield, Berwick, Officer, Victoria, Australia, founded 1978
St. Philip's Christian College in Waratah, New South Wales, Australia, founded 1982
John Paul College in Coffs Harbour, New South Wales, Australia, founded 1983
Christ the King College in Newport, Isle of Wight, England, founded 2008
St John Fisher Catholic College in Newcastle-under-Lyme, Staffordshire

It is also the motto of some Canossian schools:

Notes and references

^ www.latinvulgate.com Latin Vulgate side-by-side: John and www.fourmilab.ch Latin Vulgate: John

External links

[1] www.latinvulgate.com Latin Vulgate side-by-side: John and www.fourmilab.ch Latin Vulgate: John

[1]