About the College
The crest and the song
Every element of the College crest was chosen to mean something. The school song turns the motto into four verses every boy knows by heart.
Viriliter AgeAct Manfully
Symbolism
Reading the crest
- The star
- A reminder that those “who instruct many unto justice will shine as stars for all eternity”: the symbol of enlightenment and instruction.
- The cross
- The star is set upon a cross, the symbol of our redemption and the source of the inspiration of our faith.
- The Celtic circle
- The circle around the cross symbolises eternity. Its traceries are Celtic, honouring the Congregation's Irish founding in 1802.
- Alpha and Omega
- The first and last letters of the Greek alphabet on the open page: God, the beginning and the end.
- Congregatio Fratrum Christianorum
- Celtic lettering around the cross: Latin for “The Congregation of Christian Brothers”.
- Facere et Docere
- “To do and to teach”: the congregational motto above the crest, carried by every Christian Brothers school in the world. “He that shall do and teach shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.”
- Viriliter Age
- “Act manfully”: the College's own motto, beneath the crest. The Latin vir carries courage, strength of character, determination and conviction.
The school song
Viriliter Age
1. All
The years of youth at C.B.C.
Of training to act manfully
Can ne'er be spent in better way
Viriliter Age!
2. Solo
To honour God and fellow man,
To work, to play, the best we can,
To make the most of every day,
Viriliter Age!
3. All
When evil tempts or doubt assails,
That cheering counsel shall prevail,
Through darkness breaks a shining ray,
Viriliter Age!
4. All
On looking back in future years,
Remembering the laughs and tears,
We'll bravely strive and proudly say,
Viriliter Age!
Hear it sung on Speech Day
The song is best met in person, with six hundred boys behind it.