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Symbology of the Saints The Catholic Church has used symbols from its very beginnings. Each saint has a story and a reason why he or she led an exemplary life. Symbols have been used to tell these stories throughout the history of the Church. A number of Christian saints are traditionally represented by a symbol or icon affiliated with their life, in order to identify them. These symbols are not necessarily universal to all traditions of Christianity that might venerate a given saint. The lives of most saints are far removed from an ordinary worshipper’s life. The use of a symbol with a statue, or icon, of a saint reminds people who is being shown and of their story. The following is a list of some of those symbols. The list A | Saint | Symbol |
|---|
| Acathius | crown of thorns | | Agatha | tongs, veil | | Agnes | lamb | | Ambrose | bees, beehive, dove, ox,pen | | Andrew | transverse cross | | Anne, grandmother of Jesus | door,book, red
robe and green mantle | | Anthony the Great | bell, pig | | Anthony of Padua | Infant Jesus, bread, book, lily | | Augustine of Hippo | dove, child, shell, pen |
B | Saint | Symbol |
|---|
| Barbara | tower, cyborium,cannon | | Bartholomew | knife | | Benedict | broken cup, raven, bell, crosier, bush | | Bernard of Clairvaux | pen, bees, instruments of the Passion | | Bernardine of Siena | tablet or sun inscribed with IHS | | Blaise | wax, taper (candle), iron comb | | Bonaventure | communion, ciborium, cardinal's hat | | Boniface | oak, ax, book, fox, scourge,fountain, raven, sword | | Bridget of Sweden | book, pilgrim's staff | | Brigid of Kildare | cow |
C | Saint | Symbol |
|---|
| Catherine | wheel | | Catherine of Ricci | ring, crown, crucifix | | Catherine of Siena | stigmata, cross, ring, lily | | Cecilia | organ | | Charles Borromeo | communion | | Christopher | giant, torrent, tree, Child Jesus on shoulder | | Clare of Assisi | monstrance | | Cosmas and Damian | a phial, box of ointment | | Cyriacus | deacon's vestments |
D | Saint | Symbol |
|---|
| Daniel | lion | | Denis | head in hands | | David of Wales | harp | | Dorothy of Caesarea | flowers | | Dominic | rosary, star |
E | Saint | Symbol |
|---|
| Edmund | quiver of arrows | | Elijah | cave | | Elizabeth of Hungary | alms, flowers, bread, the poor, pitcher | | Elizabeth of Portugal | crown | | Erasmus | windlass | | Eustace | hunting clothes, stag |
F G | Saint | Symbol |
|---|
| Gabriel | trumpet, scroll stating “Ave Maria Gratia Plena” | | Genevieve | bread, keys, herd, cattle | | George | dragon | | Gertrude | crown, taper, lily,mouse | | Giles | Benedictine habit, hind | | Gregory the Great | tiara, crosier, dove |
H I J | Saint | Symbol |
|---|
| James the Greater | pilgrim's staff,
scallop shell, key, sword | | James the Less | square rule, halberd, club, saw | | Jerome | lion | | Joan of Arc | shield, Cross of Lorraine | | Joanna | lamb | | John Berchmans | Rule of Saint Ignatius, cross, rosary | | John Chrysostom | bees, dove, pen | | John of God | alms, heart, crown of thorns | | John the Baptist | lamb, head on a platter, animal skin | | John the Evangelist | eagle, chalice, kettle, armor | | Joseph, spouse of Mary | Infant Jesus, lily, rod, plane,carpenter's square | | Jude | sword, square rule, club, ship | | Justin Martyr | ax, sword |
K L | Saint | Symbol |
|---|
| Lawrence | cross, book of the Gospels, gridiron | | Leander of Seville | pen | | Leonard of Noblac | lock,chain, manacles or fetters | | Liborius | pebbles, peacock | | Louis IX of France | crown of thorns, nails | | Lucy | cord, eyes on a dish, lamp | | Luke | ox, book, brush, palette |
M | Saint | Symbol |
|---|
| Margaret | dragon in chains | | Mark | lion, book | | Martha | holy water sprinkler, dragon | | Martin of Tours | goose | | Matilda | purse, alms | | Matthew | winged man, purse, lance | | Maurus | scales, spade, crutch | | Michael | scales, banner, sword, dragon | | Monica | girdle, tears |
N | Saint | Symbol |
|---|
| Nicholas | three purses or balls, anchor, boat, child |
O P | Saint | Symbol |
|---|
| Pantaleon | nailed hands | | Patrick | cross, harp, serpent, baptismal font, demons, shamrock | | Paul | sword, book or scroll, horse | | Peter | keys, boat, rooster | | Philip the Apostle | column | | Philip Neri | lily | | Philomena | anchor |
Q R | Saint | Symbol |
|---|
| Raphael | fish | | Rita of Casica | rose, crucifix, thorn | | Roch | angel, dog, bread | | Rose of Lima | crown of thorns, anchor, city |
S | Saint | Symbol |
|---|
| Sebastian | arrows, crown | | Simon | crossed oars, saw |
T U V | Saint | Symbol |
|---|
| Victor of Marseilles | windmill | | Vincent de Paul | children | | Vincent Ferrer | pulpit, cardinal's hat, trumpet, captives | | Vitus | cross |
W X Y Z NotesSee also
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