From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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; this practice, known as iconography, was particularly intended so that the illiterate could recognize a scene. 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.
[edit] The list
| Saint
| Symbol
|
| Acathius | crown of thorns
|
| Agatha | tongs or shears, veil, bells, two breasts on a plate
|
| 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
|
| Saint
| Symbol
|
| Barbara | tower, ciborium, 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
|
| 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 or branch, Carrying the Child Jesus on shoulder
|
| Clare of Assisi | monstrance
|
| Clement | anchor, fish, Mariner's Cross
|
| Corbinian | saddled bear
|
| Cosmas and Damian | a phial, box of ointment
|
| Cyriacus | deacon's vestments
|
Image:Mariner's Cross.png
Image:SVH06 2.jpg
| Saint
| Symbol
|
| Gabriel | trumpet, scroll stating “Ave Maria Gratia Plena”
|
| Genevieve | bread, keys, herd, cattle
|
| George | dragon
|
| Gertrude of Nivelles | crown, taper, lily,mouse
|
| Giles | Benedictine habit, hind
|
| Gregory the Great | tiara, crosier, dove
|
| Saint
| Symbol
|
| James the Greater | pilgrim's staff, scallop shell, key, sword
|
| James the Less | square rule, halberd, club, saw
|
| Jerome | lion cardinal clothes, cross, skull, books and writing material
|
| 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
|
| Saint
| Symbol
|
| Knut of Denmark | Nordic king with royal insignia, dagger, lance or arrow.
|
Image:Old bracelets (aka).jpg
| Saint
| Symbol
|
| Lawrence | cross, book of the Gospels, gridiron, palm frond, purse of money
|
| 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
|
| Saint
| Symbol
|
| Margaret | dragon in chains
|
| Mark | winged lion, book
|
| Martha | holy water sprinkler, dragon
|
| Martin of Tours | goose
|
| Mary Magdalene | jar of ointment
|
| Matilda | purse, alms
|
| Matthew | winged man, purse, lance
|
| Maurus | scales, spade, crutch
|
| Michael | scales, banner, sword, dragon
|
| Monica | girdle, tears
|
| Saint
| Symbol
|
| Oda of Scotland | depicted wearing a long blue gown with one shoulder bare; usually carries a staff or a book; always shown with a magpie on her hand and a crown under her feet
|
Image:Baptismal Font Magdeburg.jpg
| Saint
| Symbol
|
| Urban | portrayed in art after his beheading, with the papal tiara near him
|
Image:Crosiere of arcbishop Heinrich of Finstingen.jpg
| Saint
| Symbol
|
| Zachary | Making peace with King Luitprand. Sometimes he may have a olive branch and a dove over him
|
[edit] See also
[edit] References
[edit] External links
</div>
sv:Helgonattribut
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; this practice, known as iconography, was particularly intended so that the illiterate could recognize a scene. These symbols are not necessarily universal to all traditions of Christianity that might venerate a given saint.
