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Saint symbolism

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Symbology of the Saints

A number of Christian saints are traditionally represented in iconography accompanied by attributes, a symbol or icon affiliated with their life, in order to identify them. 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
Anthony of Padua Infant Jesus, bread, book, lily
Augustine of Hippo dove, child, shell, pen

B

Saint Symbol
Barbara tower, cyborium
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

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
Denis head in hands
Dominic rosary, star

E

Saint Symbol
Elizabeth of Hungary alms, flowers, bread, the poor, pitcher
Erasmus windlass
Eustace hunting clothes, stag

F

Saint Symbol
Francis of Assisi wolf,birds, fish,skull, stigmata
Francis Xavier crucifix, bell, vessel

G

Saint Symbol
Genevieve bread, keys, herd, cattle
George dragon
Gertrude crown, taper, lily
Giles Benedictine habit, hind
Gregory the Great tiara, crosier, dove

H

Saint Symbol
Helena cross

I

Saint Symbol
Ignatius of Loyola communion, chasuble, book
Isadore bees, pen

J

Saint Symbol
James the Greater pilgrim's staff, scallop shell, key, sword
James the Less square rule, halberd, club
Jerome lion
John Berchmans Rule of Saint Ignatius, cross, rosary
John Chrysotom bees, dove, pen
John of God alms, a 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 a sword, square rule, club
Justin Martyr ax, sword

K

Saint Symbol
   

L

Saint Symbol
Lawrence cross, book of the Gospels, gridiron
Leander of Seville pen
Liborius pebbles, peacock
Louis IX of France crown of thorns, nails
Lucy cord, eyes on a dish
Luke ox, book, brush, palette

M

Saint Symbol
Margaret dragon in chains
Mark lion, book
Martha holy water sprinkler, dragon
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

Saint Symbol
   

P

Saint Symbol
Pantaleon nailed hands
Patrick cross, harp, serpent, baptismal font, demons, shamrock
Paul sword, book or scroll
Peter keys, boat, cock
Philip the Apostle column

Q

Saint Symbol
   

R

Saint Symbol
Rita of Casica rose, crucifix, thorn
Roch angel, dog, bread
Rose of Lima crown of thorns, anchor, city


S

Saint Symbol
Sebastian arrows, crown

T

Saint Symbol
Teresa of Avila heart, arrow, book
Therese of Lisieux roses entwining a crucifix
Thomas Aquinas chalice monstrance, dove, ox
Thomas the Apostle lance, ax

U

Saint Symbol
   

V

Saint Symbol
   

W

Saint Symbol
   

X

Saint Symbol
Vincent de Paul children
Vincent Ferer pulpit, cardinal's hat, trumpet, captives
Vitus cross

Y

Saint Symbol
   

Z

Saint Symbol
   

Notes

See also