Saint symbolism has been used from the very beginnings of the religion.[1] Each saint is said to have led an exemplary life and symbols have been used to tell these stories throughout the history of the Church.[2] A number of Christian saints are traditionally represented by a symbol or iconic motif associated with their life, termed an attribute or emblem, in order to identify them. The study of these forms part of iconography in art history.[3] They were particularly used so that the illiterate could recognize a scene, and to give each of the Saints something of a personality in art.[2] They are often carried in the hand by the Saint.
Attributes often vary with either time or geography, especially between Eastern Christianity and the West. Orthodox images more often contained inscriptions with the names of saints, so the Eastern repertoire of attributes is generally smaller than the Western.[c] Many of the most prominent saints, like Saint Peter and Saint John the Evangelist can also be recognised by a distinctive facial type. Some attributes are general, such as the martyr's palm.[4] The use of a symbol in a work of art depicting a Saint reminds people who is being shown and of their story. The following is a list of some of these attributes.
Saints listed by name
Saints (I–P)
Saints (Q–Z)
A
-
Jesuit religious habit
B
-
Saint Bernard of Clairvaux with the instruments of the Passion
-
Benedictine religious habit
-
Dominican religious habit
-
Passionist habit
-
Blandina with a martyr's crown
C
-
The college shield of St Catharine's College, Cambridge, prominently depicting a Catherine wheel.
-
Corbinian Icon of Saint Corbinian and the bear
-
Saint Clare of Assisi holding a ciborium
Saint | Symbol |
---|---|
Cadoc | Bishop throwing a spear, crown at feet, sometimes accompanied by a stag, a pig or a mouse[citation needed] |
Camillus de Lellis | ministering to the sick[13] |
Candelaria of San José | Religious habit[clarification needed][citation needed] |
Candida Maria of Jesus | Religious habit[clarification needed][citation needed] |
Candidus | Military attire[citation needed] |
Cantius, Cantianus, and Cantianilla | Cantius and Cantianus are depicted as two youths; Cantianilla as a girl; Protus as a tutor with a staff and faggot; sword; the group fleeing in a chariot; beheaded before an idol; palms and sword; Protus is sometimes depicted as a bishop[citation needed] |
Canute Lavard | knight with a wreath, lance, and ciborium[citation needed] |
Caradoc | Harp[citation needed] |
Caraunus | Priest carrying his head[citation needed] |
Carl Lampert | Cassock[citation needed] |
Carlo Acutis | Rosary, Lily flower[citation needed] |
Carlos Manuel Rodríguez Santiago | Paschal candle[citation needed] |
Carmen Elena Rendiles Martínez | Religious habit[clarification needed][citation needed] |
Carmen Salles y Barangueras | Religious habit[clarification needed][citation needed] |
Carolina Santocanale | Religious habit[clarification needed][citation needed] |
Carpophorus, Exanthus, Cassius, Severinus, Secundus, and Licinius | Military attire[citation needed] |
Casilda of Toledo | Roses in her basket or dress[citation needed] |
Castulus | spade[citation needed] |
Casimir of Poland and Lithuania | royal attire of crown and red robe lined with ermine, white lily, cross, rosary; sometimes two right hands[a] |
Caterina Dominici | Nun's habit, Book, Crucifix[citation needed] |
Caterina Moriggi | crucifix, rosary, Religious habit[clarification needed][citation needed] |
Caterina Sordini | Religious habit[clarification needed], Heart, With the Blessed Sacrament[citation needed] |
Caterina Volpicelli | Rosary[citation needed] |
Catherine Aurelia Caouette | Religious habit[clarification needed][citation needed] |
Catherine Labouré | Daughters of Charity habit, Miraculous Medal[citation needed] |
Catherine of Alexandria | breaking wheel; sword; with a crown at her feet; hailstones; bridal veil and ring; dove; surrounded by angels, scourge; book; woman arguing with pagan philosophers[34][a] |
Catherine of Bologna | Religious habit[clarification needed][citation needed] |
Catherine of Genoa | Widow[citation needed] |
Catherine of Palma | habit and rochet as used by Augustinian Canonesses[citation needed] |
Catherine of Racconigi | Religious habit[clarification needed][citation needed] |
Catherine of Ricci | ring, crown, crucifix[a] |
Catherine of Siena | stigmata, cross, ring, lily, habit of the Dominican order[a] |
Catherine of Vadstena | A hind at her side[citation needed] |
Cecilia | organ or other musical instrument, martyr's palm, roses, sword[a] |
Cecília Schelingová | Religious habit[clarification needed][citation needed] |
Celine Borzecka | Religious habit[clarification needed][citation needed] |
Cerbonius | geese, bear licking his feet[35][a] |
Charalambos | Vested as either a priest or bishop, holding a Gospel Book, with right hand raised in blessing.[citation needed] |
Charbel Makhlouf | Religious habit[clarification needed], prayer rope[citation needed] |
Charles Borromeo | cardinal's robes, the Eucharist[a] |
Charles de Foucauld | White religious habit[clarification needed] with a heart, crowned with a cross[citation needed] |
Charles I of Austria | Imperial attire, Medals[citation needed] |
Charles of Mount Argus | Passionist habit, Crucifix, Breviary, Biretta[citation needed] |
Charles of Sezze | Franciscan habit[citation needed] |
Charles Steeb | Medal, Book, Priest's cassock[citation needed] |
Christopher | giant crudely dressed, torrent, tree, branch or large staff, carrying the Christ Child on shoulder[a] |
Chiaffredo | military attire; sword; standard of red Mauritian cross on white field; elm tree; horse[citation needed] |
Chiara Corbella Petrillo | Wedding gown, Tau cross, Rosary[citation needed] |
Chiara Gambacorti | Dominican habit, Crucifix[citation needed] |
Child Martyrs of Tlaxcala | Palm, Cross[citation needed] |
Christina of Bolsena | Arrow, Martyr's palm[citation needed] |
Christina of Persia | Martyr's palm, Cross[citation needed] |
Christina von Stommeln | Religious habit[clarification needed][citation needed] |
Christopher | tree, branch, as a giant or ogre, carrying the Christ child, spear, shield, as a dog-headed man[citation needed] |
Chrysanthus and Daria | Crosses[citation needed] |
Chrysogonus | Bearded young man dressed as a Roman military officer[citation needed] |
Chrysostomos of Smyrna | Episcopal vestments, usually holding a staff or a Gospel. |
Clara Fey | Religious habit[clarification needed][citation needed] |
Clare of Assisi | monstrance or ciborium, habit of the Poor Clares[a], crozier of an abbess |
Clare of Montefalco | cross[a] |
Claudine Thévenet | Religious habit[clarification needed][citation needed] |
Claudio Granzotto | Franciscan habit[citation needed] |
Clelia Merloni | Religious habit[clarification needed][citation needed] |
Clement of Ohrid | Glagolitic alphabet, Cyrillic script[citation needed] |
Clemente da Osimo | Augustinian habit[citation needed] |
Clemente Marchisio | Sun, Stole, Cassock[citation needed] |
Clement | anchor, fish,[a] Mariner's Cross[b] |
Clodoald | A Benedictine abbot giving his hood to a poor man as a halo emanates from his head; with royal insignia at his feet, or instructing the poor[citation needed] |
Clotilde Micheli | Religious habit[clarification needed][citation needed] |
Clotilde of France | Crown, Rosary, Imperial attire[citation needed] |
Clotilde | wearing a crown and holding a church; with a battle in the background, in memory of the Battle of Tolbiac[citation needed] |
Clovis I | suit-of-armour; upright sword; fleur-de-lis; three frogs (his attributed arms)[citation needed] |
Coloman of Stockerau | pilgrim monk with a rope in his hand; depicted being hanged on a gibbet; tongs and rod; priest with a book and maniple.[citation needed] |
Colomba Gabriel | Religious habit[clarification needed][citation needed] |
Columba of Cornwall | Female carrying a palm branch and a sword, a dove hovering above[citation needed] |
Columba of Rieti | Dominican tertiary receiving the Eucharist from a hand reaching down from heaven; Dominican tertiary with a dove, lily, and book, or a wreath of roses, cross, lily, and a rosary[citation needed] |
Columba of Sens | she-bear, crowned maiden in chains, with a dog or bear on a chain, holding a book and a peacock's feather, with an angel on a funeral pyre, or beheaded[citation needed] |
Columba | Monk's robes, Celtic tonsure and crosier[citation needed] |
Conrad of Constance | represented as a bishop holding a chalice with a spider in it or over it.[citation needed] |
Constantin Brâncoveanu | They are usually depicted together, wearing golden cloaks.[citation needed] |
Constantine IV | Imperial attire[citation needed] |
Constantine of Murom | Clothed as Grand Prince, holding a three-bar cross in his right hand[citation needed] |
Constantius (Theban Legion) | depicted as a soldier bearing a banner with the Mauritian Cross and the palm of martyrdom; spade[citation needed] |
Constantius of Perugia | episcopal attire[citation needed] |
Contardo of Este | clothed as a pilgrim heading to Santiago of Compostella, sometimes with a scepter and crown at his feet.[citation needed] |
Corbinian | Bear; bishop making a bear carry his luggage because it has eaten his mule; bishop with a bear and mule in the background; bishop with Duke Grimoald at his feet,[36] bear with a packsaddle [37] |
Corentin of Quimper | fish; episcopal attire[citation needed] |
Cornelius the Centurion | Roman military garb[citation needed] |
Cosma Spessotto | Franciscan habit[citation needed] |
Cosmas of Maiuma | Vested as a bishop, or as a monk, holding a scroll with the words of one of his hymns[citation needed] |
Cosmas and Damian | depicted as twins, beheaded,[citation needed], or with medical emblems (phial, box of ointment[a]) |
Costanza Starace | Nun's habit, Heart[citation needed] |
Crescentinus | Military attire; depicted slaying a dragon[citation needed] |
Saints Crispin and Crispinian | depicted holding shoes, millstones[a] |
Crispin of Viterbo | Franciscan habit[citation needed] |
Cristóbal Magallanes Jara | Cassock, sacerdotal vestments, Bible, rosary, and palm of martyrdom[citation needed] |
Cucuphas | Depicted being beheaded or having his throat cut[citation needed] |
Cunigunde of Luxembourg | An empress in imperial robes, sometimes holding a church.[citation needed] |
Cuthbert | Bishop holding a second crowned head in his hands; sometimes accompanied by seabirds and animals[citation needed] |
Cuthmann of Steyning | wheelbarrow[citation needed] |
Cyriacus | depicted as a deacon; book of exorcism; with Artemia[citation needed] |
Cyricus and Julitta | From the story involving Charlemagne, Cyricus is depicted as a naked child riding on a wild boar.[citation needed] |
Cyril and Methodius | brothers depicted together; Eastern bishops holding up a church; Eastern bishops holding an icon of the Last Judgment.[38] Often, Cyril is depicted wearing a monastic habit and Methodius vested as a bishop with omophorion. |
Cyril Lucaris | Eastern episcopal vestments, holding a Gospel Book or a crosier. He is depicted as having a big white beard.[citation needed] |
Cyril of Constantinople | Carmelite friar[citation needed] |
Cyrus and John | Cyrus is clothed in monastic habit, John is wearing court robes. They may be shown holding martyrs' crosses or medicine boxes and medicine spoons which terminate in crosses[citation needed] |
D
E
F
-
Crab with crucifix as an attribute of Saint Francis Xavier
G
-
White lily as an attribute of Saint Gabriel the Archangel
-
Saint Genesius with theatrical mask
-
Strangulation of Godelieve
-
Redemptorist habit
H
-
Honoratus of Amiens with a peel
-
Saint Hugh of Lincoln with his attributes
-
Saint Hilda holding Whitby Abbey
Saint | Symbol |
---|---|
Habakkuk | Prophet[citation needed] |
Hannah | Often depicted as an infertile woman asking God for a child.[citation needed] |
Helena Stollenwerk | Religious habit[clarification needed][citation needed] |
Helena | wearing a royal crown while supporting a cross[a] |
Hemma of Gurk | Depicted as a noble lady with either a model of a church, a legal deed or a rose, or distributing alms.[citation needed] |
Hemming of Turku | Bishop's attire, crozier[citation needed] |
Hendrina Stenmanns | Religious habit[clarification needed] |
Henriette Aymer de La Chevalerie | Religious habit[clarification needed], rosary[citation needed] |
Hermagoras of Aquileia | depicted as bishop[citation needed] |
Herman of Alaska | Clothed as a monk, with a flowing white beard; sometimes wearing a wrought iron cross and chains about his chest.[citation needed] |
Hermann Joseph | kneeling before a statue of the Virgin and Child and offering an apple[a] |
Hermenegild | axe, crown, sword, and cross [b][62] |
Hermínio Pinzetta | Franciscan habit[citation needed] |
Hermógenes López Coarchita | Priest's attire[citation needed] |
Hermogius | Benedictine habit[citation needed] |
Hervé | Blind abbot being led by a wolf or his child guide[citation needed] |
Hilary of Poitiers | episcopal vestments, crozier, beard, usually white and often long[b][63] |
Hilda of Whitby | crozier, Whitby Abbey[citation needed] |
Hildegard of Bingen | habit of a Benedictine nun, crozier, with flames above her head, writing in her Liber Scivias, sitting in a hermitage [b] |
Hiltrude of Liessies | Lamp, candle[citation needed] |
Himelin | Depicted as a pilgrim, with a staff, or ill in bed[citation needed] |
Himerius of Bosto | Depicted as a pilgrim being stabbed, pilgrim's cloak and staff[citation needed] |
Hippolytus of Rome | papal tiara[a] |
Hippolytus the soldier | military garb, horse's harness[a] |
Homobonus | Bag of money, merchant's robes[citation needed] |
Honorat Koźmiński | Franciscan habit[citation needed] |
Honoratus | represented as a bishop over the island of Lérins with a phoenix below, or drawing water from a rock with his mitre near him [64] |
Honoratus of Amiens | baker's peel or shovel; bishop with a large Host; bishop with three Hosts on a baker's shovel; loaves[a] |
Honorina | palm of martyrdom[citation needed] |
Hospitius | Depicted as an old man, in the garb of a hermit or monk[citation needed] |
Hosea | Prophet[citation needed] |
Hripsime | Martyr's palm, crown, cross[citation needed] |
Hubertus | gear nearby; knight with a banner showing the stag's head and crucifix; stag; stag with a crucifix over its head; young courtier with two hounds[citation needed] |
Hugh of Châteauneuf | Lantern, three flowers[citation needed] |
Hugh of Lincoln | episcopal vestments, crozier, swan[a] |
Humbert of Maroilles | A star on his forehead; a bear carrying Humbert's baggage; with an angel making a cross on Humbert's brow; with an angel showing Humbert the Cross[65] |
Humility | habit of the Vallombrosians[a] |
Hunegund of France | Sometimes represented kneeling at the feet of the pope[citation needed] |
Hyacinth of Poland | Holding a statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary along with a monstrance or ciborium[66][b] |
Hyacintha Mariscotti | Religious habit[clarification needed][citation needed] |
See also
Notes
- "List of saints". Catholic Online. Your Catholic Voice Foundation.
- Stracke, Richard (October 20, 2015). "Iconography". Christian Iconography.
- Rabenstein, Katherine (April 1999). "Saint of the Day Master Index". St. Patrick Catholic Church. Archived from the original on April 20, 2018.
References
- ^ This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Herbermann, Charles, ed. (1913). "Symbolism". Catholic Encyclopedia. New York: Robert Appleton Company.
- ^ a b Mayernik, David T. (2018). "A Vast, Immeasurable Sanctuary: Iconography for Churches". Sacred Architecture Journal. 5: 22.
- ^ "Eastern Orthodox and Catholic teaching about Icons".
- ^ Hassett, M. (1911). "Palm in Christian Symbolism". The Catholic Encyclopedia.
- ^ a b c d e f Drake, Maurice and Drake, Wilfred. Saints and their Emblems, London, T. Werner Laurie Ltd., 1916
- ^ Jones, Terry. "Abraham the Poor". Patron Saints Index. Archived from the original on February 10, 2007. Retrieved February 28, 2007.
- ^ Rabenstein, Katherine (April 1999). "Abundius of Como, Hermit (RM)". Saints O' the Day for April 2. Archived from the original on April 29, 2018. Retrieved March 4, 2007.
- ^ Jones, Terry. "Acislus". Patron Saints Index. Archived from the original on February 13, 2007. Retrieved March 7, 2007.
- ^ a b Stracke, Richard (October 20, 2015). "Hungarian Saints: Adalbert, Martin, Stanislas, Emeric and Stephen". Christian Iconography.
- ^ Rabenstein, Katherine. "Ethelbert (Ædilberct, Ethelbricht) and Ethelred of Kent MM (AC)". Saints O' the Day for October 17. Archived from the original on February 6, 2007. Retrieved March 8, 2007.
- ^ Delaney, John P. (1980). Dictionary of Saints (Second ed.). Garden City, NY: Doubleday. ISBN 0-385-13594-7.
- ^ Stracke, Richard. "Saint Agnes of Montepulciano: The Iconography", Christian Iconography
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j Husenbeth, Frederick Charles. Emblems of the Saints, Longman, Green, Longman, and Roberts, 1860
- ^ "Saint Amabilis". Patron Saints Index. Archived from the original on February 7, 2012. Retrieved February 29, 2008.
- ^ Baudoin, Jacques (2006). Grand livre des saints: culte et iconographie en Occident (in French). Nonette, FR: Editions CRÉER. p. 90. ISBN 9782848190419.
- ^ Fongemie, Pauly. "SYMBOLS IN ART". Catholic tradition. Retrieved January 15, 2019.
- ^ "Saint Ansanus". metmuseum.org.
- ^ Jack Tresidder, ed. (2005). The Complete Dictionary of Symbols. San Francisco: Chronicle Books. ISBN 0-8118-4767-5.
- ^ Cornwell, Hilarie; James Cornwell (2009). Saints, Signs, and Symbols (3rd ed.). Harrisburg: Morehouse Publishing. ISBN 978-0-8192-2345-6.
- ^ Liechtenstein, the Princely Collections. New York: Metropolitan Museum of Art. 1985. p. 276. ISBN 9780870993855.
- ^ "Saint of the Day – January 12". St. Patrick Catholic Church, Washington, D.C. Archived from the original on May 30, 2008. Retrieved January 12, 2022.
- ^ "Saints of March 27". Saint Patrick Catholic Church Saint of the Day. 2008. Retrieved September 2, 2011.
- ^ "Saint Augusta of Treviso". Patron Saints Index. 2011. Archived from the original on July 31, 2011. Retrieved August 31, 2011.
- ^ Hall, James (1996). Hall's Dictionary of Subjects and Symbols in Art (2nd ed.). John Murray. p. 35. ISBN 0719541476.; Daniel, Howard (1971). Encyclopedia of Themes and Subjects in Painting. Thames and Hudson. p. 35. ISBN 0500181144.
- ^ "St. Patrick Catholic Church Saint of the Day". St. Patrick Catholic Church. Retrieved March 3, 2012.
- ^ Roeder, Helen (1956). Saints and Their Attributes. Chicago: H. Regnery Co. LCCN 56013630.
- ^ Borrelli,Antonio. "San Baudolino di Alessandria", Santi e Beati, October 27, 2023
- ^ "Saint Benedict of Nursia: The Iconography".
- ^ "Saint of the Day, February 3 - Saint Blase BM Saint Ansgar". Saint Patrick Catholic Church. Archived from the original on January 16, 2016.
- ^ “Blessed Bernardine of Feltre”. New Catholic Dictionary. CatholicSaints.Info. 16 August 2012
- ^ Antonio Borrelli (April 19, 2002). "San Bertario di Montecassino" (in Italian). Santi e beati. Retrieved May 18, 2009.
- ^ "Bertold von Garsten" Domradio, Archdiocese of Cologne
- ^ "Saint of the Day, June 2: Blandina". Saint Patrick Catholic Church.
- ^ "Liturgical Year : This Item Currently Unavailable".
- ^ "Saint Francis Borgia". Archived from the original on August 4, 2019. Retrieved February 22, 2012.
- ^ Jones, Terry. "Saint Corbinian". Patron Saints Index. Archived from the original on February 17, 2007. Retrieved January 4, 2007.
- ^ "L'Osservatore Romano publishes new Papal coat of arms". Catholic News Agency. April 28, 2005. Retrieved January 5, 2007.
- ^ Jones, Terry. "Methodius". Patron Saints Index. Archived from the original on February 19, 2007. Retrieved February 18, 2007.
- ^ "Saint Dagobert II". CatholicSaints.Info.
- ^ "Saint Dathus of Ravenna". CatholicSaints.Info.
- ^ Jones, Terry. "Denis". Patron Saints Index. Archived from the original on January 7, 2007. Retrieved January 16, 2007.
- ^ Stracke, Richard (October 20, 2015). "Dominic de la Calzada". Christian Iconography.
- ^ "Saint Dorothy of Caesarea". Patron Saints Index. March 18, 2008. Archived from the original on March 18, 2008.
- ^ Rabenstein, Katherine (March 1999). "Dubricius". Saint of the Day, November 14. Retrieved March 2, 2012.
- ^ "Egwin of Worcester". Patron Saints. Archived from the original on June 8, 2011. Retrieved November 3, 2007.
- ^ "Erasmus of Formia". SaintPatrickDC.org. Retrieved March 7, 2012.
- ^ "Saint Erasmus". Saints.SQPN.com. Retrieved March 7, 2012.
- ^ Jones, Terry H. "Saint Faith". Star Quest Production Network. Archived from the original on March 18, 2008.
- ^ "Febronia of Nisibis". Patron Saint Index. Archived from the original on September 13, 2009.
- ^ Stracke, Richard (October 20, 2015). "Saint Fiacre". Christian Iconography.
- ^ Mendler, Mitch. "Saint Florian - the patron saint of the fire service". Retrieved January 16, 2019.
- ^ "Obervinschgau".
- ^ Zimmerman, Julie. "Friar Jack's Catechism Quiz: Test Your Knowledge on Angels". AmericanCatholic.org. Archived from the original on May 21, 2012. Retrieved February 16, 2012.
- ^ a b c Ronner, John (March 1993). Know Your Angels: The Angel Almanac With Biographies of 100 Prominent Angels in Legend & Folklore-And Much More!. Murfreesboro, TN: Mamre Press. pp. 70–72, 73. ISBN 9780932945402. LCCN 93020336. OCLC 27726648. Retrieved November 15, 2013.
Artists like to show Gabriel carrying a white lily (Mary's flower), a scroll and a scepter.
- ^ "Gall". Saint of the Day, October 16. St. Patrick Catholic Church. Archived from the original on May 30, 2008. Retrieved March 8, 2012.
- ^ Stracke, Richard (October 20, 2015). "Gervasius and Protasius: The Iconography". Christian Iconography.
- ^ A Few Words About Bears. New York: S. French. 1854. p. 175.
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ignored (help) - ^ "St. Gilbert's Cross or Portate Cross". seiyaku.com. Retrieved October 29, 2006.
- ^ Jones, Terry. "Goar". Patron Saints Index. Archived from the original on November 19, 2007. Retrieved November 9, 2007.
- ^ Stracke, Richard (October 20, 2015). "Saint Godelieve: The Iconography". Christian Iconography.
- ^ "Godehard (Gotthard) von Hildesheim - Ökumenisches Heiligenlexikon" (in German).
- ^ Stracke, Richard (October 20, 2015). "Saint Hermenegild: The Iconography". Christian Iconography.
- ^ Stracke, Richard (October 20, 2015). "Saint Hilary: The Iconography". Christian Iconography.
- ^ "Honoratus of Arles". Saint of the Day, January 16. SaintPatrickDC.org. Retrieved March 4, 2012.
- ^ "Saint Humbert of Pelagius". Patron Saints Index.
- ^ Stracke, Richard (October 20, 2015). "Saint Hyacinth: The Iconography". Christian Iconography.
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