|
Agatha
|
a young, usually
veiled girl carrying her breasts or loaves of bread on a dish. Other
symbols: shears, tongs. (LS) (Can. Nob.
Quo.) |
|
Agnes
|
a young, long-haired girl shown with a lamb, and/or with a
dove with a ring in its beak, and/or with a sword at her throat. (LS) (Can.
Nob. Quo.) |
|
Albert the
Great (Albert Magnus)
|
a Dominican bishop, often shown holding a globe, lecturing
from a pulpit, studying, or arguing with Saint Thomas Aquinas. (Doc) |
|
Aloysius
Gonzaga
|
young Jesuit cradling and gazing at a Crucifix, sometimes
with lilies present |
|
Alphonsus
Maria de Liguori
|
an elderly, lightly bearded Redemptorist Bishop with
rheumatism so bad he is hunched over, often with a book or holding a
pen. (Doc)
|
|
Ambrose
|
a Bishop, often shown with SS Gregory, Jerome, and/or
Augustine or holding a church in his hand, sometimes arguing with a
pagan. Other symbols: bees, beehive, dove, ox, pen. (Doc) (LS) |
|
Anastasia
|
woman (3rd c.) holding a slim Cross, a jar, and/or the palm
of martyrdom. (LS) (Can. Nob.
Quo.) |
|
Andrew the
Apostle
|
a man being crucified on an X-shaped cross. Other symbols:
fishing net, fish. (LS) (Can. Comm.) |
|
Anne
|
a middle-aged to elderly woman shown holding Mary and/or
teaching Mary to read Scripture. She is sometimes shown at her
betrothal to or kissing Joachim, or meeting him at the Golden Gate. |
|
Anne Catherine
Emmerich |
a sickly German
Augstinian nun, mystic, and stigmatic usually shown in bed, bandaged to
hide her stigmata (including the wounds from the Crown of Thorns) |
|
Anselm
|
a Benedictine archbishop (of Canterbury), often depicted
with Our Lady or as admonishing a sinner. Other symbols: ship. (Doc) |
|
Anthony Abbot
("Anthony of the Desert" or "Anthony of
Egypt")
|
an older, usually bearded monastic with a pig, bell, a Tau
symbol or t-shaped staff (especially a Tau-shaped staff with a bell on
the end), a rooster and other animals.(As an aside, the smallest, most
runty pig of a litter is called a "tantony" in his honor) (LS) |
|
Anthony (of
Padua)
|
(Note: "Padua" pronounced "PAH-djoo-&") a Franciscan
holding the infant Jesus and/or a lily and/or loaves of bread. Other
symbols: donkey, book. (Doc) |
|
Athanasius
|
a Bishop dressed in his episcopal robes, holding an open
book or arguing with (or standing over) a defeated heretic (Doc) |
|
Augustine (of
Hippo)
|
(Note: "Augustine" pronounced "ah-GUS-tin") a man with a
child, dove, pen, or shell (Doc) (LS) |
|
Balthasar |
one of the three
wise men, or magi, Balthasar is shown as a black man bearing myrrh |
|
Barbara
|
a woman holding a tower, or in a tower, with a chalice, the
palm of martyrdom, a feather, and/or a cannon |
|
Barnabus
|
usually bearded disciple with an ax, lance, book (or scroll),
olive branch, and/or stones (or standing near a pile of stones).
Sometimes depicted with St. Paul. (LS) (Can.
Nob. Quo.) |
|
Bartholomew
the Apostle
|
an elderly man being flayed or holding a tanner's knife and
a human skin (LS) (Can. Comm.) |
|
Basil the
Great
|
a Bishop shown with supernatural fire, often with a dove
present (Doc) |
|
Bede (the
Venerable)
|
an old monk with a book, pen, jug, often shown writing at a
desk or dying amidst his community (Doc) |
|
Benedict (of
Nursia)
|
a cowled Benedictine with a bell, broken cup, raven, serpent
representing poison, crozier or staff (usually with a curved, ornate
top), or bush. Often shown holding his Rule (St. Benedict was the
brother of St. Scholastica, so might be shown with her). (LS) |
|
Bernadette
(Soubirous, "Bernadette of Lourdes")
|
a young girl kneeling in front of a grotto, before the
Blessed Virgin ("The Immaculate Conception") who wears a white dress,
blue belt, and a rose on each foot. Bernadette is sometimes pictured
after she received the habit. |
|
Bernard (of
Clairvaux)
|
Cistercian with 1 to 3 mitres on the ground beside him,
symbolizing the bishoprics he refused. Often shown with a chained
demon, with a lactating Mary, or being embraced by Christ from the
Cross. He is
shown sometimes with a swarm of bees nearby, or writing. Other symbols:
bees, beehive, book, instruments of the
Passion, pen, white dog symbolizing the White Monks (Cistercians).
(Doc) (LS) |
|
Bernard (of
Montjoux, sometimes referred to as "St.
Bernard of Menthon")
|
a man in a mountain setting holding a bishop's crozier (this
is the Saint the Saint Bernard dog is named after) |
|
Bernardine of
Siena
|
a short, elderly Franciscan holding a tablet inscribed with
"IHS" and/or with three mitres at his feet (symbolizing the Bishoprics
he was offered but rejected) |
|
Blaise
|
a Bishop holding two candles (especially crossed), often
shown saving a boy from choking. Other symbols: comb. |
|
Bonaventure
|
a cardinal in Franciscan robes, usually reading, writing, or
with a ciborium. (Doc) |
|
Boniface (of
Tarsus)
|
a man shown with an ax (especially chopping down an oak
tree), book, sword, (or a sword that goes through a book), fountain,
fox, oak, raven, or scourge. |
|
Bridget
(Birgitta) of Sweden
|
(founder of the Order of the Most Holy Savior, the
Bridgettines) an abbess often wearing a strange-looking helmet-like
crown, and sometimes shown writing and with an angel near her. She is
also depicted at the foot of the Cross (sometimes as a child) or having
a vision of Christ (especially during His Passion) and/or Our Lady. She
is also shown giving a book to Kings and Emperors, and/or with
seashells (a sign of pilgrimage). |
|
Brigid
(Bride) of Ireland (Kildare)
|
an abbess with candle or lamp or bowl of fire, often with a
cow nearby (usually a white, red-eared cow). Often depicted with (or
even symbolized by) a "St. Brigid's Cross" -- a Cross with equilateral
arms woven from of rushes. |
|
Caspar (also
"Gaspar,"
"Kaspar," or "Jaspar") |
one of the three
wise men, or magi, Caspar is depicted as young, beardless, ruddy, and
bearing frankincense |
|
Catherine (of
Alexandria)
|
a woman (sometimes crowned) strapped to or standing next to
the spiked wheel on which she was martyred, holding a book, a carrying
a sword and/or the palm of martyrdom, or receiving a ring from Jesus in
a Mystical Marriage. Sometimes depicted arguing with pagan
philosophers. (LS) |
|
Catherine of
Siena
|
a Dominican Militia Christi (in a black and white Dominican
habit) with stigmata, lily, book, crown of thorns, cross, ring, or
heart. (Doc) |
|
Catherine
Labouré
|
a Sisters of Charity religious (with the large, winged
headdress), often shown with the Miraculous Medal and/or having a
vision of the Virgin. |
|
Cecilia
|
a young girl shown with musical instruments, roses, most
often shown playing the organ or lute. (LS) (Can. Nob.
Quo.) |
|
Charles
Borromeo
|
a bishop or cardinal wearing a rope noose around his neck,
often in public |
|
Christopher
|
a tall man carrying the Infant Jesus on his shoulders
(especially over water). Other symbols: tree, staff, torrent. Sometimes
depicted, especially in Eastern iconography, as having the head of a
dog due to the fact that the area whence he came (he was a member of
the north African tribe of the Marmaritae in Egypt) was at the borders
of the civilized world and hence was populated by people who were seen
to be wild ("dog-headed"). |
|
Clare (of
Assisi)
|
a brown-habited Poor Clare (Franciscan Second Order named for
her) holding a ciborium or monstrance, sometimes shown with St. Francis
of Assisi because they were great friends. Sometimes depicted with a
cat because the cat who lived in her convent would bring things to her
at her command when she was too sick to get out of bed. |
|
Columba
(Columcille)
|
a man dressed in a Benedictine or Basilian habit with cowl in
a Celtic setting, usually studying or writing or holding a book.
Sometimes depicted on a ship |
|
Cosmas and
Damian
|
a man (a doctor) with a vial or box of ointment, usually
shown
with his twin brother, Damian, with whom he was martyred. (LS) (Can.
Comm.) |
|
Cyril and
Methodius
|
almost always pictured together (often with Cyril as a
Bishop, and Methodius as a monk), these brothers from the East are
sometimes depicted as surrounded by converts |
|
Denis
(Dionysius)
|
a beheaded Bishop carrying his severed, often mitered head,
often with a vine growing over his neck. |
|
Dismas
|
the "good thief" who was crucified with Christ. He is always
to Christ's right in crucifixion scenes, or he is shown carrying his
cross or performing a penitential gesture (the bad thief, by the way,
was named Gestas according to the apocryphal Gospel of Nicodemus). |
|
Dominic (de
Guzman)
|
a Dominican (the Order named for him) carrying a rosary, a
tall patriarchal two-armed cross, a lily, and/or a globe. Often shown
with a dog bearing a torch (the symbol of the Dominican Order), with
fire; or with star shining above his head or on his forehead. (LS) |
|
Dominic di
Sora |
Benedictine
priest abbot, preaching, often covered in snakes or otherwise
associated with snakes |
|
Dominic Savio
|
a very young boy (no older than 15, the age at which he died)
in prayer, holding a prayer book, etc. May be depicted with St. John
Bosco ("Don Bosco") -- his teacher, mentor, and biographer. |
|
Dorothy (of
Caesarea)
|
a veiled and/or crowned woman carrying a basket of roses and
apples (usually a small handbasket), or shown with roses and apples on
her lap. She is sometimes depicted with an angel, carrying the palm of
martyrdom, and/or kneeling before her executioner. (her flowers and
not unusual crown make her easily mistaken for St. Elizabeth of Hungary) |
|
Dymphna
|
a princess with a sword or lamp holding the devil on a leash.
Often shown with Saint Gerebernus, kneeling at Mass while her father
murders the priest Gerebernus, praying in a cloud surrounded by a group
of lunatics bound with golden chains, or being beheaded by the king. |
|
Edward the
Confessor
|
elderly king offering a ring or coin to Saint John who is
disguised as a beggar |
|
Elizabeth |
elderly,
pregnant woman with Our Lady or holding John the Baptist as an infant |
|
Elizabeth Ann
Seton |
an American
woman in the black habit (with a bonnet) of the Sisters of Charity
order she founded |
|
Elizabeth of
Hungary
|
a crowned woman holding out her apron which is filled with
roses. Other symbols: pitcher, alms, bread. |
|
Faustina Kowalska |
a young Polish
nun in the distinctive habit of the Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy, often
shown before the Image of the Divine Mercy which she made famous |
|
Felicity
(Felicitas)
|
woman (sometimes shown with her 7 sons and/or St. Perpetua,
with whom she was martyred) being killed by a sword or an ox (Can. Nob.
Quo.) |
|
Fiacre
|
a hooded hermit with gardening implements, herbs and
vegetables. Sometimes shown surrounded by pilgrims or healing the sick. |
|
Frances of
Rome
|
nun in a black habit and white veil, often shown carrying (or
before) a Cross and accompanied by her guardian angel and/or having a
vision of Hell. Often depicted carrying a basket of food. Other
symbols: a book, a branch of oranges, a monstrance, an arrow. |
|
Frances Xavier
Cabrini ("Mother Cabrini") |
a late 19th c.
Italian nun in the black habit of the order she founded (Missionary
Sisters of the Sacred Heart) |
|
Francis (of
Assisi)
|
a Franciscan (the Order named for him) with a wolf, bird,
deer, stigmata, monstrance, or skull. Sometimes shown with St. Clare of
Assisi because they were great friends. (LS) |
|
Francis de
Sales
|
a bald man (of the Order of the Visitation, which he founded)
with a long beard wearing a bishop's robes holding a book. Often shown
with the Virgin and/or with heart pierced with thorns. (Doc) |
|
Francis Xavier
|
bearded Jesuit (black robes), often depicted in places like
India, Japan, and the East Indies, carrying a Crucifix, bell, or a
flaming heart, or otherwise symbolized by a globe, sailing vessel, or
lily. Sometimes depicted with St. Ignatius of Loyala -- his friend and
the founder of the Jesuit Order. |
|
Gabriel the
Archangel
|
an angel bearing a lily, shield, spear, and/or trumpet. Often
depicted making his Annunciation to Mary. (LS) |
|
Genevieve
|
shepherdess, often with a coin around her neck, with a candle
which the devil tries to extinguish even as angels protect the flame.
Because she is the patron of Paris, she is often depicted in
association with that city. |
|
George
|
an armored man, usually on horseback, slaying a dragon |
|
Gerard (Gerard
Majella) |
a young, thin
Italian
Redemptorist holding the Cross |
|
Gertrude of
Nivelles |
a 7th c. abbess
typically depicted with mice (which represent the souls in Purgatory) |
|
Gertrude the
Great (Gertrude of Helfta)
|
a Benedictine nun with the symbol of the Sacred Heart over
her breast and carrying a staff. Sometimes shown with a Cross, book
containing her writings, and/or taper. Shown, also, praying for the
Holy Souls in Purgatory. |
|
Gervase and
Protase
|
young martyred brothers holding stones, the palm of
martrydom, and/or
with a scourge in one hand and a sword in the other. Usually depicted
together and/or with their
parents, who were martyred for giving their sons a Christian burial. (LS) |
|
Giles |
a hermit, living
in the wilderness (often in a cave), with a deer |
|
Gregory the
Great
|
a man wearing papal tiara and sometimes carrying a crozier.
Often shown working on sheet music or writing, accompanied by a dove.
(Doc) (LS) |
|
Helena (Helen)
|
(Constantine's mother) a royally-dressed woman -- often
crowned -- with the True Cross |
|
Hildegard of
Bingen |
an 11th c.
German nun shown writing or expriencing visions. (Doc) |
|
Ignatius (of
Antioch)
|
a Bishop in chains, often surrounded by lions. (Can. Nob.
Quo.) |
|
Ignatius of
Loyola
|
an Hispanic-looking Jesuit (the Order he founded) with large
forehead and receding hairline, wearing a chasuble. Often shown holding
a book or with the Blessed Sacrament. |
|
Isaac Jogues
|
a Jesuit priest with a wound on his forehead (his martyrdom),
baptizing an Indian (i.e., "Native American") child, or carving a Cross
onto a tree
|
|
St. Isidore the
Farmer (or "the Laborer") |
a Spanish
peasant with a spade or plowing with a team of oxen, with angels beside
him. He is sometimes depicted using a rod to strike rocky ground,
whence water gushes forth. He's typically wearing peasant garb,
including a flat-topped hat. He's also often shown with his wife,
Maria, and their son.
|
|
James (the
Greater) the Apostle (Santiago)
|
a man with a seashell, book, scroll, staff, sword. Often
shown wearing a floppy hat and/or trampling a Moor or on horseback. (LS) (Can.
Comm.) |
|
James (the
Less) the Apostle
|
a man with a book and/or fullers club. (LS) (Can. Comm.) |
|
Jerome
|
a man shown with a Bible, skull, and/or lion. Often shown as
an aged monk in desert, or translating the Bible. (LS) |
|
Joachim
|
an elderly man: bringing a lamb to the Altar and being turned
away by the priest; or greeting and/or kissing Saint Anne at the Golden
Gate; or carrying a basket of doves and a staff; or with the child Mary
|
 |
Joan of Arc
|
a young woman in armor, with sword, lance, and banner, often
astride a horse |
|
John Bosco ("Don
Bosco") |
a young Italian
priest, often pictured with young people and/or a gray dog |
|
John Capistran
|
a Franciscan with Crusading symbols, carrying a crucifix and
lance, and treading a turban underfoot. Shown also, like St.
Bernardine, preaching and/or with the "IHS" monogram. |
|
John
Chrysostom
|
an Eastern priest or Bishop holding a Bible, often with a
beehive nearby (Doc) |
|
John de Brebeuf |
a French Jesuit
missionary martyred by the Iriquois |
|
John Fisher
|
a 16th c. Cardinal with haggard features, with his hat at his
feet and/or with an axe (the instrument of his martyrdom by King Henry
VIII). |
|
John Henry
Cardinal Newman |
a 19th c.
English Cardinal with gray hair, likely holding text, possibly a cane
|
|
John Marie
Vianney (Curé of Ars) |
a slight,
frail-looking, early 19th c. French priest |
|
John Neumann |
a German-Czech
American immigrant in Bishop's attire |
|
John of God
|
(founder of the Order of Charity) an intense, Hispanic man in
a habit, caring for the sick and poor or washing Jesus's feet. Other
symbols: alms, crown of thorns, heart. |
|
John of the
Cross
|
a Disalced Carmelite man with a Cross (Doc) |
|
John the
Apostle
(St. John the Divine)
|
a man with an eagle, book, chalice, serpent, cauldron. Often
represented by an eagle alone. (LS) (Can.
Comm.) 1 |
|
John the
Baptist (the "Forerunner" or "the
Baptizer")
|
a bearded man dressed in animal skins (camel hair), carrying
a slender cross or a lamb. Often depicted in Eastern iconagraphy as
winged because he is a messenger. (LS) |
|
Joseph
|
a man (often depicted as older) holding the Infant Jesus or
carrying carpentry tools or a flowering staff. His heart is sometimes
shown as Christ's Sacred Heart and Mary's Immaculate Heart are, but
Joseph's heart is shown surrounded by lilies. Other symbols: the color
green and the month of March. (LS) (Can. Comm.) |
|
Joseph of
Cupertino |
a 17th c.
Franciscan levitating or flying around |
|
Juan Diego
(Cuauhtlatoahtzin) |
a Mexican
peasant before the Virgin of Guadalupe or holding a cloak ("tilma")
full of roses or imprinted with the vision of Our Lady at Guaudalupe |
|
Jude
(Thaddeus) the Apostle
|
a man with a flame over his head, wearing a medallion with
profile of Christ on it. Other symbols: boat, pen, book and/or axe. (LS) (Can. Comm.) |
|
Julian of Norwich |
a late 14th -
15th c. English mystic, usually depicted with her cat |
|
Justin Martyr
|
a man with an ox, pen, and/or sword. |
|
Kateri
Tekakwitha
|
a young Native American woman
holding a lily (a reference to her vow of virginity and her title, the
Lily of the Mohawks) or a rustic wood Cross. Other symbols: a turtle
(she was born a member of the Mohawk's Turtle Clan and the image of a
turtle often appears in banners, pictures, etc., of her). |
|
Katharine Drexel |
a nun attired in
the habit of the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament |
|
Lawrence
|
a deacon holding a gridiron, bag of money, Cross, or the
Gospels. (LS) (Can. Comm.) |
|
Longinus
|
(the soldier who pierced Christ's side) a Roman soldier --
often shown in contemporary clothing -- holding a spear |
|
Louis IX
|
a king holding a crown of thorns, nails, or a Cross |
|
Louis Marie de
Montfort |
a French priest
before the Cross or engaged in Marian devotion |
|
Lucy (Lucia)
|
a young girl carrying her eyes (sometimes on a plate),
hitched to oxen, in the company of Sts. Agnes and Agatha, or standing
before the judge who condemned her. (LS) (Can.
Nob. Quo.) |
|
Luke
|
a man with a book, ox, or artist's bush and palette. Often
shown writing icons. Often symbolized by an ox alone. (LS) 1 |
|
Lydwina of
Schiedam
|
a crippled girl with a crucifix and/or receiving roses or
lilies from an angel. She is sometimes shown falling through ice while
skating (the cause of her crippling) or working on embroidery. |
|
Margaret (of
Antioch)
|
a shepherdess carrying a small cross or girdle in her hand,
leading a chained dragon, standing next to a cauldron, large vessel, or
beside a dead dragon. |
|
Margaret Mary
Alacoque
|
a woman wearing the habit of the Order of the Visitation and
holding a flaming heart, or kneeling before Jesus who exposes His heart
to her. |
|
Maria Goretti
|
a young girl dressed in white, holding lillies. |
|
Mark
|
a man holding a book, near a (sometimes winged) lion. Often
represented by a lion itself. (LS)
1 |
|
Martha
|
a woman with a broom, ladle, or keys. Often shown holding a
jar of holy water and an aspergillium, and with a dragon present
(usually at her feet). Often shown with St. Mary Magdalen (her sister)
and/or Lazarus (their brother). |
|
Martin de
Porres
|
a bi-racial (half-African, half-Spanish) Dominican,
surrounded by animals or caring for the sick and poor. |
|
Martin (of
Tours)
|
man (sometimes shown as a Roman soldier) on horseback,
sharing his cloak with a beggar. Other symbols: goose, globe of fire.
(LS) |
|
Mary
|
the color blue, the month of May, the letter "M," roses (her
love), lillies (her purity), violets (her modesty), Yellow Flag Iris
(her Immaculate Conception and her Queenship), strawberries (her
fruitfulness), cedar tree, pomegranate, the Moon (with Christ as the
Sun), rosary, crown, 12 stars (symbolizing her status as the Mother of
Israel's 12 tribes and of the 12 Apostles, see Apocalypse 12), scallop
shell, the Immaculate Heart (a heart pierced by a sword and surrounded
by roses. Her heart is also symbolized by the sapphire.). "MP QU" seen in some icons stands for "Mother of
God." Note that Mary has many titles and is referred to by various
names and depicted artistically according to her characteristics and,
in some cases, her apparitions. "Theotokos" (God-bearer), "Our Lady of
Good Counsel," "Our Lady of Grace," "Our Mother of Perpetual Help,"
"The Immaculate Conception," "Our Lady of Fatima," "Our Lady of
Lourdes" (among hundreds of other titles) all refer to our beloved
Mother given to us, through John, by Christ on the Cross, as one of His
last acts before He died. (LS) (Can. Comm.) |
|
Mary Magdalen
|
a beautiful woman with an alabaster box, jar of ointment,
mirror, or egg (the egg changed from white to scarlet, proving that
Christ rose again). Often shown contemplating a skull. Sometimes shown
with St. Martha (her sister) and/or Lazarus (their brother). (LS) |
|
Mary
of Egypt |
a 4th c.
prostitute who converted at age thirty and did fifty years of penance
in the desert. She's often shown covered in hair.
|
|
Matthew
the Apostle
|
a winged man, often holding a pen, inkwell, bag of coins,
money box, purse, spear, sword, halberd, or lance. Often represented by
an angel itself. (LS) (Can.
Comm.) 1 |
|
Maurice
(Mauritius)
|
a knight (as he was from Africa, he is often shown with a
dark skin tone), bearing a standard and/or a palm and/or a sword, often
with a red cross on his breast |
|
Maximilian Kolbe |
a young,
bespectacled, Polish Franciscan who voluntarily died in Auschwitz in
place of another man who was to die |
|
Meinrad
|
dead Benedictine monk whose body is being protected by ravens
or whose murderers are being chased by ravens. He is also shown holding
a ciborium, club, and/or a Tau Cross, or eating fish with a widow, or
in the company of St. Benedict. |
|
Melchior |
one of the three
wise men, or magi, Melchior is shown as older, white, bearded, and
bearing gold |
|
Michael the
Archangel
|
an angel slaying dragon or Satan, and/or with scales and a
sword. (LS) |
|
Monica
|
a crying woman, sometimes holding a girdle. |
|
Nicholas (of
Myra), "Santa Claus"
|
a mitred Bishop (often dressed in green or red) holding 3
balls, 3 bags of gold, anchor, ship, shoes, often accompanied by
children. (LS) |
|
Nicholas of
Tolentino |
an Augustinian
priest bearing a lily and/or a Crucifix, or bearing bread or a vial of
money, often with a star above his head or on his chest
|
|
Patrick
|
a Bishop (often dressed in green) with snakes, shamrocks,
harp, cross, and/or a baptismal font. |
|
Paul
|
a usually older man shown near 3 springs of water, with a
sword and/or a book. (LS) (Can. Comm.) |
|
Peregrine
Laziosi
|
a Servite brother pulling back his black habit to reveal his
leg which was healed of cancer. |
|
Perpetua
|
a woman with a cow or ox, often shown in an ampitheatre. She
is often shown depicted with St. Felicitas (Felicity), with whom she is
mentioned in the Canon of the Mass at the Nobis quoque peccatóribus,
and with whom she was martyred by mauling by animals and beheading,
along with 3 companions. (Can. Nob.
Quo.) |
 |
Peter of
Verona ("Peter Martyr")
|
a Dominican being murdered with an axe or knife, or shown in
the aftermath with an axe or knife in his head (or shoulder), possibly
writing the words "Credo in unum Deum" as he lies dying. Also shown
with the Virgin and four female Saints appearing to him, or with his
finger on his lips. |
|
Peter the
Apostle
|
a bearded man, often depicted in medieval papal garb, holding
the Keys to the Kingdom. Often depicted being crucified upside-down.
Often symbolized by a rooster. (LS) (Can.
Comm.) |
|
Philip Neri |
a bearded man,
sometime shown in religious ecstasy |
|
Philip the
Apostle
|
an elderly bearded man holding a basket of loaves and a cross
which is often t-shaped. (LS) (Can.
Comm.) |
|
Philomena
|
a young girl with arrows or palm and/or anchor. |
|
Pio of
Pietrelcina ("Padre Pio") |
an older,
bearded, Italian Franciscan priest with the stigmata (sometimes
pictured with the stigmata covered by bandages and gloves) |
|
Raphael the
Archangel
|
an angel carrying a staff, fish, or flask. Often shown
walking with Tobias and/or accompanied by a little dog. (LS) |
|
Rita of
Cascia
|
an Augustinian nun with a wound on her forehead, holding/near
a crown of thorns, roses, or figs; an infant with white bees flying
around her head or coming from her mouth. |
|
Robert
Bellarmine
|
a heavy-set, intelligent-looking late
medieval/Reformation-era Cardinal with a thick beard. (Doc) |
|
Roch (Rocco,
Roque)
|
a male pilgrim with a staff and a dog (sometimes St. Roch is
shown, like St. Peregrine, lifting his robes to reveal sores on his
leg, and sometimes the dog is shown licking the sores) |
|
Rosalia
(Rosalie)
|
a young woman,
often in a Basilian habit, wearing a wreath of roses, holding or near a
skull and/or crucifix |
|
Rose of Lima
|
a Dominican (black and white habit) tertiary wearing a wreath
of roses over her veil and/or holding a Crucifix. Often shown
accompanied by the Holy Infant. |
|
Scholastica
|
a nun with crozier and crucifix. Often shown with a dove
flying from her mouth (St. Scholastica was the sister of St. Benedict
of Nursia). |
|
Sebastian
|
a young man being pierced by arrows, often tied to a tree.
(LS) |
|
Simon the
Apostle
|
a man being sawn in two longitudinally. Other symbols: oar,
saw; two fish, and/or a lance. (LS) (Can.
Comm.) |
|
Simon Stock
|
a Carmelite friar holding a scapular, receiving the scapular
from the Blessed Virgin, praying for souls in purgatory. |
|
Stanislaus
(of Cracow)
|
a Bishop being murdered while offering the Mass |
|
Stephen (the
Deacon)
|
a deacon carrying a pile of rocks or with rocks gathered in
his vestments. Other symbols: horses, books, and/or palm. (LS) (Can.
Nob. Quo.) |
|
Teresa (of
Avila)
|
(Note: "Avila" is pronounced "AH-vi-lah") a Carmelite nun
with
heart pierced by arrow, often holding book or pen or being visited by a
dove. (Doc) |
|
Teresa Benedicta
of the Cross ("Edith Stein") |
an ethnically
Jewish-German Carmelite nun who died at Auschwitz |
|
Thérèse of
Lisieux (Thérèse of the Infant Jesus and
of the Holy Face, "The Little Flower")
|
a very young Carmelite nun holding roses. (Doc) |
|
Thomas the
Apostle
|
a man with a spear or T-square, or a man touching the wound
in Christ's side. (LS)
(Can. Comm.) |
|
Thomas á
Becket (Thomas of Canterbury)
|
an archbishop often depicted with a wounded head, carrying a
crozier with a battle-axe head at the top or an inverted sword. Often
shown kneeling before his murderers in a cathedral. |
|
Thomas Aquinas
|
a Dominican (black and white habit) with a chalice,
monstrance, ox, or sun. Often shown as a teacher with pagan
philosophers at his feet. (Doc) |
|
Thomas More
|
an English Lord Chancellor carrying a book or an axe. Often
seen in association with the legal profession. |
|
Ursula
|
a maiden shot with arrows, often accompanied by a varied
number of companions who are being martyred in assorted, often creative
ways. Other symbols: clock, and/or ship. |
|
Valentine
|
a priest with roses, rooster, and/or birds. Often shown
giving sight to a blind girl, refusing to worship idols, being
beheaded, or with a crippled or epileptic child at his feet. |
|
Veronica
|
a woman holding the cloth she used to wipe the face of Jesus
on His way to Calvary (the imprint of His face is often shown on the
cloth). |
|
St. Vincent
(of Saragossa, "St. Vincent of Aragon,"
"St. Vincent the Deacon")
|
deacon being torn by hooks or whose dead body is being
defended by ravens. Often shown holding a vase-shaped jug, a millstone,
and/or a book. (LS) |
|
Vincent de
Paul
|
a 16th century cleric of the Congregation of Priests of the
Mission (the Order he founded) performing some act of charity. Often
shown carrying an infant and/or surrounded by children and/or by the
Sisters of Charity (a Second Order which he also founded). |
|
Vincent Ferrer
|
a sometimes winged Dominican (black and white habit), often
with a cardinal's hat, holding an open book while preaching and with a
flame on his head or in his hand. Other symbols: the monogram "IHS"
(like St.
Bernardine of Siena); pulpit; and/or trumpet. |
|
Vitus
|
man with a rooster, or surrounded by lions, or being boiled
in oil |
|
Walburga
(Walpurgis)
|
a sometimes crowned Benedictine abbess (she was the daughter
of the Saxon King, Richard) holding a vial of healing oil (representing
the "oil of Saints" that exudes from her tomb), a crozier, three ears
of corn, and/or a book. She is sometimes shown being crowned by angels,
or with her crown at her feet. |
|
Wenceslaus
|
early medieval Duke, depicted with a staff or eagle, or
caring for the poor, or being martyred by his pagan brother in or near
a church ("Good King Wenceslaus's" Grandmother was St. Ludmilla) |
