Saint symbolism
Attribute identifying a saint in artworks
Dutch Book of Prayers from the mid-fifteenth century showing a group of five saints, with their emblems: Saint James the Great (wearing a pilgrim's hat); Saint Joseph ; Saint Ghislain (holding a church); Saint Eligius (bishop with a crosier, holding a hammer); Saint Hermes (with the armor and the sword)
Symbolism of Christian saints 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.
Four Evangelists
The symbols of the four Evangelists are here depicted in the Book of Kells . The winged man, lion, eagle and bull symbolize, clockwise from top left, Matthew , Mark , John , and Luke .
The Apostles
Depictions of The Apostles
The
Synaxis of the Twelve Apostles. Russian, 14th century, Moscow Museum.
The
key as symbol of St. Peter
Stained glass window showing flaying knife, symbol of St. Bartholomew
Scallop Shells, St. James the Great
Saint
Symbol
Andrew
St. Andrew's cross [a] , discalced, with fish or a rope
Bartholomew the Apostle
knife , bears his own skin in hand[a]
James, son of Zebedee
pilgrim's staff , scallop shell , key , sword , pilgrim's hat , astride a white charger, Cross of Saint James [a]
James, son of Alphaeus /James the Just
square rule , halberd , club , saw [a]
John
evangelistary , a serpent in a chalice, cauldron, eagle[a]
Jude
sword , square rule , club , ship [a]
Judas Iscariot
thirty pieces of silver [a]
Matthew
angel , evangelistary[a]
Peter
Keys of Heaven , boat , fish , rooster , pallium, papal vestments; crucified head downwards on an inverted cross , holding a book or scroll, with a bushy beard and hair.[a]
Philip
column; holding a basket of loaves and a Tau Cross [a]
Simon
boat; cross and saw ; fish (or two fishes); lance; being sawn in two longitudinally; oar [a]
Thomas
placing his finger in the side of Christ, axe , spear , carpentry tools [a]
Mary, mother of Jesus
Depictions of Mary, mother of Jesus
A traditional depiction of Mary by
Fra Angelico wearing a blue mantle
Mary is often portrayed wearing blue . Her attributes include amongst many others a mantle (often in blue or very large to cover the faithful), crown of 12 stars , serpent, sun and/or moon, heart pierced by sword, Madonna lily , roses , and rosary beads.[6]
Title
Symbol
Black Madonna of Częstochowa
Black Madonna in Hodegetria form, Infant Jesus , fleur-de-lis robes, slashes on right cheek
Immaculate Heart of Mary
Burning bloodied heart, pierced with a sword, banded with roses, and lily flowers
Our Lady of Aparecida
In traditional form of Immaculate Conception [citation needed ]
Our Lady of Camarin
Mary on crescent moon[citation needed ]
Our Lady of Candelaria
Black Madonna with candle in one hand, and Infant Jesus in the other hand. Jesus carries a small bird in his hands.[citation needed ]
Our Lady of Charity
Carrying the Christ child and holding a crucifix atop an inverted crescent moon, with triple cherubs, encrusted with jewels and golden crown and aureole halo, embroidered gold mantle with the Cuban flag[citation needed ]
Our Lady the Garden Enclosed
Statue of Our Lady of Sorrows holding a white handkerchief, gold crown and jewelry, richly embroidered mantle[citation needed ]
Our Lady of Copacabana
Blessed Virgin Mary , Inca dress and crown, Infant Jesus , straw basket, pigeons, baton, gold Quechua jewelry[citation needed ]
Our Lady of Cotoca
white embroidered mantle, gold crown and jewelry, scapuler[citation needed ]
Our Lady of Fátima
dressed in white, giving out rays of clear and intense light[7]
Our Lady of Good Counsel
with the Infant Jesus , in their touching halo appear the words SS. Mater Boni consilii, ora pro nobis Jesum filium tuum
Our Lady of Guadalupe
pregnant, eyes downcast, hands clasped in prayer, clothed in a pink tunic robe covered by a cerulean mantle with a black sash, emblazoned with eight-point stars; eclipsing a blazing sun while standing atop a darkened crescent moon, a cherubic angel carrying her train
Our Lady of Humility
Mary seated low to the ground, usually holding the baby Jesus[citation needed ]
Our Lady of Itatí
in prayer, with blue embroidered mantle, solar crown, veil[citation needed ]
Our Lady of Lebanon
Blessed Virgin Mary with outstretched hands, bronze crown[citation needed ]
Our Lady of Lourdes
dressed in a flowing white robe, with a blue sash around her waist[8]
Our Lady of Luján
in prayer, with a golden crown, embroidered blue mantle over white robe, sliver of moon[citation needed ]
Our Lady of Navigators
held by angels, with mantle, jewelry, crown, halo of stars; the Infant Jesus is holding an anchor [citation needed ]
Our Lady of Peace
Blessed Virgin Mary , Infant Jesus , olive branch, dove[citation needed ]
Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage
dark complexion, enlarged iris, unbound hair[citation needed ]
Our Lady of Peñafrancia
halo with Circle of 12 stars , Crown , Holy Child , Mantum [citation needed ]
Our Lady of Piat
dark complexion, the Child Jesus , rosary , crown, flowers[citation needed ]
Our Lady of San Juan de los Lagos
in prayer, with golden crown, white gown, blue mantle, silver banner held by angels[citation needed ]
Our Lady of Sorrows
in mournful state, tears, bleeding heart pierced by seven swords [b]
Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary, Queen of the Caracol
with the Infant Jesus in a royal regalia, rosary and baton [citation needed ]
Our Lady of the Rosary of Chiquinquirá
standing on a crescent moon, blue cloak, white veil, holding the Infant Jesus . With bird, rosary , scepter, accompanied by Saints Anthony of Padua and Andrew [citation needed ]
Our Lady of the Rosary
with the Infant Jesus , crown, rosary [citation needed ]
Our Lady of the Visitation of Guibang
ivory statue [citation needed ]
Our Lady of Vendôme
with the Infant Jesus [citation needed ]
Our Mother of Sheshan
standing on top a Chinese dragon , with the Infant Jesus in cruciform gesture[citation needed ]
Rosa Mystica
with a rose[citation needed ]
Queen of Heaven
with a crown of stars, flowers[a]
Virgen de los Remedios de Pampanga
The Blessed Virgin Mary encrusted with jewels, golden crown, aureole and moon.[citation needed ]
Virgen del Valle
Mary in a white dress[citation needed ]
Virgin of Mercy
sheltering people under her mantle[citation needed ]
Virgin of Miracles
Gothic carving of Mary with a baby in alabaster[citation needed ]
Virgin of Montserrat
Statue painted in polychrome of Mary with a baby seated on the Throne of Wisdom holding an orb of the earth in her right hand[9]
Virgin of the Thirty-Three
assumpted into heaven , white robe, blue cloak, golden bejeweled crown, sliver of moon held by cherubs[citation needed ]
Our Lady of Mount Carmel
dressed in the colors of the Carmelite habit, wearing the mantle of the Carmelite habit , holding a brown scapular , sometimes handing it to Saint Simon Stock
Saints listed by name
Saints (A–H)
Saints (I–P)
Saints (Q–Z)
See also
Notes
Stracke, Richard (October 20, 2015). "Iconography" . Christian Iconography .
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 .
^ Saint Jerome; St. Jerome (December 2008). Commentary on Matthew (The Fathers of the Church, Volume 117) . CUA Press. p. 55. ISBN 978-0-8132-0117-7 .
^ Kugeares, Sophia Manoulian (1991). Images Of The Annunciation Of The Virgin Mary Of The 13th, 14th And 15th Century .
^ Arcement, Katherine (October 13, 2017). "Our Lady of Fatima: The Virgin Mary promised three kids a miracle that 70,000 gathered to see" . Washington Post .
^ Harris, Ruth (1999). Lourdes: Body and Spirit in the Secular Age . Penguin Books. p. 43. ISBN 0-71-399186-0 .
^ Roccosalvo C.S.J., Joan L. (Spring 2012). "Elegance Personified: The Black Madonna of Montserrat" . Sacred Architecture Journal .
Further reading
Delaney, John P. (1980). Dictionary of Saints (Second ed.). Garden City, NY: Doubleday. ISBN 0-385-13594-7 .
Greene, E. A. (1909). Saints and their symbols : a companion in the churches and picture galleries of Europe . London : Whittaker & Co. Greene, E. A. (1909). Saints and their symbols : a companion in the churches and picture galleries of Europe . London : Whittaker & Co.
Lanzi, Fernando; Lanzi, Gioia (September 1, 2004). Saints and their Symbols: Recognizing Saints in Art and in Popular Images . Translated by O'Connell, Matthew J. Liturgical Press. ISBN 9780814629703 .
Post, W. Ellwood (1975). Saints, Signs and Symbols (2 ed.). SPCK Publishing. ISBN 9780281028948 .
Schiller, Gertrud (1971). Iconography of Christian Art . Vol. 1. Arnoldo Mondadori. ISBN 978-0821203651 .
Walsh, Michael (2007). A New Dictionary of Saints: East and West . Liturgical Press. ISBN 978-0-8146-3186-7 .
Whittemore, Carroll E. (1980). Symbols of the Church . Abingdon Press. ISBN 0687183014 .
Rabenstein, Katherine (April 1999). "Bibliography on Saints and Sainthood" . St. Patrick Catholic Church . Archived from the original on April 10, 2018.
External links