Saints and their roles and symbols

St. Peter

Role: fisherman, the rock

Symbol: cross keys signifying power to bind and loose

St. Andrew

Role: follower of John the Baptist, preaching in Asia Minor and Greece

Symbol: transverse corse—manner of his crucifixion

St. John

Role: great innocence and purity, entrusted his Mother

Symbol: chalice—“of my cup you chalk indeed drink”

St.Philip

Role: a Galilean, brought Nathanael to Christ

Symbol: Latin cross—theme of his preaching

St. Bartholomew

Role: believed to be Nathanael, innocent and simple, won the praise of our Lord

Symbol: knife, instrument used to flay him alive

St. Thomas

Role: refused to believe Christ had risen until he touched the wounds

Symbol: Builder’s square form story about a palace built by Thomas for a king in India

St. Matthew

Role: wealthy tax collector

Symbol: Ax; possibly beheaded for his preaching in Asia

St. James the Less

Role: brother of St. Jude, cousin of Jesus; served as first bishop of Jerusalem

Symbol: Fuller’s club; beaten to death

St Jude

Role: brother of st. James the Less; patron saint of hopeless situations

Symbol: Halberd, a long-handled and ax like weapon

St. Simon

Role: brother of James and Jude

Symbol: saw; martyred by being sawed into pieces

St. Matthias

Role: followed Jesus form John’s Baptism, took the place of Judas

Symbol: Lance and a bible; well versed in scripture

St. James the Greater

Role:the older James

Symbol: a sword and a cross