Saint in art

Name of the Saint	Time period they lived	Story of the saint	Attributes
St. Agatha	Third century	She was a beautiful Christian girl who consecrated her body and soul to the Saviour. At the time Quintanius was the governor of Sicily and wanted Agatha brought to his palace. She refused to deny Christ, and denied his request. This made Quintanious enraged and punished her by having her breasts torn with sears and ordered she be thrown into a fire. But St. Peter and an accompanying angel healed her breasts that night, and an earthquake saved her from the fire. Then she prayed she would be released from her pain by death, and it was granted. A year after her death, the City of Catania had a destruction stream of molten lava heading toward the city. But the people of the city went to Agatha's tomb and took her silken veil. And the veil turned the lava aside, and the city was saved.	A palm branch as symbol of victory, a dish or slaver bearing two female breasts, and sometimes shears or pincers. She is normally painted wearing a long veil.
St. Agnes	Third century	Was 13 when she consecrated her life to Christianity. She refused to marry the son of the perfect Rome. The boy’s father tried to shake her resolve by persuasion and then by shame. He caused her to be brought to a house of ill repute, where she was stripped of her garments. But she prayed her body kept pure, and her hair grew very long and covered her, and a shining robe was sent to her from heaven. Then the perfect said she was to be burned, but she was unharmed in the flames. Finally, a soldier nearby was told to strike her head off with his sword. After she was buried many Christians came to worship her grave. On one occasion she is said to have appeared before them radiant with heavenly glory and with a lamb, symbol of purity at her side.	The lamb. She may have a sword or flames at her feet in token of her martyrdom. Sometimes she is shown covered by her hair or robe
St. Ambrose	Fourth Century	One of the four Latin Fathers of the Church. Son of a Roman Perfect. He became a perfect of two Roman provinces. He went to Milan to restore peace in a dispute with Arians which came about during the election of a new bishop. Legend says he was addressing the people of Milan one day and a child voice said ‘Ambrose shall be Bishop’. Taken as a sign from heaven, Ambrose was elected to post, even though he wasn't baptized at the time. He devoted himself and proved to be a great statesman, theologian, and religious poet. He was responsible for raising the Church services to a new dignity, and he started the Ambrosian chant.	Painted in the dress of a bishop with mitre and cross and holding a book. Sometimes carries a scourge. Also shown with a beehive.
St. Anna (Anne)	First century	She is shown in scenes of life of the Virgin, like the Meeting at the Golden Gate, she taught her child to read, or in the Presentation of the Virgin in the Temple.	The green mantle and red dress, symbols of immortality and divine love. She may also be depicted holding a book
St. Augustine	Fifth Century	One of the four Latin Fathers of the Church. His mother was a Christain and wanted him to follow the doctrine. But Agustine embraced the Manichean teaching and refused her plea, even though he became very aware of a great moral struggle within himself. He argued for rejecting that Christian faith because it was too simple and valuable only for simple minds. When he came to Milan, as a professor of rhetoric, he was attracted to Christianity. It was the influence of St. Ambrose and bishop Milan, to finally lead hom to accept Christian faith. He made a public confession and was baptized. It was then the the Te Duem was sung for the frist time. He later became Bishop of Hippo, in Africa, and remained there till he died. He had a big impact on the Christian religion through is writings and his spiritual example.	Usually painted as a bishop bearing a book and pen. Spiritual attribution is a flaming heart, sometimes pierced by an arrow.
St. Benedict	Sixth century	Founder of the Benedictine Order. At an early age, he became a hermit and attracted many disciples because of the holiness of his life. He made twelve monasteries, with a Superior in charge of each, to provide a rule of life for his followers. He established the great monastery and wrote basic rules that have served as a guide for most of Western monasticism.	A dove for his sister, a crystal glass with a serpent or broken glass with wine running from it, a raven, the index finger, a broken vessel, and a luminous ladder.
St. Blaise	Third century	BIshop of sebaste in Armenia, was a physician by profession. From divine inspiration, he retired to live in contemplation surrounded by wild animals, in a cave in the mountains. The animals did not attack him, the savage beast welcomed him and fawned upon him, and came to him when they were sick or hurt. One day he was discovered by some of the emperor’s huntsmen, who thought has a magician and took him prisoner. He was sentenced to be tortured by having his flesh torn with iron combs and to be thrown into a lake. Through divine help he was healed, and he walked on water, preaching multitudes. He was beheaded after that.	An Ironcomb and a lighted candle. He is a patron of wild animals.
St. Catherine of Alexandria	Third century	The legend of Catherine states before she was baptized she had a remarkable dream. She saw the Virgin Mary holding the Christ Child in her arms. The Virgin asked Jesus to take Catherine as a servant, but the child said she was not beautiful enough. Catherine was famous for her beauty and her learning, and after she awoke she started thinking how to please the Divine Child. After her baptism, Christ was in her dream again and took her as His celestial spouse. He put a rind on her finger, and when she woke up its was on her finger and kept it the rest of her life. At the time Maximin II shared the imperial crown and selected Alexandria as the capital of his part of the Empire. He pledged to persecute all Christians and ordered the massacre of everyone who refused to sacrifice to the gods. Catherine preached faith, and wanted to open the emperor's eyes to his cruelty. She gave a speech that took back the empire and he decided to get the most famous philosophers to refute her teaching. Catherine accepted the challenge and converted the philosophers to her faith. The emperor had the wise men beheaded, and improvised Catherine and tried to starve her into submission. But angels brought her food and converted the emperor's wife. So the emperor passed the death sentence on a Chirsitnas except Catherine. Overcome by her beauty he then asked her to be his wife and empress of the world, but she refused. So he ordered Catherine to be torn to death by spiked wheels. As the sentence was being carried out, a great burst of flames from Heaven destroyed the wheels. Then she was beheaded.	Spiked wheels, a crown, a toke in palm , a sword, and sometimes a book.
St. Catherine of Siena	Fourteenth century	When young joined the convent of St. Dominic for three years in solitude, and her soul became “enamoured of God’s truth’. She later left the convent and was asked to intervene with Pope Gregory XI, after the people of Florence were excommunicated by him. She conceived him to reinstate Florentine back into the church and to move the church back to Rome. One legend told about Catherine is one time she was carried away by her love of Christ in prayer. When she was conscious again she found the stigmata on her hand and feet and side.	The habit of the Dominican Order, stigmata, cross surrounded by lily or a heart, and rosary and crown of thorns
St. Cecilia	Third century	Was a daughter of a Roman patrician and was engaged to a nobleman named Valerian, but remained chaste once married. Valerian converted to be a Christian and right after that he saw an angel bearing two crowns of flowers. The angel placed the crowns on Valerian and Cecilia. This upset the governor or Rome and ordered them to resist, but they refused and he then executed them. Celcela was first spared because he wanted her wealth but refused, then tried to suffocate her. He tried multiple attempts to behead her, but only made wounds in her neck, and she died three days later. She was not able to play any instrument, so created the Organ.	Listening to music, singing, or playing some musical instrument. The organ, 3 wounds in her neck, and white and red roses.
St. Clare of Assisi	Thirteenth century	A disciple of St. Francis of Assisi. She was able to establish an order of her own called the Poor Clares. Its principal work was the care and education of poor girls. When her convent was surrounded by Sacarnes, Clare placed a pyx containing a Host and she scared the soldiers away.	The pyx, grey tunic with a black veil, and the cord of St. Francis of Assisi.
St. Christopher	Third century	Some theologians might think his story might be fictional. Christopher was a very big man, who came upon a holy hermit who sought to instruct him in Christianity, but refused, so the hermit sent him to a river. He used a palm tree staff to help a lot of people across a flooded stream. He eventually carried Christ across the river as a small child, and converted to Christianity. The king tried to break down his faith after hearing what happened, but he didn't budge. Chritpoher was then tortured and beheaded.	Wading through water with the Infant Christ on his shoulders, and palm tree staff in hand
St. Francis of Assisi	Thirteenth century	He acquired the name Francis because he learned French young and loved to sing the ballads. His decision to consecrate himself to God when he heard Chirst call to him to "repair His House”. So he secretly used some of his fathers money to do his project and work. His father found out and took him to court, and stripped his fine clothes and money and flung them at his parents, while renouncing forever his life of wealth. He later founded Francsican order and received the stigmata. Two years after that he suffered from blindness and other ailments and eventually died.	Dark brown habit of his order, the skull, the lily, the crucifix, the wolf, and the lamb.
St. George	Second century	He was born to Crhistian parents before the reign of Constantine. One legend is that a terrible dragon made a lair in the marsh of the country around Selena, in Lydia. To please the dragon there needed to be human sacrifices, and one time it was the king's daughter. George saved the daughter in the name of Christ and killed the dragon. Everyone who saw him defeat the dragon converted. After this he defied the edict of the Emperor of Diocletian against the Christians, but was beheaded.	Represented as a young knight clad defeating a dragon in shining armor emblazoned with a red cross.
St. Gregory	Sixth century	Was a perfect of Rome. After his father died he came under influence of the Benedictine Order and gave up his political life for that service of the Church. He converted his palace into a monastery and lived there for seven years as a monk. He was made one of the deacons of Rome by Pope Benedict I. He worked to abolish slavery and prevent war. He established the rule of celibacy for the clergy and made Gregorian chant.	A Dove, sometimes carries a church to signify the importance of his work establishing the foundations of the Church, and wearing the tiara of the Pope and bearing the crosier with the double cross.
St. Jerome	Fourth century	He translated the bible into Latin. While living in Bethlehem there was loin and other monks fled, but he helped the loin and took a thorn from its paw.	Lion, red hat and crimson robes of a cardinal. Shown as a hermit in deserts beating his breast with a stone, with a crucifix, a skull, and an owl.
St. John the Baptist	First century	The son of Elizabeth and Zacharias, and considered the last of the prophets of the OLd Testament and the first of the saints of the New Testament. He baptized Christ. He was beheaded by Herod Antipas	The lamb, a reed cross or a banner with a reed cross, and a platter bearing his own head.
St. John the Apostle	First century	Youngest of 12 Apostles and brother of James. He was present at the Crucifixion. Tradition says he took care of Mary after and lived with him. After Mary died he traveled and preached the gospel with St. Peter. But multiple attempts were made to kill him. He wrote one gospel, three letters and Revelation.	The eagle, the book, and a cup with a snake or a cauldron of oil
St. Joseph	First century	Husband of Virgin Mary and adoptive father of Jesus. He is frequently shown with budded staff in his hand	Carpenter’s plane, saw and hatchet, lily, and doves in baskets
St. Lucy	Third century	Was daughter of a noble lady, who suffered from a disease believed to be incurable. St. Agatha cured her, and after Lucy gave all her money to the poor. This made the man she was betrothed to mad and denounced her to the authorities as a Christain. First attempts to execute her were unsuccessful. Eventually she was stabbed in the neck and died. A legend tells that one of her suitors was smitten with the beauty of her eyes, so she took her eyes out and sent them to them.	Her eyes in a dish, poniard and wound in her neck, and a lamp.
St. Luke	First century	Was known because of his Gospel and the book of the acts of the Apostles. He was a constant companion of St. Paul. He was a practicing member of the medical profession. There is a legend that he was an artist and did several portraits of the Virgin Mary and Jesus.	The winged oc, the Gospel book, and seen n with a portrait of the Virgin Mary
St. Margaret of Antioch	Third Century	Is said she was converted to Christianity by her nursemaid. She refused to marry the governor of Antioch and was imprisoned. The devil appeared to her as a dragon in the dungeon. She made the sign of the cross but was swallowed, but escaped because the cross she made grew until she could escape. She was then executed.	Being seen with a dragon. She often holds a cross and the crown and play of martyrdom
St. Martha	First century	She was the sister of Mary and Lazarus. She was the worker in the story with Jesus. She begged Jesus to raise her brother. Legend says she covered people in Marseilles, France and delivered them from a dragon.	Seen with a ladle or kitchen tool, keys around her waist , sometimes what a dragon at her feet
St. Paul the hermit	Fourth Century	Considered the earliest of those who live the life of the solitary hermit. From shouting refuge he lived in the desert in a cave for 98 years. Legend says raven came to him each day bringing him bread. St. Antony finally found him and lived with until his death.	The raven with a loaf of bread, palm tree, lion who helped bury him
St. Petronious	Fifth century	One of the patron saints of Bologna. He converted to Chirsinta and entered the priesthood, and eventually became BIshop. He built the famous Church of Santo Stefano.	Holds a model of the church he built.
St. Scholastica	Sixth century	Was the twin sister of St. Benedict. Dedicated her life to religion and founded the Benedicite nuns. It’s said at her time of death her brother was praying and saw her soul in the form of a dove, ascending to Heaven.	Seen with her brother, holding a lily or crucifix, the dove.
St. Thomas Aquinas	Thirteenth century	He joined the order of St. Dominic. At this time his manner was heavy and dull, so people called him the “dumb ox”. But he was tutored and became well educated and became a professor. He wrote “Summa Theologica".	The oc, the son on his chest, with books, and the benedictine habit.
St. Ursula	Fifth century	She was endowed with great beauty and high intelligence. Had a lot of suitors but only agreed until Agrippus, King of England. She told ambassadors she would only marry him under certain conditions, and all were granted. She was killed by 3 bow and arrows through her body, after all the Huns were slewed.	Crowned princess with an arrow, pilgrims staff surmooned by a white banner with a red cross, and surrounded by many attendants.
St. Veronica	First century	Based on the Apocryphal Gospels of Nicodemus. When Jesus was on his way to be crucified she wiped his face with her veil or handkerchief. The cloth retained the likeness of the Saviour.	With a napkin with Jesus wearing a crown of thorns.