Gabriel is the angel messenger who brought Mary the news that she was to be the mother of God.

    The archangel Gabriel, together with Michael and Raphael, is given the title “saint” in the Christian Church. His name means “God is my strength” and his roles are multiple. He is the Guardian of the Celestial Treasury, the Angel of Redemption, and the Chief Messenger of God. In early paintings, Gabriel is usually shown as a majestic figure and richly robed. He often wears a crown and bears a scepter to indicate sovereignty. His wings are large and many-colored. Frequently, he is depicted with his right hand raised in salutation and benediction.

Peter was the first pope of the church.

Peter was a fisherman in Galilee to whom Christ said, “You are Peter, and upon this rock I will build My church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 16:15). Peter’s role was that of spokesman for the twelve apostles and first pope of Christ’s church. In most artistic depictions, he is shown holding the keys to Heaven. Sometimes he holds a fish, to show he is a fisherman of souls.

Paul was the first great missionary of the church.

    Born at Tarsus and named Saul, this apostle was involved in the early persecution of Christians. He was on his way to Damascus, commissioned to destroy a small community of believers there, when he was overcome by a great light from heaven that struck him temporarily blind. The Lord’s voice admonished him and he converted, assuming “Paul” as his Christian name. Dedicated to spreading the faith, his efforts brought him the title of “Missionary to the Gentiles”. While imprisoned, he wrote many letters that are included in the New Testament. In art, St. Paul may be identified by the sword, with which he was beheaded, and the book or scroll of his Epistles.

Honored for having discovered the true cross, Helena was the mother of Constantine, who was an emperor of the Holy Roman Empire,

Helena was a convert. She was born in what is now Turkey about 300 years after Christ had died. Married to an important Roman, she was ultimately abandoned by him. However, she bore a son, Constantine. When Constantine became Christian, he convinced his mother to become a Christian also. Helena’s love of Christ was so great that she lived much of the rest of her life in developing new Christian communities and in searching for the cross on which Jesus died. St. Ambrose reported that Helena found the Cross, parts of which were ultimately moved to Rome. Note that the window shows her carrying a symbolic cross.

Pius X was known as the Gentle Pope

    Pius X was born Giuseppe Sarto in Riese, Italy, and was elevated to the papacy in 1903. He is especially appreciated by Americans because he removed the Roman Catholic Church of the United States from a mission status and created two new American cardinals, Farley and O’Connell. Noted for his interest in the reform of church music, his codification of canon law, and his promotion of frequent communion for the people, he was beatified in 1951 and canonized in 1954. 

Known as the Beggar Saint, Francis helped the poor.

This much beloved saint was born Giovanni Bernardone in 1182. His family was prosperous in Assisi and he enjoyed a childhood rich in creature comfort and social status. However, a deep spiritual awareness was evident and, as a young man, he gave up his life of wealth – dedicating himself to the needs of the poor. Founder of the Franciscan Order, he was noted for his sermons, miracles, and love for wild beasts and lesser creatures. Bearer of the marks of the stigmata, he died in 1226 and was canonized in 1228. St. Francis is generally shown in the dark brown habit of his Order. In addition to the stigmata, he is usually shown with a skull, a lily, a crucifix, a wolf, and a lamb. Often he is depicted with winged creatures in remembrance of his beautiful sermon to the birds.

Cecilia is the patron saint of music.

    Brought up as a Christian in the third century, Cecilia refused to offer sacrifice to the gods and was ordered to be executed by the governor of Rome. The executioner made three attempts to slay her with his sword, but succeeded only in wounding her three times in the neck. She remained alive for three days, during which she distributed her wealth to the poor. It is believed that, during her lifetime, Cecilia was so close to heaven that she could hear the singing of the angels. Consequently, in painting, she is usually portrayed listening to music, singing, or playing some musical instrument. Her particular symbol is the organ.

Brigid is the patroness of Ireland

Born in 451, St. Brigid refused a number of marriage proposals in order to became a nun and serve God. She founded and managed convents, schools and churches within Ireland. When she died in 525, she left a cathedral and school in Kildare that became famous all over Europe. She and St. Patrick had a great friendship (she very young and he very old). One Irish writer called her “Queen of the South: the Mary of Gael,” because she was so pure and sweet, lovely and gentle.

Patrick is the patron saint of Ireland.

    Patrick was the great apostle of Ireland. The small island has exported its people and Catholic faith throughout the world and has heavily influenced the history of the Church. While many legends abound, the true facts of Patrick are not known in great detail. Born around 385 in Great Britain, he was the child of a permanent deacon and was kidnapped by Irish pirates. Patrick later escaped, became a priest and returned to evangelize the pagan Irish. According to oft’ told stories, he used the shamrock with its three leaves as a symbol of the Trinity. He died in 461. Consequently, this well-known saint is often depicted with a shamrock.

Joseph was the husband of Mary and the earthly father of Jesus.

Serenity seems to mark the gentle carpenter who was the husband of Mary and foster-father of the Christ Child. Initially it was customary to paint Joseph as a white-bearded old man because early writings stressed his advanced age. During the Counter Reformation, he became viewed as the companion, protector, and provider of the Holy Family and, from that time on, has been depicted as a much younger, though mature, man. His symbols are a lily (for chastity), various carpenters’ tools, and a flowering rod or wand. According to St. Jerome, the suitors of Mary each brought a rod to the high priest of the Temple. Joseph’s rod blossomed, a sign from heaven that he was chosen to be her husband. The apocryphal Book of James relates that a Dove came forth from the rod and settled on Joseph’s head. Therefore, he is usually pictured with a flowering rod, sometimes with a dove on it.

Revelation (12:7-9) “Then war broke out in heaven.

    Michael and his angels waged war upon the dragon…so the great dragon was thrown down, that serpent of old…” The image occurs widely in religious art, particularly in churches dedicated to St. Michael. He wears a coat of mail and is armed with a shield, and sword or spear, or both. Like nearly all angels, he has wings, (which prevents any confusion with the other dragon-slayer, St. George). Satan, either in his semi-human form or as a dragon, is prostrate under the feet of the saint who is about to slay him.

St. George is the patron saint of England.

Warrior saint and martyr, it is believed George was born in Cappadocia (now Turkey) and died in Palestine about the end of the third century. While from early times he was especially venerated in the Greek Church, his popularity in the West dates only from the 13th century. He is the patron saint of several European cities, including Venice, and was made patron of England in 1222. To early Christians, a dragon symbolized evil, paganism in particular. The conversion of a heathen country to Christianity by a saint would thus be depicted in symbolic form, as the slaying of a dragon with a spear. St. George was shown in this manner to signify the winning of Cappadocia for the faith.

The Saint of Lost Causes.

    Sometimes known as ‘the other Judas, not Iscariot’ (John 14:22), St. Jude was an apostle and martyr said to have preached the gospel with Simon Zelotes after Christ’s crucifixion. He was martyred in Persia, his symbol being a club, halberd or lance according to various accounts of his death. His inscription in early Italian painting is ‘Qui tollis peccata mundi’ (You who takes away the sins of the world) from the Gloria of the Mass. This saint is a favorite of countless many who intercede through him, the Patron of Lost Causes.