Saints and their Symbols I Quiz | Saints by Symbol

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. This 12th century English bishop is shown petting (or standing next to) a swan.

Answer: St. Hugh of Lincoln

St. Hugh, a friend of King Henry II (he fared much better than his contemporary, Thomas Becket), kept a swan as a pet; it would often stick it's long neck up his sleeve. Hugh was a man of great humor; he even got on the good side of the sullen King John (Henry's son).

He was also a great defender of the Jews (a rare thing in that time and part of the world), often facing down angry mobs to defend them from persecution.

2. This female martyr holds a basket of roses and fruit, or is shown handing it to a child (or an angel). Her name means "gift of God".

Answer: St. Dorothy

According to legend, St. Dorothy was mocked on her way to execution by a pagan governer who asked her to send him a basket of flowers and fruit from Paradise. After her death, he was visited by a child who brought him a basket of roses and apples. He was moved to convert to Christianity and was himself martyred

3. In a famous representation in the Sistine Chapel (the "Last Judgement"), this apostle holds a knife and his own flayed skin (although he looks none the worse for wear).

Answer: St. Bartholomew

According to tradition, St. Bartholomew was martyred by being flayed alive (let's hope it was only a legend). He is depicted in Michelangelo's "Last Judgement" holding his flayed skin and a knife (because this resembles a cheese knife, he is venerated as patron of cheesemakers!)

4. This Benedictine saint, known as the "Apostle of Germany" is usually shown taking an axe to an oak tree.

Answer: St. Boniface

St. Boniface enraged the pagans of Germany by chopping down an oak tree sacred to the god Thor. He was murdered using an axe (possibly the same one he used on the tree?).

5. This young female martyr (no one is quite sure when, or if, she actually lived) wears a crown and stands in front of a tower with three windows (or holds a miniature version of same). She also holds a sword and/or a palm branch.

Answer: St. Barbara

According to legend, St. Barbara's pagan father kept her imprisoned in a tower to keep her from being converted to Christianity. However, she heard the sermons of a Christian preacher from her window and ordered her father's architect, in his absence, to put two more windows alongside the one window to symbolize the Trinity.

6. This French Visitation nun born in 1647, is depicted kneeling before, or leaning her head against a vision of Jesus revealing His Sacred Heart. Or she may hold a flaming heart, crowned with thorns, in her hand. Although she was French, many an Irish Catholic girl has borne her name(s).

Answer: St. Margaret Mary Alacoque

The devotion to the Sacred Heart began when St. Margaret Mary Alacoque, in 1675, told her confessors she had seen a vision of Christ displaying His Sacred Heart. She related how she leaned her head against His breast in the manner of St. John the Apostle. He had also revealed 12 promises to her.

7. This young French peasant girl kneels in a grotto (now world famous) before the Virgin Mary, who is distinctively dressed all in white with a pale blue sash.

Answer: St. Bernadette Soubirous

Bernadette described "the lady" she had seen in the grotto at Lourdes as being dressed in white, but with a blue sash around her waist. The lady was praying the rosary and invited Bernadette to join her.

8. One of the most popular and well-loved saints (especially by children, of whom he is patron), he is usually depicted in bishop's garb holding three golden balls in one hand.

Answer: St. Nicholas

The tradition of Christmas stockings began with the legend of St. Nicholas saving three dowerless girls from being sold into slavery by tossing three balls of gold through their window as they slept. The balls landed in their shoes, or stockings by the fire. St. Nicholas is patron of pawnbrokers, who have adopted the three golden balls as their symbol.

9. This pious 12th century Polish Queen is usually depicted as crowned and quite well dressed, but barefoot. Oddly, she holds a pair of shoes under her arm (no owl, though).

Answer: St. Hedwig

St. Hedwig, a noblewoman, often went about her acts of charity with bare feet as an act of penance. Her husband became so upset with the condition of her feet that he bought her a pair of shoes and forbade her to appear in public without them. She obeyed him by always appearing in public with the shoes- under her arm. (The owl remark was a hint- referring to the one in "Harry Potter")

10. This Italian saint, born in 480 A.D., founded the order which bears his name. He is sometimes depicted sitting at table looking in dismay at a broken cup. The rule of his order was "Pray and work". His sister was a nun of the same order.

Answer: St. Benedict

St. Benedict angered so many of his monks with his monastic reforms that some of thm resolved to poison him. However, when he made the sign of the cross over the cup containing the poisoned beverage, it broke. Actually, for the time, he was fairly lenient; his monks could even have a glass of beer now and then.

11. This New Testament saint is usually depicted either at his wedding holding a flowering almond branch (or a lily) or carrying his famous foster son holding same. Or he may be shown at work with a saw, hammer, or drill.

Answer: St. Joseph

St. Joseph is often shown in Renaissance art holding an almond branch, symbol of purity, or a lily. At other times, he is shown in his carpenter's shop or holding the child Jesus.

12. This early Christian martyr is shown holding a gridiron (on which he was roasted) and a palm branch.

Answer: St. Lawrence

St. Lawrence was roasted to death on a gridiron; according to a famous legend, he requested halfway through that they turn him over as he was done on the one side. The palm branch (a symbol of victory over death) is a frequent symbol of martyrs.

13. This 7th century Irish monk is shown holding a spade or other gardening tool.

Answer: St. Fiacre

St. Fiacre is the patron of gardeners, along with SS. Phocas, Serenus, Dorothy, Adelard, and Gertrude of Nivelle. He is also patron of cabdrivers, which is why French taxis are called "fiacre's".

14. This very young female martyr holds a lamb (her name means lamb) and a palm branch (or a sword).

Answer: St. Agnes

Agnes was martyred at the tender age of fourteen. The name Agnes derives from the Latin "Agnus", meaning lamb (the lamb is also a symbol of purity and sacrifice). Lambs are traditionally blessed on St. Agnes' day in Rome and their wool used to make the Pallium, worn by the Pope.

15. This 7th century French bishop (a street in Paris is named after him)holds his crozier and (incongruously) a baker's peel.

Answer: St. Honore

For rather obscure reasons, St. Honore is honored as the patron of bakers and is often shown in bishop's garb with a baker's peel. The famous Rue St. Honore in Paris, famous for it's bakeries, is named after him as is the cake known as Gateau St. Honore, traditionally baked for his feast day.

Source: Author jouen58

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor Lanni before going online.
Any errors found in FunTrivia content are routinely corrected through our feedback system.

Saints and their Symbols I Trivia Quiz

Since most saints lived before the advent of photography, they are usually identified in art by one or more symbols. See if you can match the symbol(s) to the saint.

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