MARKS OF THE SAINTS.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XIX, Issue 22, 27 February 1891, Page 27

MARKS OF THE SAINTS.

While art was yet in its infancy the Evangelists were symbolised as follows : St. Matthew, by a man's face ; St. Mark by a lion ; St. Luke by an ox, and St. John by a flying eagle. These symbols had a mystic and even sacred meaning, taken from the Apocalypse. St. John tells us that there were four living creatures before the throne of God ; the first was like a lion, the second like a calf, and third had a face as a man, and the fourth appeared as an eagle flying. St. Irenseus, Bishop of Lyons, who was martyred A.D,, 203, during the reign of Paptimius Severus, interprets these signs very beautifully. He tells U9 th<*t the lion signifies the royalty of Christ, the man's face His incarnation, the calf His sacerdotal office, and the eagle the grace of the Holy Ghost. As the works of great artists multiplied, other symbols came into use. St. Matthew is shown as a man with a pen in bis hand and an open scroll before him. He is looking over his shoulder at an angel who is supposed to dictate or inspire his words. St. Mark is represented seated, writing. By bis side is a coucbant winged lion, emblematic U of the Resurrection, which grand mystery St. Mark so fnlly describee. There is a tradition that the lion's whelp is born dead and remains so three days until the father lion breathes, upon his offspring and infuses into him tbe breath of life. Many think that this is tbe origin of the lioa being always associated with St. Mark by the different artists. The island republic of Venice bore in her quarterings, azure, a winged lion or sejant, holding between his four paws a book argent, in which are the wnrda : " Pax tibi Marce Evangeiista Meus." In Venice are tot *o famous red granite columns, one of which is surmounted by a figure of St. Theodore, tbe patron of the republic, until St. Mark superseded him ; the other covered by the lion of St. Mark. These two columns aie not far from the world-famed Cathedral of St. Mark, the glory and pride of Venice. St. Luke also holds a pen and appears to bend over the scroll in deep thought, a 9 if profoundly impressed with the greatness of the task in which he is' engaged. Njar him is a cow or an ox chewing his cud, typical of the mixed and select nature of this Evangelist's Gospel. , St. John we see as a young man of great beanty and delicate form. The glorious eagle in the background shadows forth the sublimity of bis ideas and the lofty grandeur of the vision he describes in his Gospel and in ihe Apocalypse. St. Peter, a bunch of kejs, Bince Chri9t mid to him : " I will give thte the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven." Sometimes there is a cock, reminding us tbat when the cock crew Peter went out and wept bitterly. His fault was momentary, acd^his lepentance lifelong. Some say St. Paul was a little man of unprepossessing appearance, and even lame. Be tbat as it may, he ii generally represented as tall and distinguished-'ooking in the dress o£ a Eoman. He holds a book an-i re3ts on a sword. Being a Roman citizen they could not crucify him ; instead be was beheaded with a sword. A convent in Spain claims to posses 3 the identical swor.l. tit. Andrew's symbol is a cross shaped like an X. He waa crucified with his head downward a, at hia owu request, deeming himself unworthy to suffer death in the same way.as hia Master. St. Jamea tbe Gre.ter, patron of pilgrims, has the pilgrim emblems, viz., tbe Ecollop-shel], the gourd bottle and the staff The scollop-shell was held in great veneration, and often when the pilgrim returned from his pious wanderings he placed the shell in his hat as V mark of honour, or adopted it in coat-of -arms. Bt. James the Lps9 has for his emblematic figure a fuller's staff. He waa struck on the head by one Simeon, a fuller. St. Bartholomew, a kuife, the instrument used in flaying him. Sometimes, also, a processional cross. St. Matthew, a Laicbet or halbert ; with either of which he was slain, some authors say by Madabar, others at Madabar.

The name does not appear in an ordinary encyclopedia to resolve the doubt. St. Jude, a club. Precious olub that won him hia Master's crown 1 St. Matthias, a battle-axe. Great soldier of Christ that he wa3, he met his death as a brave soldier, dt. Philip, a long staff, surmounted by & cross. This Apostle got nis full share of ignominy for Christ's sake. He was suspended by the neck from a tall pillar. St. Simon, a saw, with which instrument he was Bawn in two. Himself and the Prophet Isaias must have exchanged experiences when they met in heaven. St. Thomas, a lance. The end of this great saint's zealous labours in the Indias was that he was pierced through with a lance at Melia. ponr. He is again represented with a bnilder's rule or stone in his hand. St. John, a chalice out of which a serpent is issuing. St. John was challenged by Aristodamus, a prießt of Diana, to drink of a poisoned cup. The saint made the Bign of the croBS over it. The saint then drank tne chalice, which harmed him not. Judas Iscariot— poor, unhappy Judas I— a money-bag clutched in his hand. In Leonardo da Vinci's " Last Supper," and in those of other artists, there is seen a saltcellar overturned at Judas' elbow. This is probably the origin of the superstition about spilling salt. Of the three Archangels, Michael, Gabriel and Raphael, St. Michael is represented in Christian art as a beautiful young man of severe aspect. He is generally in white raiment and winged. Sometimes he brandishes a fiery sword ; again, a lance and shield combining a dragon. As the angel of the judgment day he holds a pair of scales in which he is to weigh our souls — poor us 1 Ho is called tbe angel of faith. St. Gabriel we often see as delivering his glorious message to the Blessed Virgin, between the two figures is a flower-pot of lilies. St. Gabriel is styled the angel of hope. St. Raphael, the angel of charity and patron of travellers. He holds a pilgrim's staff or carries a fish, in allusion to the services rendered by him to young Tobias. The fish tafces a very honourable plaoe in hagiology. In the caße of Tobias it is related that . the smell of the fish when it was being cooked drove away the demon Asmodeus, who had possession of Sara, the yonng woman who had so many husbands. Asmodeus fled to the utmost parts of Egypt where the angel Raphael bound him.— Exchange.