How to Identify a Catholic Saint Statue
The Catholic faith has been canonizing people as saints since A.D. 100 for their exceptional holiness, charity, suffering, piety or even miraculous works. The ranks now include well over 10,000 saints, depending on the sect. Statues are a popular depiction of saints, although many nameplates become lost or worn and unreadable with age. Given the sheer numbers, identifying a saint based on a statue can be quite difficult, but it is possible with a little investigation.
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Instructions
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An image of the statue is indispensable in your investigation. While you may own the statue, transporting it to the library or keeping it close while scouring the Internet may be inconvenient. Make sure that you take pictures of both the front and the back of the statue, focusing especially on any headdress or objects in the saint's hands. Take note of the style of clothing, as this may also offer clues to the time period.
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Make a detailed list of objects particular to the statue. Each saint is depicted with different objects, or "attributes," to signify her contribution to the religion or the manner of his death. For example, a palm frond is a common attribute for martyred saints, and a sword often signifies death by decapitation. Other attributes are related to the type of patron the saint has become. Cecilia, the patron saint of singers and music, is depicted with an organ; Francis of Assisi, the patron saint of animals, is frequently pictured with a wolf, bird or fish.
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Using the picture, a member of the local clergy may be able to identify the saint in question. A popular book for information seekers is Edward and Lorna Mornin's "Saints: A Visual Guide." The book includes the 100 most common saints and their attributes. The majority of popular statue depictions can be found within this book. For more obscure saints, refer to the recently published "Illustrated World Encyclopedia of Saints," by Tessa Paul. More than 500 saints are represented in various works of art.
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Once you have identified the saint or significantly narrowed the search, the website Catholic.org can assist you in learning more details about the life and death of the Catholic saint.
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