Saints and Their Symbols II Trivia Quiz

Answer: St. Patrick

Patrick was born in Britain; he was kidnapped as a youth and brought to Ireland as a slave. He is credited with the conversion of Ireland to Christianity and is one of the country's patron saints (along with St. Brigid and St. Columba). According to legend, Patrick used the shamrock, with its three leaflets, to illustrate the doctrine of the Trinity.

The fanciful legend about Patrick driving the snakes from Ireland is an allegorical allusion to his efforts to eradicate paganism and evil from the country.

Answer: St. Maria Goretti

Maria's murderer, a young neighbor named Alessandro Serenelli, was converted in prison after having a dream in which Maria forgave him and handed him one lily for each of her wounds. Upon his release, he was also forgiven by Maria's mother, who thereupon treated him as her own son. They both lived to see Maria canonized in 1950.

Answer: St. Blaise

Many people are familiar with the legend about Blaise saving the young boy choking on the fishbone. The boy's mother supposedly visited him in prison and brought him a candle to illuminate the darkness of his cell. Blaise is traditionally invoked against maladies which affect the throat and larynx, and it is traditional to bless throats on his feast day (February 3rd) by placing two candles in the shape of a cross upon the throat. St. Blaise is depicted in Michelangelo's "Last Judgement" brandishing two iron combs which, according to legend, were used in his torture.

Answer: St. James

Christ nicknamed James and John the "sons of thunder" (boanerges) because they once suggested that he call down thunder from heaven to smite the inhospitable Samaritans. James' martyrdom is mentioned in the "Acts of the Apostles", the only apostle whose death is described in the New Testament. According to legend, James is supposed to have evangelized Spain after the ascension of Christ; he is venerated there as San Jago.

The French scallop dish "Coquilles au Ste. Jacques" (scallops in a savory butter sauce, served in their shells) is named for him.

Answer: St. Elizabeth

Elizabeth's in-laws disapproved of what they considered her extravagant generosity toward the poor. Once, during a famine, they informed her husband Ludwig that she was bringing some of the palace's limited supply of bread to the poor. Ludwig accosted her on her way and demanded that she show him what was in her cloak.

When she opened her cloak roses, not bread, fell at her feet. On another occasion, she gave up her (and her husband's) bed to a sick beggar; when Ludwig heard of this, he angrily burst into the room. To his astonishment, he saw the figure of the crucified Christ upon the bed.

After this, Ludwig gave approval of Elizabeth's acts of charity and defended her to his family. Unlike most married female saints, who always seem to want to be nuns and marry only with great reluctance, Elizabeth passionately loved her husband and was devastated by his early death.

Answer: St. Dominic

While she was carrying him, Dominic's mother, Joan of Aza (who has been beatified by the Church) dreamed of a dog carrying a torch to set the world on fire (figuratively speaking). At his baptism, she saw a star shining on his chest; it is usually depicted in art upon his nimbus. Dominic founded the order that bears his name and created the Rosary. One of the most famous paintings of him is by another saintly friar, Fra Angelico; he is depicted comtemplating the mockery of Christ.

Answer: St. Thomas Becket

The extremely brutal murder of Archbishop Thomas Becket in Canterbury Cathedral shocked all of Europe and is the subject of T.S. Eliot's play "Murder in the Cathedral". He was slaughtered during vespers by four knights loyal to Henry II, with whom Becket had repeatedly clashed and who had wished out loud for someone to rid him of "... this turbulent priest".

His spectacular shrine was a magnet for pilgrims until its destruction during the reign of Henry VIII (Chaucer's "Canterbury Tales" is about one such pilgrimage).

Answer: St. Teresa of Avila/ St. Therese of Lisieux

St. Teresa of Avila was one of the most intelligent, influential women of the seventeenth century. She authored the fascinating "Interior Castle" and was greatly admired by, among others, poetess Gertrude Stein who, together with composer Virgil Thompson, immortalized her in the opera "Four Saints in Three Acts".

Therese of Lisieux, who died of tuberculosis in 1897 at the age of twenty four, wrote "Story of a Soul" and several poems. She is known as the "Little Flower" and at her death, rose petals were said to have fallen from the sky. Both women have been declared Doctors of the Church for their spiritual writings.

Answer: St. Francis of Assisi

Francis' love for birds and animals is well-known. On one occasion, his preaching could not be heard over the chirping of some nearby birds. He spoke to the birds and promised to preach to them as well if they would cease their chatter, whereupon they fell silent. If you are puzzled about the winged crucifix, this was a vision Francis had when he received the stigmata (the wounds of Christ).

In Gubbio, Francis tamed a rabid wolf which was terrorizing the village; he is often shown in its company.

Answer: St. Helena

Helena was determined to go to the Holy Land and find the true cross, among other relics of Christ's life. In 326, she and her helpers unearthed three crosses. To determine which was the cross of Christ, they had a woman afflicted with disease touch each of them; when the woman was immediately cured after touching one of them, it was pronounced the True Cross.

Helena is patron of archaeologists. (There was a Byzantine empress named Theodora, the wife of Justinian, but she was no saint! There was also a Saint Theodora, but she was no empress.)

Answer: St. Denis

Denis was beheaded around 258 A.D. at Montmarte, now known for its colorful night life, cafes, bars, etc. (the name, however, means "Mount of Martyrs"). He is the patron of headache sufferers, though most of us would prefer a less drastic cure.

Answer: St. Vincent de Paul

Vincent was taken captive as a youth by Turkish pirates and, like St. Patrick (see above) sold into slavery. Upon his release, he converted one of his former owners to Christianity. He founded the Lazarists and the Daughters of Charity (with St. Louise de Marillac). Charitable societies bearing his name are found throughout the world.

Answer: St. Mark

The Gospel of St. Mark begins with the voice of the "lion of the desert", John the Baptist, calling all to repent and prepare the way of the Lord. The Piazza San Marco in Venice, dominated by the Basilica San Marco (containing the saint's relics), is one of the most glamorous places in Europe, containing the Doge's palace, a number of shops, and the famous "Leon di Venezia" standing atop a tall column in front of the Basilica.

Answer: St. Jerome

Jerome, born in 357, was secretary to Pope Damasus, which is why he is sometimes depicted as a cardinal (though the robes he is shown wearing are an anachronism). The pope commissioned him to revise the Vulgate (the Latin translation of the Bible). Jerome's version, the result of 30 years work, is still in use today.

The lion he tamed, Androcles-like, after removing a thorn from its paw; it became his pet and guardian.

Answer: St. Martin of Tours

Born in Hungary in 315 A.D., Martin was just 18 and a soldier when he encountered a naked beggar in the streets and, moved with pity, divided his cloak with his sword and gave half to the beggar. That night he had a vision of Christ clad in the piece of cloak.

He converted shortly afterwards and later became a hermit and then an evangelist. In 372, he was made Bishop of Tours by popular demand (and much against his wishes) after the death of the current bishop.