Saints holding a book, meaning?

[The_Dragonfly]

I never really paid much attention to these details, until now. What symbol does the book represent in the picture. Usually when I see objects it has something do with their life or how they where martyred. Here are some examples.

Saint Benedict pointing at a book in his hand.
Saint Boniface hold a open book with a stain on it.
Saint Etheldreda holding a book in one hand and flowers in the other.

At first I assume it is the word of God. But there must be a deeper message behind.

 

[Usige]

Often a book represents that the Saint was associated with proclaiming the Gospel or God given wisdom (though this might also be show with a scroll). Many times you will see bishops holding the book of the Gospels as it is one of their primary “tools”. It also figures in some saints that were missionaries.

As for Saint Boniface, the open book with a stain likely does have to do with his martyrdom. Legend holds that he and his companions were set upon and brutally attacked when they landed in the area now know as Holland. When they attacked him he held up a bible and his attacker thrust a sword through the bible and on through his body there by killing him. I have normally seen him with a bible pierced by a sword, but it is possible that the stain on the book you refer to is his blood spilled on the bible when he was killed.

 

[JerryZ]

Also books are used to signify the learned status of the Saint, perhaps a doctor of the Church, Theologian, Teacher.

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[Gertabelle]

I never really paid much attention to these details, until now. What symbol does the book represent in the picture. Usually when I see objects it has something do with their life or how they where martyred. Here are some examples.

Saint Benedict pointing at a book in his hand.
Saint Boniface hold a open book with a stain on it.
Saint Etheldreda holding a book in one hand and flowers in the other.

At first I assume it is the word of God. But there must be a deeper message behind.

The book in St Benedict’s hand would be the Rule of Life he wrote for monastic life lived in community (as opposed to the life of a hermit living alone).

If a Saint wrote significant works that impacted the Church, they will often be depicted with a book to signify that.

For example, St Teresa of Avila is a Doctor of the Church. In this image, she is holding the book she is writing, and the Holy Spirit is represented by a dove:

(Please Note: This uploaded content is no longer available.)

St Thomas Aquinas is known as the “Angelic” Doctor of the Church. He is also sometimes depicted in the act of writing, or of holding a book of his writings. In this image, he is also holding a book of the Gospels:

http://www.sspv.org/camp/images/stories/aquinas.jpg

God bless you!

 

[The_Apostolate]

I believe that while they were hear on earth did wrote about they live history and their devotion too Jesus or Mary ,because they what us too know about them before they passed a way This is what I believe.

 

[TimothyH]

Saint Benedict pointing at a book in his hand.

St. Benedict is holding his Holy Rule in his hand.

The Rule of St. Benedict

Mary is somtimes pictured holding the Torah, the first five books of the Bible.

-Tim-

 

[Mystrx]

Also books are used to signify the learned status of the Saint, perhaps a doctor of the Church, Theologian, Teacher.

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yes this