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JennGM
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Just saw this review for the website Apostles.com. It's a wonderful website, with lots of information and links to resources on the Apostles. I was surprised they listed only one symbol for each apostle, as I know there are dozens, and many different kinds of "shields". I also noticed they have a Catholic news feed on the front page, which has some stories that I wouldn't feel completely comfortable having my young children read the headlines. Nothing too explicit, just beyond my comfort level.
With Pentecost coming up and the bulk of apostles' feast days coming, I thought I'd compile some of the Apostles information we have here, especially since we have more symbolic information.
Apostle Feast Days
James the Lesser – May 3
Philip – May 3
Matthias - May 14
Peter – June 29 (also Chair of St. Peter, February 22 and St. Peter in Chains, August 1)
Thomas – July 3
James the Greater – July 25
Bartholomew – August 24
Matthew – September 21
Jude (Thaddeus) – October 28
Simon – October 28
Andrew – November 30
John – December 27
And the thirteenth apostle is often consider Paul -- June 29.
And St. Barnabas also bears the title of apostle. His feast is June 11.
Picture Book of Twelve Apostles:
The Twelve Apostles by Marianna Mayer
Previous Threads on apostles and symbols:
Printable Images of the Apostles
Apostle Feast Days with the very cool idea of the Altoid tins
Apostle Symbols
Catechesis Materials
Activity: Apostle Cookies
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Jennifer G. Miller
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JennGM
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Symbols
Below are symbols of the apostles, with a link to Patron Saints Index of Apostles, which also lists patronages and symbols, also.
This information is mainly from the excellent book Church Symbolism by F.R. Webber. It's out-of-print, but has had several reprintings.
- James the Lesser, May 3
vertical saw, handle upward (form of martyrdom)
fuller's bat
three stones
windmill
halberd
loaf of bread
He labored in Jerusalem. He was taken to the top of the temple and pushed into mid-air, but was able to stagger to his knees, imploring God to forgive his enemies. The Jews then stones him, and as he lay dying, a fuller dashed out his brains with a fuller's bat. His dead body was sawn asunder.
- Philip, May 3
Tau (T) Cross and basket (his presence at the miracle of the loaves and fish and the cross for his martyrdom)
slender cross and two loaves of bread
patriarchal cross and a spear
vertical spear (instrument of martyrdom)
basket and Tau cross
knotted cross of wood
slender cross and carpenter's square
Tau cross and pilgrim's staff
pillar and spear
tall cross and a book
tall cross and a scroll
inverted cross
dragon
fallen idol
After laboring in Galatia and Phrygia, Philip is said to have suffered a cruel death. When scourging failed to silence him, he was stoned, crucified and finally run through with a spear.
- Matthias, May 14
broom straw (chosen by lot to replace Judas)
halbert
lance
carpenter's square
sword held by its point
axe
saw
scroll
scimitar and book
stone
battle axe
two stones
long cross
hatchet
open Bible and double battle axe
Said to have been stoned and then beheaded while working in Judea.
- Peter, June 29
keys, crossed in a letter X (saltire)
pastoral staff and two large keys
inverted cross
Inverted Cross with two keys saltire
Crowing Cock
fish
two swords
Patriarchial cross and two keys
two keys and a scroll
sword
Great church built upon a rock
fetters, with or without crossed keys
Peter is said to have been crucified at Rome, requesting that the cross be turned upside down, since he didn't think himself worthy to die in the same position as Jesus.
- Thomas, July 3 (formerly December 21)
lance and carpenter's square (he built the first Christian church in Babylon and India and was martyred with a lance), sometime with several arrows
spear and lance
builder's rule;
arrows
five wounds of our Lord
girdle
book and spear
Believed to preach the Gospel in India, where he was stoned, shot down with arrows, and left dying alone, until a pagan priest ran him through with a spear. He is said to have erected with his own hands a church building in Malipur, in Easter India, and hence the square and his patronage to builders.
- James the Greater, July 25
scalloped shell (pilgrimage by sea to Spain to spread the Gospel)
3 escallop shells, two above, one below, the symbol of pilgrimage, usually gold on background of red
pilgrim's staff
escallop shell
pilgrim's wallet
pilgrim's hat
cloak
white horse and white banner
vertical cross-hilted sword and escallop shell
He died 14 years after Christ at the hands of Herod, beheaded by a sword, but the soldier executioner asked forgiveness and became a Christian!
- Bartholomew, August 24
knife resting on Bible (he was martyred at knife point). I've also heard that he was the groom at the wedding of Cana)
3 flaying knives, vertical
flaying knife and book
human skin
human skin on a cross
scimitar
devil under his feet
branch of the fig tree, mentioned in John 1, 48 (Thought to be Nathaniel)
St. Matthew's Gospel
cross
pillar
While preaching in Albanople, he was flayed, crucified, and his dead body decapitated with a scimitar.
- Matthew, September 21
moneybag (tax collector by trade) (sometimes 3 bags)
money chest
winged man
dolphin
battle axe
Tau cross
caprenter's square
tiara
pen and ink horn
halberd
angel holding an ink-horn
scroll of his Gospel
sword
Said to have crucified in Ehtiopian on a Tau cross, and his head severed from his dead body with a battle axe or an halberd.
- Jude, October 28
sailboat (traveled to Persia) (sometimes with cross-shaped mast)
carpenter's square
boat hook
knotted club
inverted cross
bread and fish
long cross
flail
saw
lance
closed book
Tireless missionary, visited Arabia, Syria and Mesopotamia. Exact manner of death unknown.
- Simon, October 28
fish (was a fisherman by trade)
two fishes
fish on a book
oar
fuller's club
halberd
ship
sword
saw
axe
saw, oar saltire, sometimes with primitive battle axe
fish impaled upon boat hook
Said to have evangelized in Egypt and Mesopotamia. Exact manner of death is unknown. Generally supposed to have been sawn asunder, or else beheaded.
- Andrew, November 30
X (the shape of the cross he was crucified upon)
V or Y shaped cross
two fishes crossed
tall cross and book
vertical spear
primitive fish hook
fisherman's net
St. Andrew is believed to have died while preaching the Gospel in Greece, on a cross saltire, or X shape.
- John, December 27
chalice and snake (his life was spared after drinking from a poisoned chalice)
cup and serpent
eagle (symbol of his mystical Gospel)
John as bishop seated on stone tomb, with book, orb and sword
serpent entwined on the sword (Sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God)
eagle rising out of a cauldron
eagle on a closed book
scroll of his Gospel
scroll of Book of Revelation
nimbed eagle
grave
John is the only Apostle said to have died a natural death at an old age.
Additionally, there is also
Paul, June 29
Book and sword
Three fountains of water
Two swords Saltire
Serpent and fire
Phoenix, because of St. Paul's stress upon doctrine of the Resurrection
Palm tree (also resurrection symbol)
Shield of Faith, rayed Latin cross upon a shield
Armour of God
Scourge
12 scrolls with names of his Epistles
Barnabas, June 11
Dalmatic
three stones
book and staff
St. Matthew's Gospel
Pilgrim's staff and wallet
burning pyre
cross
hatchet
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Family in Feast and Feria
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JennGM
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From With Christ Through the Year by Rev. Bernard Strasser, O.S.B., illustrated by Sister M.A. Justina Knapp, O.S.B. There are no explanations for each symbol, so you might have to piece some of the information above together to identify the image.
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JennGM
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I originally posted some of this from Catechesis Materials thread:
From Making New Testament Toys by Margaret Hutchings. She has the twelve apostles, made from the UK Smartie tubes (I'm trying to figure out what I can use to substitute). Each figure has felt covering, and little felt hands and symbols attached to each apostle. It requires a little bit of stitching, but these are wonderful versions -- faces, symbols, etc. I think some of the ideas could be adapted to the clothespin versions. The instructions are long, but for a brief synopsis:
St. Peter: Tiny keys for Peter (such as from old jewelry boxes (or made from strong wire). Sew on with thread
St. Andrew: Two popsicle sticks for Andrew, glue together as an X, stitch to his back, and add a yarn loop that comes over the shoulders so it looks like he's carrying his cross.
James the Greater: Piece of net and cardstock to make cut out fish for James. Cut out fish, decorate, tie together in a bunch, put fish net around his shoulders.
John: Another clothespin doll covered with blue felt to look like Mary. Head should be covered, add tiny pearl beads to look like tears, and add an arm or hand around Mary and put her close to St. John.
Philip: Requires a little basket...her suggestion is a large button and knit to make a basket, then add bread colored felt inside.
Bartholomew: twig that will stand over his head, with green felt leaves, his hands positioned to look like he's praying.
Matthew: Needs two blazer buttons, drinking straw and gold and/or silver sequins. Cut 1 1/2 inches of straw, use this as the scale, tying the shanks of the buttons and adding sequins for the coins.
Thomas: Two or three nails sewn in front of his figure.
James the Less: Two matchsticks, cut and glue together in shape of a small cross and put in his hands (his mother was at the crucifixion).
Simon the Zealot: Trace a small map of Galilee on brown cardstock and mark in Cana, put in front in his hands.
Judas Iscariot: Brown felt made into a little bag filled with silver sequins.
Jude Thaddeus: A scroll, made from the rest of the drinking straw, two pieces 1 3/4 inches, paper that looks like parchment or vellum in 1 1/2 x 3 inches.
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Jennifer G. Miller
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stellamaris
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Jennifer, this post is a treasure trove of resources and ideas! Thank you so much for putting all of this wonderful information on the apostles together. I'm making it a favorite!
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Caroline
Wife to  dh 30+ yrs,ds's 83,85,89,dd's 91,95,ds's 01,01,02,grammy to 4
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Waverley
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Thanks so much! Just today I was thinking that to change up our liturgical year celebrations we would use the next liturgical year to learn about the apostles. I was actually in the process of putting together a unit study on the Apostles.
One other resource I found that looked fun is the 12 Apostle Activity Kit from www.jodyshandsonlearning.com. Have you or anyone else used this kit?
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Birdie
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Awesome, awesome, awesome ! Thank you very much Jenn, for putting this all together. 
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RenB
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Great links Jenn. Thanks, I'll tuck them away for next year.
Our younger ones just completed a study of the apostles during Lent, one we repeat yearly. This year they chose to make round disks similar to those used in the FIAR curriculum with the apostle's shields and symbols drawn on them. They have begun to use the disks on the world map to follow the apostles evangelism journeys, and it has been completely unguided by me. I love watching their eagerness to learn more of their lives. They also produced fun paper dolls after reading each one's biography which we are using on a timeline. One resource we enjoyed on Good Friday seemed to wrap up much for them on the apostles however, and that is a DVD called "Peter" with Omar Shariff starring in the lead role as St. Peter. WOW, what a great epic movie to watch as a family, but take a break half way through for it is very long. All was a wonderful way to end our study, so vivid and each character came to life for the children. It was all so very beautiful to watch this movie and allow it to unfold to bring our faith alive! Thank you to my mother who brought it with her to visit with us during that time. And if you watch that movie, have a kleenez near you. Omar Shariff is fantastic with his facial expressions and emotion.
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"Go East," they said
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4Real Forums : Domestic Church
Topic: Apostles.com
