| Saints & Angels

catholic.org Web

Patron Saints

What is a patron saint?
Patron saints are chosen as special protectors or guardians over areas of life. These areas can include occupations, illnesses, churches, countries, causes -- anything that is important to us. The earliest records show that people and churches were named after apostles and martyrs as early as the fourth century.

Recently, the popes have named patron saints but patrons can be chosen by other individuals or groups as well. Patron saints are often chosen today because an interest, talent, or event in their lives overlaps with the special area. Angels can also be named as patron saints. A patron saint can help us when we follow the example of that saint's life and when we ask for that saint's intercessory prayers to God.

For example, Francis of Assisi loved nature and so he is patron of ecologists. Francis de Sales was a writer and so he is patron of journalists and writers. Clare of Assisi was named patron of television because one Christmas when she was too ill to leave her bed she saw and heard Christmas Mass -- even though it was taking place miles away.

	Saint of the Day Learn about the lives of the saints and other saint resources, including a calendar, over 5,000 saint biographies, our most popular saints, and a list of patron saints. 7 days / week. See Sample
E-mail Address: Gender: Zip Code: (ex. 90001)

E A \| B \| C \| D \| E \| F \| G \| H \| I \| J \| K \| L \| M \| N \| O \| P \| Q \| R \| S \| T \| U \| V \| W \| Y \| Z
Earthquakes	Emygdius, Francis Borgia, Gregory the Wonderworker
East Indies	Francis Xavier, Thomas, Apostle
East Renfrewshire, Scotland	Conval
Ecologists, ecology	Francis of Assisi
Ecuador	Sacred Heart, Mary, The Most Pure Heart of Mary
Ecuadorian army	Our Lady of Mercy
Eczema	Antony the Abbot
Edinburgh, Scotland	Giles
Editors	John Bosco, Francis de Sales
Education, public	Martin de Porres
Egypt	Mark
Einsiedeln, Switzerland	Meinrad
El Salvador	Our Lady of Peace
Eloquence, sacred	John Chrysostom
Embroiderers	Clare, Parasceva
Emigrants	Frances Xavier Cabrini
Engineers, Italian	Benedict, Abbot
Engineers, Spanish army	Ferdinand III of Castile

Engineers, military, Italian	Barbara
England	George, Michael the Archangel
English Benedictines	Benedict Biscop
Epidemics	Godeberta
Epilepsy	Dymphna, Vitus, Willibrord
Equatorial Guinea	Immaculate Conception of Mary
Estremadura, Spain	Peter of Alcantara, Virgin of Guadalupe
Ethiopia	Frumentius
Eucharist, The	Paschal Baylon
Eucharistic Guilds	Paschal Baylon
Eucharistic congresses and organizations	Paschal Baylon
Europe	Benedict, Abbot, Cyril and Methodius
Examination candidates	Joseph of Cupertino
Exegetes, scriptural	Jerome
Exeter College, Oxford	Blessed Virgin Mary, Peter the Apostle, Thomas of Canterbury
Expectant Mothers	Gerard Majella, Raymond Nonnatus
Eye disorders	Herve, Clare, Lucy, Raphael the Archangel
A \| B \| C \| D \| E \| F \| G \| H \| I \| J \| K \| L \| M \| N \| O \| P \| Q \| R \| S \| T \| U \| V \| W \| Y \| Z (Top of Page)

VIDEO »

The Woman Against ...

Nov 21 - Homily: ...

Nov 20 - Homily: Offering ...

DAILY READINGS »

Sat Nov 21, 2009

Reading 1, 1 Mc 6:1-13
King Antiochus, meanwhile, was making his way through the Upper Provinces; he had heard that ... More »
Gospel, Lk 20:27-40
Some Sadducees -- those who argue that there is no resurrection -- approached him and they put ... More »

SHARE & BOOKMARK