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.
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| Saguntum, Spain |
Sacerdos of Saguntum |
| Sailors |
Brendan, Erasmus (Elmo), Francis of Paola, Nicholas of Myra |
| Saint Ives, Cornwall |
Ia |
| Saint Ives, England |
Ivo |
| Saint Mellyan, Cornwall |
Melaine of Rennes |
| Saint Teath, Cornwall |
Teath |
| Saint Vitus's dance nervous disorder; rheumatic chorea |
Vitus |
| Salamanca, Spain |
John of Sahagun |
| San Gemini, Italy |
Geminus |
| San Marino |
Marinus |
| San Miguel de Allende, Mexico |
Michael the Archangel |
| Santa Ana Indian Pueblo |
Anne |
| Santa Clara Indian Pueblo |
Clare of Assisi |
| Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA |
Francis of Assisi |
| Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic |
Our Lady of Ransom |
| Sardinia |
Maurice |
| Sassano, Italy |
John the Baptist |
| Savings banks |
Anthony Claret |
| Savona, Italy |
Our Lady of Mercy |
| Savoy |
Maurice |
| Saxony |
Willihad |
| Scandinavia |
Ansgar |
| Scholars |
Bridgid of Ireland, Thomas Aquinas |
| Scholars, scripture |
Jerome |
| School teachers |
John Baptist de la Salle |
| Schools |
Thomas Aquinas |
| Schools of law |
Raymond of Peñafort |
| Schools, Catholic |
Thomas Aquinas |
| Schools, all Christian |
Joseph Calasanctius |
| Scientists |
Albert the Great |
| Scotland |
Margaret, Andrew, Apostle |
| Scripture scholars |
Jerome Emiliani |
| Sculptors |
Claude, Luke, Four crowned martyrs, Louis |
| Sea, those associated with the |
Francis of Paola |
| Security forces |
Michael the Archangel |
| Security forces, Andorran |
Our Lady Help of Christians |
| Security forces, French |
Genevieve (Genofeva) |
| Security forces, Peruvian |
Rose of Lima |
| Security guards |
Matthew |
| Segovia, Spain |
Venantius |
| Seminarians |
Charles Borromeo |
| Senior citizens |
Our Lady of Consolation, Teresa of Jesus Jornet e Ibars |
| Serbia |
Sava |
| Serbian peoples |
Sebastian |
| Sergio Osmena, Zamboanga del Norte, Philippines |
Philip Benizi |
| Servants |
Martha, Notbunga |
| Servants (women) |
Zita |
| Seville, Spain |
Ferdinand III of Castile |
| Shepherds |
Our Lady of Lapurdo, Paschal Baylon |
| Shoemakers |
Cyprian of Carthage, Homobonus |
| Shorthand writers |
Cassian of Imola |
| Sibenik, Croatia |
Michael the Archangel |
| Sicily |
Andrew, Apostle, Vitus |
| Sick |
John of God, Camillus de Lellis, Michael the Archangel |
| Sick, of Poland |
Mary, The Health of the Sick |
| Siena Italy |
Ambrose Sansedoni of Siena, Catherine of Siena |
| Signals, military |
Gabriel the Archangel |
| Silesia |
Hedwig |
| Silversmiths |
Andronicus, Eligius (Eloi) |
| Sisak, Croatia |
Quirinus |
| Sisters of Mercy |
Elizabeth of Hungary |
| Sithney, Cornwall, England |
Sithney |
| Skaters |
Lidwina |
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| Skiathos Island, Greece |
Panagia Kastriani |
| Skiers |
Bernard of Montjoux, Andronicus (with Athanasia), Our Lady of Graces |
| Skin diseases |
Antony the Abbot |
| Skopelos Island, Greece |
Riginos |
| Slander |
John Nepomucene |
| Sleepwalkers |
Dymphna |
| Slovakia |
Our Lady of the Assumption |
| Slovenes |
Virgilius |
| Snake bite victims |
Hilary, Pirminus, Vitus |
| Social justice |
Joseph, Martin de Porres |
| Social workers |
Louise de Marillac, John Francis Regis |
| Soldiers |
George, Martin of Tours, Maurice, Sebastian |
| Soldiers, American |
Joan of Arc |
| Soldiers, French |
Joan of Arc, Louis |
| Soldiers, Paraguayan |
Mary, on feast of her Assumption |
| Solomon Islands |
Michael the Archangel |
| Sonsbeck (Santbeck), Germany |
Gerebernus |
| Sorrento, Italy |
Antoninus of Sorrento |
| South Africa, Southern Africa |
Our Lady of the Assumption |
| South America |
Rose of Lima, Our Lady of Guadalupe |
| South Carolina, USA |
Mary the Virgin Mother |
| South Dakota, USA |
Our Lady of the Prairie |
| Spain |
James the Greater, John of Avila, Our Lady of Ransom, Immaculate Conception of Mary |
| Spanish conquistadors |
James the Greater |
| Spanish poets |
John of the Cross |
| Spanish secular clergy |
John of Avila |
| Spas |
John the Baptist |
| Speakers (Orators) |
John Chrysostom |
| Speleologists, Italian |
Benedict, Abbot |
| Spelunkers, potholers |
Benedict, Abbot |
| Spinners |
Parasceva |
| Spiritual directors of clergy |
Joseph Cafasso |
| Spiritual exercises |
Ignatius of Loyola |
| Sportsmen and women, Belgian |
Our Lady of Chevremont |
| Sri Lanka |
Mary, Immaculate, Our Lady of Lanka |
| Sri Lanka (formerly Ceylon) |
Lawrence, Our Lady of Madhu, Thomas, Apostle |
| St Vincent de Paul Societies |
Vincent de Paul |
| St. Antony's Fire |
Antony the Abbot |
| Stafford, England |
Bettelin |
| Stamp collectors |
Gabriel the Archangel |
| Stavenger, England |
Swithun |
| Stenographers |
Cassian of Imola |
| Stomach disorders |
Timothy, Erasmus (Elmo) |
| Stone masons |
Four crowned martyrs, Louis, Stephen |
| Storms, protection against |
Vitus |
| Strasbourg, France |
Arbogast |
| Strokes |
Andrew Avellino |
| Students |
Catherine of Alexandria, Thomas Aquinas, Gabriel Possenti |
| Students (examinees) |
Joseph of Cupertino |
| Students in Jesuit colleges |
Aloysius Gonzaga |
| Students, of Peru |
Our Lady of Guadalupe |
| Students, women |
Catherine of Alexandria |
| Sudan |
Josephine Bakhita |
| Surgeons |
Cosmas and Damian, Luke, Roch |
| Surveyors |
Thomas, Apostle |
| Swabia, Germany |
Meinrad |
| Sweden |
Bridget, Eric of Sweden |
| Swimmers |
Adjutor |
| Switzerland |
Notbunga |
| Swordsmiths |
Maurice |
| Syracuse, Sicily |
Lucy of Syracuse |
| Syria |
Barbara |
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