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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
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Waiters, waitresses	Martha
Wales	David
War victims, civilian	Mary, Queen of Peace
Washington, DC	Our Immaculate Queen
Washington, USA	Our Lady of Good Help
Water, danger from	Florian
Waterford, Ireland	Odrian
Weavers	Parasceva, Antony Claret, Maurice, Onuphrius
West Indies	Gertrude
West Virginia, USA	Our Lady of Victory
Wheelwrights	Catherine of Alexandria
Widows	Frances of Rome, Paula
Winchester, England	Swithun
Wine merchants, and wine trade	Amand

Winegrowers	Vincent of Saragossa, Martin of Tours
Wisconsin, USA	Our Lady of the Americas
Women Appointed for Voluntary Emergency Services (WAVES)	Joan of Arc
Women giving birth	Margaret (or Marina) of Antioch
Women in labor	Anne (Mother of Mary), Erasmus (Elmo)
Women, Italian	Paschal Baylon
Women, childless	Anne (Mother of Mary)
Women, young and students	Catherine of Alexandria
Workers	Joseph
Workers, young	John Bosco
World Youth Day	Kateri Tekakwitha
Writers	Francis de Sales
Writers, Spanish Catholic	Teresa of Avila
Wyoming, USA	Our Lady of the Valley
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