Patron Saints

[+] Saint Agnes

Saint Agnes is one of seven women, excluding the Blessed Virgin, commemorated by name in the Canon of the Mass. She is the patron saint of chastity, gardeners, girls, engaged couples, rape victims, and virgins. Her feast day is January 21st.

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[+] Saint Andrew

Saint Andrew was the first Apostle. He was martyred on a saltire (x-shaped) cross known as "St. Andrew's Cross" which became the national flag of Scotland in 1385. He is the Patron Saint of fishermen, Scotland and Russia. His feast day is November 30th.

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[+] Saint Anne

Saint Anne was the mother of the Virgin Mary. Saint Anne's name means "grace." She is the Patron Saint of homemakers, mothers, and children. Her feast day is July 26th.

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[+] Saint Anthony

Saint Anthony was a Franciscan friar born in Lisbon, Portugal. His personal devotion to the relief of the starving and needy lead to his patronage of just this. His feast day is June 15th.

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[+] Saint Barbara

St. Barbara is the patroness of prisoners due to her confinement to a tower and her cruel treatment in prison. She is also the Patron Saint of things military and is invoked against fire and lightning. Her feast day is December 4th.

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[+] Saint Benedict

Saint Benedict is best-known for penning the Benedictine Rule whose guiding principals are "Pray and work." Patron of farmers and Europe, his feast day is July 11th.

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[+] Saint Bernadette

Visionary and messenger of the Immaculate Conception (see Our Lady of Lourdes), St. Bernadette is the saint of Lourdes, France. She spoke words teaching of the merits of prayer, penance, poverty and church. She is the Patron Saint of sickness and her feast day is April 16th (February 18th in France).

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[+] Saint Bernard Of Menton

Saint Bernard started a patrol clearing robbers from the mountains and established hospices for travellers and pilgrims to Rome. The large dogs trained to search for lost victims in the mountains are named after him. Patron Saint of skiers, alpinists and mountain climbers, his feast day is May 28th.

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[+] Saint Catherine Of Siena

The 25th child of an Italian wool dyer, St. Catherine started having mystical experiences when she was only six. Saint Catherine's letters and a treatise called 'a dialogue' are considered among the most brilliant writings of the Catholic Church. Her feast day is April 29th.

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[+] Saint Cecilia

Saint Cecilia was forced to marry against her will, was later arrested for giving proper burial to her husband and was martyred for refusing to sacrifice to false gods. The 'Acta of Cecilia' includes "While the profane music of her wedding was heard, Cecilia was singing in her heart a hymn of love for Jesus, her true spouse" which led to her Patronage of music, singers and musicians. Her feast day is November 22nd.

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[+] Saint Christopher

Saint Christopher carried people across a raging stream in the name of God. A child he was carrying grew so heavy it felt as if the whole world was on his shoulders. The child made himself known as the creator of the world. The name Christopher means "Christ-bearer". He is the Patron Saint of travelers and his feast day is June 25th.

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[+] Saint Clare Of Assisi

Saint Clare is the co-founder with Saint Francis of Assisi of the Poor Clares. She is the Patron Saint of sore eyes and her feast day is August 12th.

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[+] Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton

Born an Episcopalian, Elisabeth Ann Seton converted to Catholicism in 1805 and opened a school in Boston. She established a Catholic girl's school in Baltimore, initiating the parochial school system in America. She founded the Sisters of Charity in 1809, the first Native American religious community for women. Her feast day is January 4th.

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[+] Saint Florian

It is said that Saint Florian stopped a town from burning by throwing a single bucket of water on the blaze. Patron Saint of Firefighters, his feast day is May 4th.

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[+] Saint Francis De Paul

St. Francis de Paola began his life as a hermit in Calabria, Italy, in 1416. He attained such fame as a worker of miracles that the dying King Louis XI of France sent for him and begged to be healed. Francis told the king that the lives of kings are in the hands of God and that he should pray to God. He brought about a change of heart in the king, and Louis died, comforted, in his arms. Saint Francis is the patron saint of sailors, and all people associated with the sea and his feast day is April 2nd.

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[+] Saint Francis Of Assisi

Born a wealthy cloth merchant in Assisi, Italy, Saint Francis renounced his inheritance and took a vow of poverty to better identify with Christ's suffering. He founded the Franciscan order of Monks and is known as the Patron Saint of Animals. His feast day is October 4th.

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[+] Saint Gabriel

Also known as the Guardian Angel, Gabriel appeared to Mary to let her know she'd been selected to bear the Saviour. The most represented image of Gabriel is the one painted by Rafael.

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[+] Guardian Angel

Also called Saint Gabriel, a guardian angel is a messenger that God uses to communicate his plans to people on earth. Everyone has a guardian angel that watches over them. In Europe he is also the Patron Saint of children. His feast day is September 29th.

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[+] Saint George

Saint George saved England from a dragon and asked only of the King to maintain churches, honours priests, and show compassion for the poor as recompense. He is the Patron Saint of England and soldiers. His feast day, celebrated on April 23rd was reduced to a local feast day in 1969.

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[+] Saint Gerard

When Saint Gerard made his profession to the church to the usual vows he added 'to do always that which seemed to him more perfect.' His great charity earned for him the title of Father of the Poor. He is invoked as the patron of expectant mothers and his feast day is October 16th.

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[+] Saint Helen

Saint Helen is usually depicted holding a wooden cross because at the age of 80 she led a group to the Holy Land to find the True Cross. The Feast of the Holy Cross on September 14th celebrates the event, and her feast day is August 18th. She is the Patron Saint of difficult marriages and divorces.

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[+] Saint Hubert

Saint Hubert, called the "Apostle of the Ardennes" was the first Bishop of Liège. He is the patron saint of hunters, mathematicians, opticians and metalworkers, and used to be invoked to cure rabies. Saint Hubert was widely venerated in the Middle Ages and his feast day is November 3rd.

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[+] Saint James

One of the 12 Apostles, brother to John, Saint James is the Patron Saint of Soldiers, Spain, and Pilgrims. The Way of Saint James is the pilgrimage to the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela in Galicia in northwestern Spain, where his remains are buried. His feast day is July 25th.

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[+] Saint John The Baptist

Cousin of Jesus, St John converted many in preparation for Jesus. He baptized Christ, after which he stepped away and told his disciples to follow Jesus. Patron Saint of Baptism, his feast day is June 24th.

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[+] Saint John Bosco

Saint John Bosco worked with youth, finding places where they could meet, play and pray, teaching catechism to orphans and apprentices. He is the Patron Saint of schoolchildren, young people and apprentices and his feast day is January 31st.

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[+] Saint John The Evangelist

John the Evangelist was brother to Saint James and was a follower of Saint John The Baptist. He is Patron Saint of Lawyers and Venice, Italy. His feast day is December 27th.

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[+] Saint Joseph

Saint Joseph was the Husband of Mary and foster father to Jesus. He is the Patron Saint of families and tradesmen. His feast days are March 19th and May 1st.

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[+] Saint Jude

Saint Jude is known as the Patron Saint of 'hopeless cases'. This patronage is said to have originated because nobody invoked him for anything since his name so closely resembled that of Judas who betrayed God; consequently he favours even the most desperate situations of his followers. His feast day is October 28th.

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[+] Saint Lawrence

Commanded to appear for his execution, Saint Lawrence was to bring along the treasure with which he had been entrusted by the Pope. When he arrived, he was accompanied by a multitude of Rome's crippled, blind and sick announcing that these were the true treasures of the Church. His feast on August 10th is also famous for the meteor shower that follows the passage of the Swift-Tuttle comet, dubbed 'the burning tears of Saint Lawrence', which happens at the same time. He is known as Patron Saint of the Poor, Librarians and Cooks.

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[+] Saint Luigi

Saint Luigi of Scrosoppi was devoted to orphans and the sick. During his canonization efforts, he was proven to have cured a Zambian AIDS victim in 1996. His feast is celebrated October 5th.

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[+] Saint Lucia (Lucy)

Persecuted for her virginity, Saint Lucy was tortured and finally killed by the sword. She is the Patron Saint of eyes, because hers were torn out and were miraculously restored. The Neapolitan song 'Santa Lucia' remains a very popular Italian folk song. Her feast day is December 13th.

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[+] Saint Luke

One of the Apostles, Luke is best known for his writings in the bible the 'Gospel According to Luke.' He is the patron saint of goldsmiths, artists and doctors and his feast day is October 18th.

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[+] Saint Mark

Disciple of Saint Peter who travelled with him to Rome, he was referred to as "my son Mark" by the first Pope. Author of the earliest canonical Gospel, his feast day is April 25th.

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[+] Saint Matthew

One of the Apostles, Matthew was considered a traitor by his contemporaries for his job as a roman tax collector until Jesus explained that he had come "not to call the just, but sinners." Patron Saint of accountants and bankers, his feast day is September 21st.

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[+] Saint Michael

Considered the Archangel (head-angel), he is usually portrayed fighting a dragon or the devil. He is the Patron Saint of Policemen and his feast day is September 29th.

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[+] Saint Nicholas

Saint Nicholas was generous to the poor and special protector of the innocent and wronged. Many stories grew up around him prior to his becoming known as Santa Claus. An interesting one is that upon hearing that a local man had fallen on hard times and was planning to sell his daughters into prostitution, he went to the house and threw three bags of gold through the window, saving the girls from an evil life. The three bags of gold became the three golden balls that indicate a pawn broker's shop. Patron saint of Russia, his feast day is December 9th.

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[+] Saint Patrick

Originally from England, Saint Patrick effectively converted Ireland so that in the Middle Ages it became known as the Land of Saints. During the Dark Ages its monasteries were the great repositories of learning in Europe. Patron Saint of Ireland and engineers, his feast day is March 17th.

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[+] Saint Paul

Saint Paul was converted from Judaism on the road to Damascus where he was knocked to the ground, struck blind by a heavenly light and given the message that in persecuting Christians he was persecuting Christ. The experience had a profound spiritual effect on him, causing his conversion to Christianity. Patron Saint of writers, his feast day is June 29th.

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[+] Saint Pio (Padre Pio Of Pietralcina)

In 1918, Capuchin friar Padre Pio of Pietralcina, while praying before a cross, received the stigmata (bodily marks in locations corresponding to the crucifixion wounds of Jesus Christ). In 1956 he founded the 'House for the Relief of Suffering', a hospital that serves 60,000 a year. He was canonized in 2002 by Pope John Paul II. His feast day is September 23rd.

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[+] Saint Peter

Saint Peter was lead to Jesus by his brother Saint Andrew. He was renamed 'Peter' (from Simon) by Jesus to indicate that Peter would be the rock-like foundation on which the Church would be built. Patron Saint of fishermen, his feast day is June 29th.

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[+] Saint Rita

Most popular in Italy, Spain, France, South America and the Philippines, Saint Rita became a nun after her forced marriage had ended in death. From her constant prayer and meditation, a wound appeared in her forehead as though pierced by a crown of thorns. She is the Patron Saint of tumours and invoked for the healing of wounds. Her feast day is May 22nd.

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[+] Saint Stephen

As related in the Acts of the Apostles, while preaching the Gospel in the streets, he was dragged outside of the city as a blasphemer, and stoned to death. His feast day is December 26th.

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[+] Saint Teresa

Soon after taking her vows, Saint Teresa became gravely ill and began receiving holy visions. She later established several missions. Saint Teresa is the Patron Saint of tuberculosis and missions. Her feast day is October 15th.

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[+] Saint Thomas

One of the Apostles, Saint Thomas is best remembered for doubting the Resurrection until allowed to touch Christ's wounds. Patron Saint of architects and builders, his feast day is July 3rd.

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Jesus & The Sacraments

[+] Jesus

Jesus Christ is the Son of God. Christmas Day is the celebration of his Nativity. With the Holy Spirit and God the Father, they make up the Holy Trinity. Jesus was sent down from heaven to free the world from sin. He was crucified, died and was buried (Good Friday), and on the third day (Easter Sunday) rose from the dead and ascended into heaven.

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[+] The Four-Way Medal

A medal in the shape of the cross, the four-way medal includes the images of the Sacred Heart of Jesus (top), Miraculous Medal (bottom), Mary with Baby Jesus as on the Scapular Medal (left) and Saint Christopher (right) with the Holy Spirit (in the image of a dove) joining them in the middle.

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[+] The Scapular Medal

The scapular (from the Latin word scapulæ, meaning shoulders) is a dress which covers the shoulders best known among Catholics as the name of two little pieces of cloth worn out of devotion to the Blessed Virgin over the shoulders, under the ordinary garb, and connected by strings. The devotion of the scapular began with the Carmelites. In 1251 the Virgin Mary appeared to Saint Simon Stock and told him: "Whosoever dies wearing this shall be preserved from eternal flames." The medal has on one side that image of Mary with the baby Jesus and the other side has the image of the Sacred Heart of Jesus.

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[+] Infant Of Prague

The medal depicts the statue of the child Christ that has been preserved since 1628 in the church of Our Lady of Victory in Prague. His patronage is in the area of human problems.

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[+] The Ten Commandments

The Ten Commandments are a list of ten religious and moral imperatives which were written by God and given to Moses on Mount Sinai in the form of two stone tablets. They are: 1) Thou shalt not worship any other gods besides me. 2) Thou shalt not make idols. 3) Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain. 4) Keep the Sabbath day holy. 5) Honour thy father and thy mother. 6) Thou shalt not kill. 7) Thou shalt not commit adultery. 8) Thou shalt not steal. 9) Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour. 10) Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's house.

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[+] Baptism

The first of the seven sacraments (Baptism, Reconciliation, First Communion, Confirmation, Holy Matrimony, Holy Orders and Anointing of the Sick), Baptism is considered the most important. Through Baptism a person (usually a child), is accepted into the Church for the first time. Both the parents and two chosen Godparents vow to help the person lead a holy life dedicated to God. Baptism takes place throughout the year.

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[+] First Communion

The third of the seven sacraments, First Holy Communion is the ceremony in which a person (usually a child) receives the Eucharistic bread for the first time. First Communion is usually celebrated in the spring.

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[+] Confirmation

The fourth of the seven sacraments, Confirmation is the ceremony when a young adult re-confirms the vows of fidelity to God taken by his or her parents and Godparents at Baptism. It is usually celebrated in the spring.

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Virgin Mary

[+] The Virgin Mary

Mary, the Virgin Mother of Jesus Christ, is considered pre-eminent among all the saints. The unique privilege of being the mother of one who is both man and God is at the heart of the honour paid to Mary. She is often pictured with the baby Jesus (Mary and Child) or praying.

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[+] The Miraculous Medal

In 1830 the Virgin Mary appeared to a nun named Sister Catherine Laboure in Paris. Mary appeared to her three times and told Catherine to have a medal made, which was called the Miraculous Medal. On one side are the words "O Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee," and bears the image of Mary, on the other side the image of an "M" surmounted by a cross with two hearts (of Mary and Jesus) and twelve stars.

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[+] Our Lady Of The Assumption

The assumption of Mary into heaven is commemorated by a special feast on August 15th. It is a holy day of obligation, its vigil being a fast day, in all English-speaking countries except Canada.

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[+] Our Lady Of Divine Providence

Adoration stems from a painting by Gaetan where the Baby Jesus' fingers confidently clasp those of Mary. The Child seems to be saying: "Mother, I place in your hands the authority to act in my name. From my infinite treasure, you are to provide good things to all those who implore your aid."

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[+] Our Lady Of Fatima

The Virgin Mary appeared six times to three shepherd children between May 13 and October 13, 1917. She came to the little village of Fatima near Lisbon, Portugal, which had remained faithful to the Catholic Church during the recent persecutions by the government.

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[+] Our Lady Of Good Counsel

Veneration of Our Lady of Good Counsel (also known as Mater Boni Consillii in Latin) stems from a picture of Our Lady which appeared at Genazzano, a town southeast of Rome on St Mark's day. Her feast day is April 26th, so as not to conflict with that of Saint Mark the Evangelist (April 25th).

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[+] Our Lady Of Guadalupe

In 1531 a 'Lady from Heaven' appeared to a poor Indian near Mexico City; she identified herself as the Mother of God, instructed him to have the bishop build a temple on the site and left an image of herself imprinted miraculously on his tilma cloth, which should have deteriorated in 20 years but shows no sign of decay almost 500 years later. The feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe is celebrated on December 12th.

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[+] Our Lady Of Lourdes

In 1858, in a grotto near Lourdes in southern France, Our Lady appeared 18 times to Bernadette Soubirous (Saint Bernadette), a young peasant girl. She revealed herself as the Immaculate Conception, asked that a chapel be built on the site of the vision, and told the girl to drink from a fountain in the grotto. No fountain was to be seen, but when Bernadette dug at a spot designated by the apparition, a spring began to flow. The water from this still flowing spring has shown remarkable healing power.

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[+] Our Lady Of Medjugorje

Devotion to Our Lady of Medjugorje began with an apparition of Our Lady in a small village named Medjugorje in Bosnia-Herzegovina in 1981.

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[+] Our Lady Of Mount Carmel

Our Lady of Mount Carmel is a title given to Mary in honour of her having given the Scapular of Our Lady of Mount Carmel to Saint Simon Stock. (See Scapular Medal). Feast day is July 16th.

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[+] Our Lady Of Perpetual Help

Devotion to Our Lady of Perpetual Help originates in the 15th Century from a Byzantine icon painted in gold. It was brought to Rome by a pious merchant, who ordered by his will that the picture should be exposed in a church for public veneration. Feast day is June 27th.

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[+] Our Lady Of Pompeii

The origins of Our Lady of Pompeii begin at the sight of the great destruction by the volcanic eruption of Mt. Vesuvius (in Naples, Italy) in 79AD. A shrine was later created with the help of Bartholomew Longo. The image has on one side St. Dominic and on the other St. Catherine of Sienna who are both kneeling before our Lady holding the child Jesus.

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Holy Fathers

[+] Pope Benedict Xvi

Joseph Alois Ratzinger officially became the 265th Pope April 19th, 2005. Before taking his position as head of the Catholic Church, German-born Pope Benedict XVI was a Doctor of Theology, one of the founders of the theological periodical Communio, and Dean of the College of Cardinals.

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[+] Pope John Paul II

Karol Wojtyla became Pope October 16th 1978, becoming the first non-Italian Pope since Adrian VI (1522-1523). John Paul II is the most traveled Pope in history, having visited nearly every country in the world. He died of natural causes April 2nd, 2005 at the age of 85.

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Crosses & Symbols

[+] Cross & Crucifix

Jesus Christ was crucified on the cross and so the cross remains the most recognised symbol of Christian faith. The crucifix, a cross with on it the figure of Jesus, is mostly used in the Roman Catholic Church and usually bears the sign 'INRI', meaning 'king of the Jews', at the top which was put there out of spite at the crucifixion.

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[+] Celtic Cross

The Celts, who in the 7th century inhabited what is now the UK, famed for their craftsmanship, carved symbols in stone that revealed their new faith. As there were few churches in the region, the Celtic Crosses were considered sacred places where people would go to pray and give thanks. There are many ancient crosses still standing, which have been in place for well over 1000 years.

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[+] Orthodox Cross

The Orthodox cross is the symbol of the Russian Orthodox Church. It is like the traditional cross with two additional horizontal bars. The upper bar represents the sign 'INRI', and the lower, slanted bar is a stylized footrest, a common design in early Christian crosses.

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[+] Jerusalem Cross

Also known as the Crusader's Cross, the Jerusalem cross has four arms at equal distances, symbolizing the four directions, and the belief that Jerusalem is the spiritual centre of the earth. The more complex version of the symbol represents the spread of Christ's message through the four evangelists (Mathew, Mark, Luke and John), who are represented by the four additional crosslets.'

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[+] Ictus Fish

This symbol, also called the 'Jesus fish', is used almost exclusively today to denote membership in the Christian religion.

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[+] Star Of David

The Star of David is the primary modern emblem of the Jewish religion. The name derives from the legend that this emblem was used by the Biblical King David. It was not associated specifically with the faith until the middle ages, when it began to appear on flags, tombstones, and synagogues. It was also important to the flourishing kabbalistic tradition of the same time period. Kabbalistically, the hexagram symbolizes the six directions of space, the divine union of male and female energy, and the four elements.

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