Does everyone have a Patron Saint?

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I posted this in this thread as i always get great information. I am in RCIA and was wondering if all Catholics have Patron Saints and if so how did you choose, or did they choose you. Thanks and God bless you all. Also, I can’t wait to be Catholic.
 
My patron saint is Catherine of Alexandria. She is the patroness of librarians and teachers, of which I am both. 😃

I’ll toss out my family’s as well:

DH: St George

DS1: St Nicholas of Myra, patron of children and sailors

DS2: St. Josiah the Tenderhearted (King Josiah is revered as a saint in the Eastern Church)

DS3: St Gregory the Great, Pope of Rome

All our sons have their patron saints’ names in their name, either as a first or middle name.
 
mkipp said:
I posted this in this thread as i always get great information. I am in RCIA and was wondering if all Catholics have Patron Saints and if so how did you choose, or did they choose you. Thanks and God bless you all. Also, I can’t wait to be Catholic.
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Most probably do. But I wouldn’t say everyone does.

Most people consider their patron saint to be the saint after whom they are named. Many (but not all) cradle Catholics are named for at least one saint or for a word from a title given to a saint (e.g. Delores = sorrows). (It can be the middle name.) In the case of a given name, the parents chose the patron saint for their child.

But not every “Christian” name is a saint’s name (or a variation on a saint’s name.) Some names are taken from virtues (like “Hope”) or after some other biblical reference. But sometimes a name doesn’t seem to have any Christian reference whatsoever. In this case the person (or the parents on behalf of a child) is free to choose a patron saint. They might want to chose the patron saint of whatever their given name means (e.g. Eustachius for someone named “Hunter”).

If they don’t think any such name is suitable they might chose a saint’s name for their confirmation. Or as you suggest:getholy:, maybe it is the saint that chooses the person.

Welcome to the faith.
 
No, it’s a tradition in some areas and not (as much) in others. That said, I personally don’t know why anyone wouldn’t choose to have a Patron Saint. They’re always pulling for you when you can’t think of which Saint to help or when you don’t know you need help.🤷
 
Personally, at different times of my life, different saints will come to the forefront of my mind and heart…so I suppose I have had quite a few unofficial patron saints! 🙂
 
Oh ! I love the question !
I don’t know what the " rules" are… can I say privately that it doesn’t matter to me? :o

My family are Baptists, the custom in our family is to name children after Confederate generals or battles of the war. I think that’s great. If I ever had children I would want to name one Manassas and another one Rescaca. Anyway, I came in contact with the Catholic church when I found an illustrated biography of Joan of Arc in my school library.
I am not making any kind of supernatural claim, but it seems to me that from that day on she nagged me to join the Catholic church.
I’m here because Joan of Arc sent me here. 😃
She is like an older sister.

I’m not sure what my interest in Saint Philomena is, or what her interest in me is, but I had a dream in which I was terribly lonely and crying and she and Saint Dymphna came and prayed the rosary with me.
Again, I don’t make any supernatural claims for my dream , but it is good enough for me.
She is like a strict but caring sister.

I never Would have guessed Saint Dymphna. My very first impression of her was not entirely positive. But now she’s my best friend. I tell her everything. I like to imagine hugging her and holding her hand and kissing her face all over.
She is a very, very, very nice person. Like a real life Care Bear.

Oh, and I think they all chose me. Especially Dymphna. I didn’t want her at first.
 
Actually everyone DOES have patron saints.

Whoever is patron of your country, your profession or your state in life, for example - they’re interceding for you whether you ask them or not, whether you’re aware of 'em or not! 👍

For me - I have a devotion to Our Lady under her title of Our Lady of Perpetual Help, St Joseph (patron of immigrants, since I work with them), St Francis of Assisi (being a Franciscan), St Helen (my confirmation saint) and St Thomas More (patron of lawyers - again to do with my profession).
 
All three of my patron saints chose me: Our Blessed Mother, St. Jude, and St. Gemma.
 
My patron saint is Joan of Arc too (hence danaemariejoan).
I am pretty sure that she picked me from birth because since my sixteen birthday she has always found a way into my heart. I wear her medal everyday. And another thing my birthday (May 30) is the day she was burned and her feast day.

oh yeah, she is the saint I used for my confirmation name.😃
 
You choose them, they choose you, it happens both ways.

My patron is St. Joseph. I admire him in a lot of ways, he was a good man. I hope one day to be as good a husband and father as he must of been - look at who he was entrusted with!
 
My patron saint, the one I was named for, is St. Helen. However, I have never felt much of a connection to her. Now, my saint that I chose in confirmation is St. Catherine of Siena and I still feel a connection to her. But lately, I have been drawn to a number of male saints as well. I guess I can call them my posse:D or my entourage.

They are:

St. Thomas Howard
St. Thomas More
St. Michael the Archangel
St. Camillus de Lellis
Bl. Pier Giorgio Frassatti
Pierre Toussaint
St. Gabriel Possenti
 
SarahR said:
Personally, at different times of my life, different saints will come to the forefront of my mind and heart…so I suppose I have had quite a few unofficial patron saints! 🙂
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Same for me… No ONE in particular, but different saints for different seasons of my life…

Blessed Mother
St. Therese
St. Jude
St. Thomas Aquinas
St. Francis
St. Clare
St. Patrick
St. Brigid
…
And the list goes on!
 
Epistemes said:
All three of my patron saints chose me: Our Blessed Mother, St. Jude, and St. Gemma.
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sorry…but how do they choose someone? what do they do? would you mind sharing?

I think I have been called on by St. Therese of Lisieux, but she is a patron saint of AIDS, aviators, florists, illness, and missions. None of these apply to my life, but I really feel a pull from her.
 
Hah! Revealing my names could give me away and I don’t really want to do that, but somehow I’ve generally considered myself to have a patron saint for both of the baptismal names and also for the confirmation name. The last one I accepted rather than choosing (they gave us a default choice and somehow insisted on it, although they wouldn’t probably have enforced it) and occasionally, I’ve been feeling some connection, although I used to think my personality very different from that saint’s. However, as of now, I believe it was for a reason and I can’t figure out what getting Saint Peter (this I can give you ;)) for my confirmation patron meant. I’m hardly pope material. 😃
 
chevalier said:
Hah! Revealing my names could give me away and I don’t really want to do that, but somehow I’ve generally considered myself to have a patron saint for both of the baptismal names and also for the confirmation name. The last one I accepted rather than choosing (they gave us a default choice and somehow insisted on it, although they wouldn’t probably have enforced it) and occasionally, I’ve been feeling some connection, although I used to think my personality very different from that saint’s. However, as of now, I believe it was for a reason and I can’t figure out what getting Saint Peter (this I can give you ;)) for my confirmation patron meant. I’m hardly pope material. 😃
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St Peter? He’s got a list of things and places that he’s patron of as long as your arm. Maybe one or more is relevant to you?

Affi, Italy
against feet problems
against fever
against foot problems
against frenzy
bakers
Bath Abbey
Belvedere Ostrense, Italy
Berchtesgaden Abbey
Berlin, Germany, archdiocse of
Birzebbuga, Malta
Bremen, Germany
bridge builders
butchers
Calbayog, Philippines, diocese of
Capolona, Italy
Capriata d’Orba, Italy
Castelletto d’Orba, Piedmont, Italy
Chartres, France
Chatillon, Aosta, Italy
clock makers
Cluny, France
cobblers
Cologne, Germany
Corbie Abbey
Davao, Philippines, archdiocese of
Exeter College, Oxford, England
Dunajská Streda, Slovakia
fishermen
Gabiano, Italy
harvesters
Jackson, Mississippi, diocese of
Köpenick, Germany
Lanuvio, Italy
Las Vegas, Nevada, diocese of
Lessines, Belgium
Leuven, Belgium
locksmiths
London, England
longevity
Maralal, Kenya, diocese of
Marquette, Michigan, diocese of
masons
Mdina, Malta
Moissac, France
Nadur, Gozo, Malta
Naumburg, Germany
net makers
Obermarsberg, Germany
papacy
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, archdiocese of
popes
Poznan, Poland
Providence, Rhode Island, diocese of
Regensburg, Germany
Rome, Italy
Saint Petersburg, Russia
Scranton, Pennsylvania, diocese of
ship builders
shipwrights
shoemakers
Sint Pieters Rode, Belgium
stone masons
Toa Baja, Puerto Rico
Umbria, Italy
Universal Church
watch makers
Worms, Germany

Or one of the feast days relating to him?

29 June (feast of Peter and Paul)
22 February (feast of the Chair of Peter, emblematic of the world unity of the Church)
1 August (Saint Peter in Chains)
18 November (feast of the dedication of the Basilicas of Peter and Paul)
 
I have been reading a lot about the saints and pray constantly to St Francis of Assis. As I really enjoy the company of my dog and love the out doors. I know that he was the patron Saint of pets and the ecology. But, I also find myself interested in St. Agustin and St. Thomas Aquinas and St Charbel. My interests are my family, reading, history of the church and golf. I guess there is no Patron Saint of Golf. Also, I checked my birthday June 30Th and it appears that it is not a feast day so I have no connection that way. I wish I had a Saint to pray to that I had a great connection to. I just admire most of all by the Saints selfless devotion to god. Is it okay for a male to a female Saint as their patron Saint? I also feel a connection of St Therese of Lesieux.
 
LilyM, only the Universal Church of the list. 😉 But I suppose it somehow goes that way. There is only one saint more Catholic that St Peter. 😃 Recently, I’ve noticed I like the way he handled matters. I feel also that my faith is sometimes bigger and sometimes smaller, but not constant. That would be the early Saint Peter. Curious thing, my primary patron saint is a medic and while I’ve never felt called to that profession, I’ve always experienced a lot of connection and perhaps a kind of empathy and a bit of additional respect for the medical profession (second after priests kind of thing). The other was a warrior and a ruler and while I had doctor’s leave of P.E. throughout nearly all of my education, I have a knack for pulling off more than I should and more than people around me and I’ve always had a bit of a warrior-like personality. And I typically get elected. Sometimes without knowing. 😃 He also seemed lucky because God liked him so much and some of it rubs off on me, I think, too. 😃 Hahah. Well, I wonder how much of it is actual influence of the saints through their action and protection and how much is a self-fulfilling prophecy that I just want to see there. 😃
 
Serap said:
sorry…but how do they choose someone? what do they do? would you mind sharing?

I think I have been called on by St. Therese of Lisieux, but she is a patron saint of AIDS, aviators, florists, illness, and missions. None of these apply to my life, but I really feel a pull from her.
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Me, too (although I love flowers and feel drawn to pray for priests). Her feast day isn’t near my birthday either. So, although she’s not “official” for me, she’s terribly important for me. Having an “official” patron Saint doesn’t do away with the other Saints for anyone. Maybe my “official” patron Saint asked her to help me, at least for the time being.:confused:
 
When I was growing up I had a deep devotion to St. Michael the Archangel. A strange thing happened when I was in Seminary, a saint chose me. St Odilia. There are two by the same name but in particular the one as venerated by the Crosier Order is the one. I received a letter out of the blue to participate in a novena to her. I accepted and 18 years later she has remained my patroness. It has always lingered in the back of my mind, what makes a particular saint choose a person? Obvious to me is that St. Odilia chose me, as I had no knowledge of her up until this point. She is very special to me.
 
Oh gosh! I have a good amount I like to think are my patrons. I dunno. Maybe I have a few extras up there praying for me that I don’t know about. 😃

I don’t know if God works on an assignment system as in “this person is prayed for by this saint” or not, but I like to think everybody has at least one that’s “assigned” to pray for their well being, no matter who they are.

My patrons are:

Saint Joan of Arc (My Confirmation saint)
Saint Hildegard Von Bingen
Saint Dwynwen
Saint Francis of Assisi
Saint Margaret of Cortona

As for particular Marian devotions, I like Our Lady of La Salette.
 
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