How do you PICK a good patron saint?

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Em_in_FL

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I’m in need of a new devotion, of sorts, to spice up my spiritual life…

Those of you who have strong devotions to particular saints… how did you “pick” them?

In the past I’ve had special devotions to St. Therese, St. Brigid, St. Clare… great saints! 👍

But for some reason I feel like I need to stir things up a bit… ask around for multiple interventions…

I’ve been struggling with my job for several years and I really need to find something new… work-wise… it’s currently getting more and more difficult. 😦

So I thought I’d stir up the heavenly pot a bit… 😉

Any suggestions? Thoughts?

THANKS!
 
You certainly have my prayers Em.

How about St Joseph the Worker? He and I have been doing fairly well together in recent times on a few different issues (he’s patron of families, of the Universal Church and its priests, of workers, of fathers, loads of other things that I can relate to) …

And such a wonderful role model! Kind, selfless, obedient to God even in great difficulties :cool: 👍
 
Hi. I am an avid reader, but not good on posting. But I had this question many years ago, and a very holy priest suggested to me that we think we choose our patron saints, when in reality, they choose us, and looking back at life events, I can see how this can be very true, as my devotions have changed throughout the stages of my life, considering where my needs were. Perhaps, pray for your patron saints to reveal themselves to you!
Thank you for the interesting question!
 
I just prayed to God to find me one and I came up with St. Zdislava of Lemberk…she’s awesome!
 
I like “St. Fanourios”, an Orthodox saint, but really cool and does he ever find lost things. I think he just likes for people to share his cake…
Known only to God, St. Fanourios is the finder of lost things. This came about due to his image on an icon being discovered by nomadic pegans among old church ruins. They discarded it and some monks hiding in the ruins found it after they left, it was perfect as though it had just been written/painted. The scenes of torture on it were most alarming and an indication to the Bishop of that time that Fanourios was truly a saint.
agapeicons.com/site/1286684/product/156-111112050

Fanouropita - St. Fanourios’ Cake

One rather common superstition that is closely followed here in Rhodes, is that when you have a problem or a question you can ask for St. Fanourios for help and to ‘Fanerose to’ or to ‘show you’ the answer. It is generally used in cases when you need to see or find something. For instance finding lost keys, seeing a good report from a doctor or having a lost love come to redeem him/herself.

I’ve tried to get more information about St. Fanourios himself, but not much is known about the Saint. His Icon was found in Rhodes in the 14th century. He was dressed in military clothing and carrying a cross. I can only assume that he was one of the Crusaders of the era that protected the Mediterranean. His Name Day is celebrated on August 27th.

According to Greek lore, he will show you the answer to your problem or question if in return you offer him a cake and ask God to forgive his mother and rest her soul in peace. It is unclear as to why we ask for his mothers’ forgiveness. Some stories say that she was a sinner of some sort, others that its only spoken out of respect as Greeks always ask God to forgive and rest a soul in peace when they refer to the dead.

The Fanouropita is not just any cake. It is made completely out of fasting ingredients and contains no dairy products. While you’re making this cake you keep in mind the problem at hand or the question that you wish an answer to.

After it is baked, the cake must be given to at least 7 different houses. In other words, people from at least 7 different families have to eat it. Of course, after meeting the 7-house requirement, you and your family can have some too. None of this cake can be thrown away; all of it has to be consumed.

When you have given your 7 different friends a slice of this, each individual has to say these words out loud before taking the first bite. “May God forgive St. Fanouris’ mother and rest her soul in peace”. This is the only prayer that has to be said, and after those words are spoken, you can enjoy the cake. You will get an answer to your problem or question within time.

I have also been told that some villages have a variation to this superstition. The 7 different houses have to be women by the name of ‘Mary’ or a derivative of it. I’ve always just kept the 7 house standard, but if you do know 7 different ‘Marys’, it couldn’t hurt.

The cake is very simple to make and is tasty and moist. You’ll notice that it doesn’t contain any dairy products so it can be eaten during the Lent season if you are fasting too. See our section on Greek Superstitions and Legends to read the story behind this cake.

Ingredients
1 cup ‘white’ oil - soy or corn oil works well 1 cup white sweet wine
1 cup sugar 1 tbs. grated lemon peel
1 cup fresh orange juice 1 tbs. grated orange peel
1 tbs. baking powder 1 cup raisins tossed in flour, optional
3 cups flour sesame seeds

Oil and flour a baking pan of your choice. The usual is a sheet cake pan but I use a bundt pan instead and after I have oiled it well, I sprinkle the sesame seeds onto the oil instead of using flour - it makes a beautiful cake when it’s turned out of the pan.

Add all the ingredients into a large mixer bowl and beat well. Pour into your pan and sprinkle with the sesame seeds. Bake in a preheated oven at 350F for about an hour for a bundt form. Use a toothpick to check if it’s done with other cake forms as it may take less baking time.

That’s it. You have a wonderful cake that is light and delicious.

Susie’s note: If you are not fasting for the Lent season, I recommend substituting 1 cup of milk for the wine. I think it gives it much better texture. I also prefer to use the raisins for some added sweetness and zip.
faliraki-info.com/susie/greek-recipes/pastries/fanouropita.htm
 
I like “St. Fanourios”, an Orthodox saint, but really cool and does he ever find lost things. I think he just likes for people to share his cake…
Known only to God, St. Fanourios is the finder of lost things. This came about due to his image on an icon being discovered by nomadic pegans among old church ruins. They discarded it and some monks hiding in the ruins found it after they left, it was perfect as though it had just been written/painted. The scenes of torture on it were most alarming and an indication to the Bishop of that time that Fanourios was truly a saint.
agapeicons.com/site/1286684/product/156-111112050

Fanouropita - St. Fanourios’ Cake

One rather common superstition that is closely followed here in Rhodes, is that when you have a problem or a question you can ask for St. Fanourios for help and to ‘Fanerose to’ or to ‘show you’ the answer. It is generally used in cases when you need to see or find something. For instance finding lost keys, seeing a good report from a doctor or having a lost love come to redeem him/herself.

I’ve tried to get more information about St. Fanourios himself, but not much is known about the Saint. His Icon was found in Rhodes in the 14th century. He was dressed in military clothing and carrying a cross. I can only assume that he was one of the Crusaders of the era that protected the Mediterranean. His Name Day is celebrated on August 27th.

According to Greek lore, he will show you the answer to your problem or question if in return you offer him a cake and ask God to forgive his mother and rest her soul in peace. It is unclear as to why we ask for his mothers’ forgiveness. Some stories say that she was a sinner of some sort, others that its only spoken out of respect as Greeks always ask God to forgive and rest a soul in peace when they refer to the dead.

The Fanouropita is not just any cake. It is made completely out of fasting ingredients and contains no dairy products. While you’re making this cake you keep in mind the problem at hand or the question that you wish an answer to.

After it is baked, the cake must be given to at least 7 different houses. In other words, people from at least 7 different families have to eat it. Of course, after meeting the 7-house requirement, you and your family can have some too. None of this cake can be thrown away; all of it has to be consumed.

When you have given your 7 different friends a slice of this, each individual has to say these words out loud before taking the first bite. “May God forgive St. Fanouris’ mother and rest her soul in peace”. This is the only prayer that has to be said, and after those words are spoken, you can enjoy the cake. You will get an answer to your problem or question within time.

I have also been told that some villages have a variation to this superstition. The 7 different houses have to be women by the name of ‘Mary’ or a derivative of it. I’ve always just kept the 7 house standard, but if you do know 7 different ‘Marys’, it couldn’t hurt.

The cake is very simple to make and is tasty and moist. You’ll notice that it doesn’t contain any dairy products so it can be eaten during the Lent season if you are fasting too. See our section on Greek Superstitions and Legends to read the story behind this cake.

Ingredients
1 cup ‘white’ oil - soy or corn oil works well 1 cup white sweet wine
1 cup sugar 1 tbs. grated lemon peel
1 cup fresh orange juice 1 tbs. grated orange peel
1 tbs. baking powder 1 cup raisins tossed in flour, optional
3 cups flour sesame seeds

Oil and flour a baking pan of your choice. The usual is a sheet cake pan but I use a bundt pan instead and after I have oiled it well, I sprinkle the sesame seeds onto the oil instead of using flour - it makes a beautiful cake when it’s turned out of the pan.

Add all the ingredients into a large mixer bowl and beat well. Pour into your pan and sprinkle with the sesame seeds. Bake in a preheated oven at 350F for about an hour for a bundt form. Use a toothpick to check if it’s done with other cake forms as it may take less baking time.

That’s it. You have a wonderful cake that is light and delicious.

Susie’s note: If you are not fasting for the Lent season, I recommend substituting 1 cup of milk for the wine. I think it gives it much better texture. I also prefer to use the raisins for some added sweetness and zip.
faliraki-info.com/susie/greek-recipes/pastries/fanouropita.htm
Gosh, by the time you bake the cake, find your seven friends from seven different households, give a piece to each of them, have them all say the prayer and polish off the cake you’d have taken enough time to solve any question or problem in the world 🙂

Sounds delicious though, I’ll give it a try next time I’m in a baking mood.
 
Keep the ideas coming everybody! I love reading and learning about saints… and it’s interesting to hear the more obscure names come out of the woodwork!
Hi. I am an avid reader, but not good on posting. But I had this question many years ago, and a very holy priest suggested to me that we think we choose our patron saints, when in reality, they choose us, and looking back at life events, I can see how this can be very true, as my devotions have changed throughout the stages of my life, considering where my needs were. Perhaps, pray for your patron saints to reveal themselves to you!
Thank you for the interesting question!
I think I’m going to start with this suggestion… God know’s my needs better than I do… and He’ll send the right intercessor… good idea!
 
Hi. I am an avid reader, but not good on posting. But I had this question many years ago, and a very holy priest suggested to me that we think we choose our patron saints, when in reality, they choose us, and looking back at life events, I can see how this can be very true, as my devotions have changed throughout the stages of my life, considering where my needs were. Perhaps, pray for your patron saints to reveal themselves to you!
Thank you for the interesting question!
This is a fine post!👍 I too believe that the Saints choose us…In my case, I firmly believe that St. Josemaria picked me about 5 years ago when I had a very deep conversion experience in the Faith…He isn’t easy either…😃
 
Gosh, by the time you bake the cake, find your seven friends from seven different households, give a piece to each of them, have them all say the prayer and polish off the cake you’d have taken enough time to solve any question or problem in the world 🙂

Sounds delicious though, I’ll give it a try next time I’m in a baking mood.
Lily,

Actually if you just take it to your priest, that takes care of all of it. 😃 Or take it to church and share it for coffee and…
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Em_in_FL:
Keep the ideas coming everybody! I love reading and learning about saints… and it’s interesting to hear the more obscure names come out of the woodwork!
Em if you go to my website you will see a lot on the different saints that you may never have heard of since they are both East and West…
agapeicons.com/site/1286684/page/768982 - NT Saints
agapeicons.com/site/1286684/page/778637 - OT Saints
agapeicons.com/site/1286684/page/778571 - Saints
 
I thought at confirmation, only women can pick women saints?
Has this posotion changed? If so, which pope declared we could
pick men as patron saints? Can you point me to the link please?

As for me, it took me many many times of searching and praying
to God for a patron saint. He answered my prayers after a few years of searching and praying about it.
 
I thought at confirmation, only women can pick women saints?
Has this posotion changed? If so, which pope declared we could
pick men as patron saints? Can you point me to the link please?

As for me, it took me many many times of searching and praying
to God for a patron saint. He answered my prayers after a few years of searching and praying about it.
There never has been a rule against men taking women saints names at baptism or confirmation etc, nor against women taking male saints names if they so desire. The only restriction might be that it is prudent to keep the first name of the child appropriate to their own gender, otherwise there isn’t any such rule.

Many men have had female saints names either for baptism or confirmation. St Jean MARIE (Mary) Vianney is one, St Anthony MARY Claret is another.

In fact it was a common practice in pre-Revolutionary France for noblemen at least to have Mary or Marie somewhere in their names - including the Marquis de la Fayette who played such a big role in the American revolution.

Likewise women with male saints - one of my favourite nun teachers in high school began her religious life as Sr Maureen Joseph, and there was a Sr Bernardine (after St Bernardine of Siena, a male saint) as well.
 
Some times they pick you. My daughter was upset that she didn’t have a saints name and didn’t feel connected to any of the saints listed on her birthdate. She just couldn’t find a patron saint. Then when watching a film on Blessed Teresa of Calcutta she found out that her birth name was Agnes (one of my daughter’s favorite saints), her birthday was on the same day as my daughters, and she attended a church in her youth with the same name as our church.

The Lord confirmed and reconfirmed. It couldn’t have been more obvious; we were definately conked on the head with a spiritual frying pan that day.
 
Some times they pick you. My daughter was upset that she didn’t have a saints name and didn’t feel connected to any of the saints listed on her birthdate. She just couldn’t find a patron saint. Then when watching a film on Blessed Teresa of Calcutta she found out that her birth name was Agnes (one of my daughter’s favorite saints), her birthday was on the same day as my daughters, and she attended a church in her youth with the same name as our church.

The Lord confirmed and reconfirmed. It couldn’t have been more obvious; we were definately conked on the head with a spiritual frying pan that day.
Amen! Sometimes I feel that I need to be conked over the head about things like that more often, it can take me a dreadfully long time to get things occasionally.
 
My son chose St. John the Apostle as his patron saint/confirmation name. His reason was simple and beautiful. He wrote on his essay “I chose St. John the Apostle because he was such a good friend to Jesus, and he stayed right by his side all the way to his death on the cross, and then he took in his mother to take care of her. I hope that I can be such a good friend to Jesus and to others in my life and have that kind of loyalty.” And he IS a loyal and loving kid. It’s a perfect fit. (Maybe St. John chose him, as several have suggested!)
 
I believe very much that my patron saint picked ME. The very first time I ever watched EWTN I was watching a movie about her.(St. Therese of the Andes of Jesus) and at the time thought little of it. But during my prayers and studies my mind always went back to her story. I researched her and her story really spoke to me. What an amazing woman! Her story was so inspring. But was of no importance to me, right? I’m not planning on being a nun!(so I was thinking then) One day I just felt her presence with me during my prayers. Thats when I knew she was to be my patron saint. I think we can choose them but we must be led to do so. I think they can help us along. Ask God for his guidance and maybe do some research. Someone’s bound to catch your attention.
 
Picking a good patron saint(s) is like picking a friend. Some you ‘clique’ with, some you dont.

I bought a book called Patron Saints, by Michael somebody… dont remember his last name. ‘Frost’ maybe, Michael Frost? Anyway, the book was catagorizied by different vocations and listed many of the saints for each vocation. As I read about each of these beautiful souls, some I chose to read more about, some I didnt.
I made lots of connections to different saints relating to that book.

My point is that you dont have to have ONE patron saint, just like you dont have to have ONE friend. I have several good friends, and all are special to me for specific reasons… same as saints.
And I agree with the others about sometimes the saint comes to you! Ask our Blessed Mother to lead you to someone special 🙂
 
It IS true that they often pick you, isn’t it?

The Lord brought me Blessed Mother Teresa, even when she was yet alive! 😃 When I was trying to make a decision about homeschooling, and deciding whether to answer YES to God about it, or to say no (so glad I didn’t), He sent HER as a sign to me (long beautiful story that I am so grateful for).

So I’ve read her words, quotes, some of her books, for years, and now that she’s BLESSED Mother Teresa, I ask for her intercession constantly, and feel closer to her than any other (well, except our Blessed Mother of course). 😉

The best way I can say it is that God sent her to ME as my patron saint, and she grabbed my heart in a mighty way! She’s little, and fiesty, just like I am! :rotfl: :yup:

This is a fun thread! I love hearing how everyone has found their patron saint, and know the Lord will lead you to yours in His perfect time as well. I lifted you in prayer as well. 🙂

Tracy Q.
 
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