John XX:
Have any of you ever felt that your patron saint picked you and not the other way around?
Yes, in a way. That’s a great question! Let me share my story…
** Bl. Kateri Tekakwitha** is my patron (almost) Saint.
I first learned about Kateri on EWTN when they announced on the radio about the progress of her canonization last July (not sure exactly when but may have been around her memorial date). What I noticed was her title “Lily of the Mohawks”, since the name Lily has had a special significance to me for a long time (especially relating to Mt. 6:28 and the command not to worry). I was in the car at the time so I did not listen to the rest but concentrated on remembering her title so that I could look it up later on the Internet.
I searched a little and found some limited information on her so that I had a basic understanding. Let’s just say that I was going through a very difficult trial in my family life at that time, and having newly decided to convert to Catholicism, I was experiencing family opposition to this decision. I was not yet knowledgeable enough to defend my new faith well, and all of these things made it a difficult time.
Anyway, shortly I had to go on a trip so I could not research more. During the trip, I faced a stressful situation. Later on the trip I saw a sign “Kateri shrine” along the highway. I had forgotten her name (besides the title Lily of the Mohawks), so I made no connection in my mind to the prior incident. I went to the shrine hoping it was a Catholic one, but I also remembered that Buddhists have shrines so I wasn’t sure what to expect. When I got there it was Kateri’s shrine of course, and after seeing some of the descriptions at the site, I remembered that it was her.
All of this to say that I believe she was praying for me without my even asking, and that is what first impressed me about her. Visiting that shrine brought so much comfort and peace in a tough time during my life. I think that perhaps she could empathize with me, as a fellow convert who also faced familial opposition. I also hope to join the Catholic religious sisterhood, and Kateri’s wish to do this and status as a consecrated virgin is another similar connection with me.
When trying to select a Patron Saint, I wavered back and forth between Kateri and St. Therese of Liseaux (since I had been reading Therese’s book). I prayed to God for direction then searched the Internet for guidance. I found the following site almost immediately, and it discusses Eastern Orthodox Saints, but I believe the principle applied to me.
Beliefnet Orthodox forum
Here is an excerpt, emphasis mine:
Katherine2001
11/11/2003 9:59 AM 2 out of 15
Judy, I definitely agree with you about St. Photini. If Katherine hadn’t chosen me, I probably would have chosen Photini as my patron saint (though I am not one bit sorry about choosing St. Katherine–when a saint is praying for you without your asking her to, I had to choose St. Katherine).
My answer here was that Kateri was praying for me (I believe) and sought me out before I even knew of her. Also, the woman’s name here is Katherine, of which Kateri is a derivative. Catherine (another derivative) is also a common name in my family, and significant to my heritage.
Some people believe that your birth name or “baptismal” name is a Saint that “chose you”, perhaps in the sense that you describe. I think that’s what this woman Katherine refers to, but Katherine is not my name. I just chose Kateri for other reasons.
I hope that my story showed you how God has blessed me with the acquaintance of Bl. Kateri.
God bless,
Lily628