Patron Saints
We all know that the Church has declared certain saints to be patrons for specific causes. Did you lose something? Check with St. Anthony! Got eye problems? Call St. Lucy! Traveling somewhere? St. Christopher will guide you!
Many times people also find it spiritually fruitful to invoke a general patron saint upon their lives. A first or middle name often initiates this friendship, but not always. I claim a number of patrons who have helped me along the way. St. Michael (first name), St. Lawrence (middle name), St. Anthony of Padua (childhood parish), St. Maria of Jesus (long story), Ven. Bruno (longer story) and others! It is always a delight when these personal patrons show up unexpectedly, through a random prayer card, conversation, feast day, or any other number of ways. It is helpful also to ask their assistance when beginning a time of personal prayer or doing a work.
Do you have a personal patron saint? As Jesus says to the Sadducees who questioned him about the resurrection, “God is not the God of the dead but of the living.” God invites us into relationship with Himself and others, that we may be perfectly one. Isn’t it great to overcome the limits of space and time by having real friendship with saints? All you holy men and women, pray for us!
