My notes on possibly helpful Saints…

·      St. Lucy – “Lucia” luce = light. Invoked against eye trouble. Often depicted holding her eyes on a plate. RC legend that her eyes were put out by a tyrant. Dante made her the symbol of illuminating grace.

·      St. Zita – Patron of Servants – A servant herself – who used to give her own food (and later her master’s) to the poor … who was lent her master’s fur coat one Xmas Eve to go to Church in, on a freeing night – only to give it to a freezing, coatless beggar outside the church (“the Angel Door”). But later that night a mysterious stranger returned it to her master.

·      St. Joseph – Saint of Silence, Patron of Patience; father of Jesus; Patron of Refugees; also of ill people (Notre Dame); model of faith—humility, prudence.

·      St. Christopher – Patron of Travellers.

·      St. Jude – The Saint of Last Resort; Saint of the Impossible; Saint of Desperate Cases. So close to Christ—cousin of Christ, says one book; one of the Apostles.

·      St. Frances of Rome – “It is most laudable in a married woman to be devout but she must never forget that she is a housewife. And sometimes she must leave God at the later to find him in her housekeeping.”

·      St. Monica – mother of St. Augustine, one of the father’s of the Western Church.

·      St. John of God – Patron of the sick and of all who take care of the sick. Portuguese. Kidnapped as a child – later a shepherd. Joined an army, abandoned his faith, forgot moral law. Got really sick – reformed and took to taking care of the sick.

·      St. John the Apostle – Beloved of Christ – 4^th book New Testament. “Woman, behold thy Son” and “Behold thy mother.”

·      St. Agnes – helps all those who want to remain pure.

·      St. Anthony of Padua – Patron for lost articles and small requests.

·      St. Bede – Writer saint. Talents only loaned.

·      St. Bernard – Patron of Skiers and mountain climbers.

·      St. Blaise – The blessing of throats.

·      St. Fracre – Patron of gardeners. Shrines in backyard gardens. Cures. Louis XIV; Louis XIII.

·      St. Francis of Assisi – Poverty, no fear.

·      St. Francis de Sales – “God and I wil help you. All I require of you is not to despair.”

·      St. Jean Vianney – Ptaron of parish priests and of parishes. Confessions.

·      St. Luke – Patron of doctors.

·      St. Maurice – Patron of infantry soldiers.

·      St. Mechiades – Second of 3 black popes. c. 331.

·      St. Noel Chabanel – Canada – Algonquin first nations. Total resignation to the divine will.

·      St. Pambo – Discipline of the tongue and sanctity of silence.

Married Saints:

·      St. Jutta – patroness of Prussia – saw all her children join religious groups before setting off herself. Widowed young. painful illness/self-poverty/exile foreign country. Three ways lead a person closer to God.

·      St. Elizabeth of Hungary – Queen of Hungary (and her aunt, St. Hedwig, ditto) – Married Louis of Bavaria – happy marriage 6 yrs., had children – then he died. She gave away castle funds to the poor. Provided for her 3 children, then renounced the world completely. Died 3 years later, still in her 20s.

·      St. Bridget of Sweden – Had 8 children with Ulf. Her daughter, Catherine, also later became a Saint.

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