Patron Saints
What is a patron saint?
Patron saints are chosen as special protectors or guardians over areas of life. These areas can include occupations, illnesses, churches, countries, causes -- anything that is important to us. The earliest records show that people and churches were named after apostles and martyrs as early as the fourth century.
Recently, the popes have named patron saints but patrons can be chosen by other individuals or groups as well. Patron saints are often chosen today because an interest, talent, or event in their lives overlaps with the special area.
Angels can also be named as patron saints. A patron saint can help us when we follow the example of that saint's life and when we ask for that saint's intercessory prayers to God.
For example, Francis of Assisi loved nature and so he is patron of ecologists. Francis de Sales was a writer and so he is patron of journalists and writers. Clare of Assisi was named patron of television because one Christmas when she was too ill to leave her bed she saw and heard Christmas Mass -- even though it was taking place miles away.
B
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| Babies |
The Holy Innocents, Maximus, Nicholas of Tolentino, Philip of Zell |
| Bakers |
Elizabeth of Hungary, Nicholas of Myra, Honoratus |
| Bankers |
Matthew, Bernardino of Feltre |
| Banking |
Michael the Archangel |
| Barbers |
Cosmas and Damian, Louis, Martin de Porres |
| Barcelona, Spain |
Our Lady of Mercy |
| Bari, Italy |
Nicholas, Sabinus |
| Barra, Scotland |
Finbar |
| Barrel makers |
Abdon and Sennen |
| Barren women |
Anthony of Padua, Felicity |
| Basket makers |
Antony the Abbot |
| Battle |
Michael the Archangel |
| Baume-les-Messieurs |
Drogo |
| Bavaria |
Hedwig, Killian |
| Bee Keepers |
Ambrose |
| Begerin, Ireland |
Ibar |
| Beggars |
Alexius, Martin of Tours, Giles |
| Belgium |
Joseph |
| Bellmakers |
Agatha |
| Benedictine oblates |
Henry the Emperor |
| Benevento, Italy |
Arthelais, Barbatus of Benevento |
| Bergamo, Italy |
Alexander of Bergamo |
| Bergen, Norway |
Sunniva |
| Bible scholars |
Jerome |
| Birds |
Gall |
| Bishops of Latin America |
Turibius |
| Blind people |
Raphael the Archangel, Thomas, Apostle, Cosmas and Damian, Lucy |
| Blood banks |
Januarius |
| Blood donors |
Our Lady of the Thorns |
| Bodily ills |
Our Lady of Lourdes |
| Bohemia |
Joseph, Adalbert, John Nepomucene, Cyril and Methodius, Wenceslaus |
| Bolivia |
Francis Solano, Our Lady of Capucdana (Virgin de la Candelaria), Our Lady of Mt. Carmel, Virgin de la Candelaria, Virgin of Copacabana, La Virgen de Copacabana (Virgin of Copacabana) |
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| Bolivian navy |
Our Lady of Charity |
| Bologna, Italy |
Petronius |
| Bombay, India |
Gundisalvus Garcia |
| Book trade |
John of God |
| Bookbinders |
Celestine V (pope), John of God |
| Bookkeepers |
Matthew |
| Booksellers |
John of God, Thomas Aquinas |
| Bordeaux, France |
Simon Stock |
| Borneo |
Francis Xavier |
| Boston, Massachusetts, USA |
Botulph |
| Boy Scouts |
George |
| Boys, young |
Dominic Savio |
| Brazil |
Nossa senhora de Aparecida, Peter of Alcantara |
| Breast-feeding |
Basilissa, Giles |
| Brescia, Italy |
Faustinus |
| Brewers |
Augustine of Hippo, Luke, Nicholas of Myra, Amand, Wenceslaus |
| Bricklayers |
Stephen |
| Brides |
Nicholas of Myra |
| Bridges |
John Nepomucene |
| Brigands (danger from) |
Leonard of Noblac |
| Brittany |
Ivo of Kermartin |
| Broadcasters |
Gabriel the Archangel |
| Brussels |
Michael the Archangel |
| Builders |
Vincent Ferrer, Barbara, Thomas, Apostle |
| Building trade |
Stephen |
| Bulgaria |
Cyril and Methodius |
| Burgos, Spain |
Adelelmus |
| Bursars |
Joseph |
| Business people |
Homobonus |
| Businesswomen |
Margaret of Clitherow |
| Button makers |
Louis |
| Byzantine Eparchy of Van Nuys, Arizona, USA |
Holy Protection of the Mother of God |
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