Everything about Patron Saint totally explained
In those denominations of
Christianity that believe in the
intercession of saints, the
patron saint of a particular group of people is a
saint who has special affinity for that group and its members. Prayers by such people are considered more likely to be answered by their patron saint. Some consider it a special devotion to God by displaying humility in asking a saint for intercession rather than expecting to be answered themselves, calling to mind
Job 42:8
, which implies God's favour to the virtuous.
Known saints
For example,
Saint Christopher is generally thought of as the patron saint of travellers.
Saint Patrick is the patron saint of
Ireland and the
Irish, as well as of the profession of engineering, and
Saint James the Great is the patron of
rheumatics and of
Spain.
Eastern Orthodoxy generally similarly associates saints with places, occupations and activities, but to a much lesser degree, and usually that association takes place locally. The "Three Hierarchs", for instance (
Basil the Great,
Gregory of Nazianzus and
John Chrysostom), are the traditional patron saints of education in the Orthodox world,
St. Nicholas the patron saint of
Russia,
St. Demetrius the patron saint of the city of
Thessaloníki, etc. Association with a particular area or profession can be found with
tutelary deities from other religions as well.
St. Lawrence is the Patron Saint of
cooks, so bestowed because he himself was roasted alive by the Romans who prosecuted him.
The
feast day associated with a saint is often marked by those who have the saint as patron; this is especially the case with a national patron, whose feast day may be a
public holiday. In some cases the celestial patronage isn't assigned to a canonised person, but to a liturgical feast and/or (often associated) aspect of God or the Virgin Mary which is held in similar reverence (though unlike a saint it can't actually intercede with God), such as:
Certain patron saints have only a nominal relationship with the trade or group that they represent, as is the case with
Saint George of
England.
Saint Fiacre is the patron saint of
taxi drivers, supposedly because the first
hansom cabs in Paris were hired outside the Hotel Saint-Fiacre and, indeed, were known as
fiacres.
Criticism
Some
Protestant Christian denominations regard the belief in patron saints as latent
polytheism and
heresy. The belief in a patron saint for certain things is a reminder of the pagan gods and goddesses, they say, and is in their view condemned by the Bible. A common misconception (even among Catholics) is that one prays to these saints instead of directly to
Jesus or God, the Father. In fact, Catholics don't pray to a saint as if the saint himself can directly help them. One asks a saint to pray with or for you. The idea is that it's better to have multiple people praying for the same thing (for example the Catholic Mass). This misconception has resulted in many Protestant and other groups to believe that praying with saints is a serious act of
blasphemy.
These denominations refer, among others, to
1 Timothy 2:5 states that "there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus". The defenders of the intercession of saints refer at the same time to
Paul who asks for prayer repeated in his epistles, showing that individuals can mediate for one another. Also, in
Revelation, particularly chapter 8 verse 3 it can be seen that the prayers of saints are offered to God via an angel.
Catholics, Eastern Orthodox Christians and some Protestant denominations view saints as heroes of virtue and draw inspiration from their lives. Additionally, saints are sometimes considered as people who, while they've passed from this life, are already enjoying eternal life as promised by Jesus in the
New Testament. As with all those who have entered heaven they're still members of the Church and thus are still capable of praying on petitioners' behalf.
Lists of patron saints
Patron saints of occupations and activities
Patron saints of ailments, illness and dangers
Patron saints of places
Patronage of the Blessed Virgin MaryFurther Information
Get more info on 'Patron Saint'.
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