Patron Saints in the Catholic Church: What They Are and How to Grow Closer to Yours!
Written by catholicradio on February 7, 2025
In preparation for the sacrament of Confirmation, it is customary for candidates to choose a patron saint who has either impacted them or who they admire. Although it fell out of practice for some time, Catholic children’s first and/or middle names were taken after a Saint, as well.
The Catholic Church Does Not “Make Saints”
Today’s media talks about how the Catholic Church makes Saints, but that is untrue. On the contrary, the process to sainthood conducted by the Church is to determine if God has granted the eternal reward of heaven to an individual. (This means a person is already in heaven and not in the purification of purgatory.)
Patron Saints in the Catholic Church
Patron Saints are canonized Saints who are associated with intercession and/or protection on behalf of:
- People of a particular occupation, vocation, or job
- Special situations or illnesses (traveling, cancer, etc.)
- Locations (a church, city, or country)
Why Do Catholics Have Patron Saints?
As mentioned above, Patron Saints are chosen by Confirmation candidates, and customarily before someone is baptized. Further, a person can find a patron at any time in life. This pious practice:
- Provides a spiritual mentor to emulate in prayer, deeds, and virtue.
- Encourages perseverance in difficulties.
- Can inspire fervor and inspiration to grow in holiness.
Patron Saints are not magic genies who grant wishes, but their closeness to God in Heaven makes their prayers on our behalf more efficacious. They can become our spiritual friends.
5 Ways You Can Discover a Patron Saint
- Ask the Holy Spirit for guidance, then pay attention. You may hear a Saint mentioned in passing, receive something in the mail, hear something on the radio, or notice a statue. Some people say their Saint “found them”!
- Peruse a book of Saints for ideas and inspiration. If you don’t have one at home, they are typically available at your local library and bookstore. You can also search online to purchase one from Catholic publishers like:
- Explore a webpage dedicated to Saints.
- Print a list of Saints, cut them into strips, and prayerfully pick one as a companion for the year.
- Have a Saint randomly chosen for you online.
- Read the Saint of the Day, listen for it on Catholic radio, or perhaps find Saint feast days on a Church calendar from your parish.
Ways to Draw Closer to Your Patron Saint
After you have a new Patron Saint, how can you get acquainted? Below are some suggestions. You don’t have to engage in all these things. Start with one idea and move on from there.
- Talk to your Patron Saint. All relationships require communication to flourish. Call your Saint to mind, especially during tasks or in situations that a Saint is known for assisting.
- Ask for his or her intercession as you would a friend or family member. You may even choose to pray a novena to your Saint.
- Read or listen to a biography of your Saint. Choose a young adult version if you don’t want to slog through a long work.
- Study your Saint’s writings. Some Saints began religious orders, were teachers, or Doctors of the Church. Their words are timeless.
- Pray the prayers your Patron Saint composed. You will discover not only the thoughts and concerns of your Saint, but what fortified him or her to live a life of virtue.
- Discover your Saint’s feast day and celebrate it! You may choose to attend Mass that day. You can honor your Saint in a special way by preparing a special food or performing a charitable act to imitate your Saint’s holiness.
- If it’s possible, make a pilgrimage to a shrine dedicated to your Saint, or visit a local church named after your Saint if that is possible. When traveling, ask your Saint to accompany you and pray that you experience a blessed time with God.
- Keep holy reminders around your home or office. Not only are there saint medals, but keychains, statues, and myriad other household items that you can purchase to accompany your devotion.
You can find such products at EWTN Religious Catalogue, the Catholic Company, Autom, and other Catholic websites.
During different seasons of your life, you may find various Saints entering and exiting, much the same way people do over the years. As time goes on, your “brother and sister Saints” can become an important part of your spiritual family.
The Saints Are Part of the Church Triumphant
The Communion of Saints is a doctrine of the Church. The Church Militant on earth, the Church Suffering in purgatory, and the Church Triumphant (the angels and Saints) are all connected in a circle of unity and prayer.
Catholic radio can teach you more about the Saints and even introduce you to some you haven’t heard of.
You can listen online to one of our five livestreams, find your local station, or download our free app for Apple and Android.
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