How to Choose a Patron Saint
Individuals choose patron saints to serve as protectors or guardians in their lives. According to Catholic Online, you can choose a patron saint to help you with your job, protect or heal you from illness, keep you safe during travel and so on. For example, Saint Francis de Sales is the patron saint of writers because he was a writer. St. Mary Religious Education states when choosing a patron saint select one who represents something important to you and reflects your values.
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Instructions
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Follow the guidelines set by Pope Urban VIII in 1638. According to SQPN, Pope Urban VIII stated to choose the national patron saint, a saint who died in the worshiper's area or visited the worshiper's area in the past as a personal patron saint. If a church has a patron saint buried on the grounds or a saint's relic in its possession, you can also choose that holy person as a patron saint.
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Research the different saints and their causes. You can find information about patron saints on religious websites and in books. Catholic Forum suggests learning about the lives of different saints so you can find one whom you relate to or one with an interesting story.
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Find a patron saint that had similar interests as you. Domestic Church states there are patron saints for different occupations and interests. For example, Saint Vitus is the protector of comedians and Saint Clare of Assisi is the protector of television watchers. According to the Star Quest Production Network (SQPN), there are saints who represent different countries and cities, and saints who had special gifts such as the ability to levitate, be in two places at once (bi-locate) or the gift of healing.
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Learn more about the patron saints based on a religious calendar. Study a religious calendar to see if there are feasts celebrated in honor of a patron saint on your birthday or another important day, such as a wedding anniversary. Do this to help narrow your choices.
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Tips & Warnings
The guidelines set by Pope Urban VIII are only suggestions for choosing a patron saint.
When choosing a patron saint's name for Confirmation, Word Bytes states it is okay for a person to choose a saint of the opposite gender.
Catholic Forums states there are patron saints against spousal abuse, stiff joints, scabs, rats, procrastination, migraines and losing keys. There are also saints for button makers, impossible causes, skaters, country girls, cats, job hunters and more.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit saint image by DOLPHIN from Fotolia.com
