Patron saint
Encyclopedia
A patron saint is a saint
who is regarded as the intercessor and advocate in heaven of a nation, place, craft, activity, class, clan, family, or person. Patron saints, because they have already transcended to the metaphysical, are believed to be able to intercede effectively for the needs of their special charges.
Saints often become the Patron saints of places where they were born or had been active. However, there were cases in Medieval Europe where a city which grew to prominence and transferred to its cathedral the remains of a famous saint who had lived and was buried elsewhere, and made him or her the city's Patron saint - such a practice conferring considerable prestige on the city concerned. In Latin America
, Spanish and Portugese explorers often named location for the Saint on whose day the place was first visited - that Saint naturally becoming the Patron saint of a town or city which developed there.
Professions sometimes get a Patron saint who was himself or herself involved in that profession. Lacking such a saint, a profession would get a saint whose conspicuous acts or miracles in some way recall the profession. For example, when the hitherto unknown profession of photography
appeared in the 19th Century and needed a Patron saint, this role was assigned to Saint Veronica
. According to Christian tradition, Veronica gave Jesus
her veil to wipe his forehead as he was being taken to Golgotha and the image of his face became miraculously impressed upon it.
Saint
A saint is a holy person. In various religions, saints are people who are believed to have exceptional holiness.In Christian usage, "saint" refers to any believer who is "in Christ", and in whom Christ dwells, whether in heaven or in earth...
who is regarded as the intercessor and advocate in heaven of a nation, place, craft, activity, class, clan, family, or person. Patron saints, because they have already transcended to the metaphysical, are believed to be able to intercede effectively for the needs of their special charges.
Saints often become the Patron saints of places where they were born or had been active. However, there were cases in Medieval Europe where a city which grew to prominence and transferred to its cathedral the remains of a famous saint who had lived and was buried elsewhere, and made him or her the city's Patron saint - such a practice conferring considerable prestige on the city concerned. In Latin America
Latin America
Latin America is a region of the Americas where Romance languages – particularly Spanish and Portuguese, and variably French – are primarily spoken. Latin America has an area of approximately 21,069,500 km² , almost 3.9% of the Earth's surface or 14.1% of its land surface area...
, Spanish and Portugese explorers often named location for the Saint on whose day the place was first visited - that Saint naturally becoming the Patron saint of a town or city which developed there.
Professions sometimes get a Patron saint who was himself or herself involved in that profession. Lacking such a saint, a profession would get a saint whose conspicuous acts or miracles in some way recall the profession. For example, when the hitherto unknown profession of photography
Photography
Photography is the art, science and practice of creating durable images by recording light or other electromagnetic radiation, either electronically by means of an image sensor or chemically by means of a light-sensitive material such as photographic film...
appeared in the 19th Century and needed a Patron saint, this role was assigned to Saint Veronica
Saint Veronica
Saint Veronica or Berenice, according to the "Acta Sanctorum" published by the Bollandists , was a pious woman of Jerusalem who, moved with pity as Jesus carried his cross to Golgotha, gave him her veil that he might wipe his forehead...
. According to Christian tradition, Veronica gave Jesus
Jesus
Jesus of Nazareth , commonly referred to as Jesus Christ or simply as Jesus or Christ, is the central figure of Christianity...
her veil to wipe his forehead as he was being taken to Golgotha and the image of his face became miraculously impressed upon it.
Lists of patron saints
- Patron saints of ailments, illness and dangersPatron saints of ailments, illness and dangersA list of patron saints of ailments, illness and dangers:-A:*Abd-al-Masih - sterile women *Saint Abel - patron of the blind and the lame*Abhai - poisonous reptiles*Agapitus of Palestrina -invoked against colic*Agatha - breast cancer...
- Patron saints of occupations and activitiesPatron saints of occupations and activities-A:*Adrian of Nicomedia - arms dealers, butchers, guards, soldiers*Agatha - nurses, bellmaking*Albertus Magnus - natural scientists*Alexander of Comana - charcoal-burners*Alexius - nurses*Aloysius Gonzaga - children, Catholic students, Jesuit Scholastics...
- Patron saints of placesPatron saints of placesThis article features a list of patron saints of places by nation, region and town/city. If a place is not here it may be in Patronage of the Blessed Virgin Mary.- Supranational :*Benedict of Nursia – main patron saint of Europe*Bridget of Sweden – Europe...
See also
- Calendar of saintsCalendar of saintsThe calendar of saints is a traditional Christian method of organizing a liturgical year by associating each day with one or more saints and referring to the feast day of said saint...
- Guardian angelGuardian angelA guardian angel is an angel assigned to protect and guide a particular person or group. Belief in guardian angels can be traced throughout all antiquity...
- List of blesseds
- List of saints
- Saint symbologySaint symbologyChristianity has used symbolism from its very beginnings. Each saint has a story and a reason why he or she led an exemplary life. Symbols have been used to tell these stories throughout the history of the Church. A number of Christian saints are traditionally represented by a symbol or iconic...
- SlavaSlavaThe Slava , also called Krsna Slava and Krsno ime , is the Serbian Orthodox tradition of the ritual celebration and veneration of a family's own patron saint. The family celebrates the Slava annually on the patron saint's feast day...
- Tutelary deity