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Patron Saints

 

Since the Angels and Saints have a closer connection to God, we pray to them to intercede for us through their prayers.  We should also pray for other people, interceding on their behalf.  The Communion of Saints* refers to us all belonging to one family (Family of God) and that we need to love, help and pray for each other (whether we are in heaven, purgatory or on earth).

We honour the Saints by reserving a day on the calendar and calling it their Feast Day (the day they were admitted into heaven).  There are many Saints so one day in the Calendar may be the Feast Day for more than one Saint. Mary is the most venerated of Saints and we should pray to Her every day.  In Canon Francis Ripley's book "This Is The Faith", he states that "no grace descends to men except through the hands, that is the intercession of Mary."

It has been proven spiritually and scientifically that praying for others is beneficial - even if the person you are praying for does not know you are praying for them. Patron Saints are those Saints that have some type of connection to the individual(s). They are able to intercede on behalf of mankind in specific circumstances. St. Francis of Assisi is the Patron Saint of Animals and Ecology so an animal protection or nature group might choose St. Francis as their Patron Saint. Many Christians are named after a particular Saint. When the feast comes up in the Calendar of that Saint - it is said to be that person's "name day".

Calendar of Saints:

January  February  March  April  May  June

July  August  September  October  November  December

Steps to Sainthood:

Servant of God - A deceased Roman Catholic under consideration.

Venerable - a title given by the Catholic Church to holy men and women of "heroic virtue" who have not been beatified or canonized. Prayer cards and other materials may be printed to encourage the faithful to pray for a miracle wrought by his or her intercession as a sign of God's will that the person be canonized.

Beatification -  in order to beatify  an individual (give the title of Blessed), there had to be one posthumous miracle associated with them. A martyr or someone who has died for the faith need not have a miracle attributed to them. In order for a Blessed to become a Saint, they need to have a second miracle attributed to them.

Canonization - after the second miracle is investigated by the Church and the Devil's Advocate, and found to be genuine, the person is canonized (officially declared a Saint).

Both Blessed and Saint are in heaven and intercede for us before God.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

January

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February

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March

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April

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May

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June

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July

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August

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September

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October

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November

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December

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 references: *I Believe In God, The Apostles Creed by Fr. Lovasik, S.V.D. St. Catholic Book Publishing Company, copyright 1980. The directory of saints by Annette Sandoval copyright 1996

 

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