patron saint
patron saint, saint who is chosen as the dedicated protector and intercessor of a person, a society, a church, an occupation, or a place. Their protection is typically based on some real or presumed relationship with the areas of life involved. St. Rose of Lima, for example, is the patron saint of Peru (and all of South America) because she was born in Lima. Another famous example is St. Patrick, a patron saint of Ireland. Although he was born in Britain, he is credited with bringing Christianity to the Irish people and is therefore revered throughout Ireland.
Although patron saints are commonly associated with Roman Catholicism, many other Christian churches, particularly Anglican and Eastern Orthodox churches, revere various patron saints.
Devotional practice and imagery
In Roman Catholicism a person often elects a personal patron saint to prepare for confirmation. During the confirmation rite, the confirmand takes the name of that saint as a “confirmation name” (i.e., as a middle name).
In devotional practice, a patron saint is called upon through prayer by someone who is seeking help or protection in some facet of life. In addition, images of patron saints on devotional items such as candles, prayer cards, or medals often include details that connect them to the area of life they represent. For example, images of St. Rose of Lima, who is also a patron of embroiderers, gardeners, and florists, typically show her with a crown of roses and bouquets of that flower. She is said to have worn a crown of roses or thorns, similar to Christ’s crown of thorns, for penance. Believed by some devotees to have been a recipient of stigmata (the wounds of Christ), Rose is also sometimes depicted with a bandage covering the wounds on her forehead.
Other examples of such telltale imagery include the broom shown with St. Martín de Porres, the patron saint of social justice (among other duties). His broom signifies his ready willingness to serve others. St. Jude, the patron saint of lost causes, is often depicted wearing green, which symbolizes hope, and having a “tongue of flame” above his head, which represents the Holy Spirit descending upon the Apostles following the Crucifixion, Resurrection, and Ascension of Jesus (Pentecost). Jude also usually holds a medallion that displays the face of Jesus, which symbolizes Christ as a healer.
Types of patron saints
All kinds of occupations, illnesses and conditions, hobbies and interests, identities, and life circumstances are represented by patron saints. Moreover, many places, persons, and areas of life have more than one patron representing them. St. Patrick is perhaps Ireland’s most famous patron saint, but the country is also represented by St. Brigid and St. Columba. Both St. Francis of Assisi and St. Kateri Tekakwitha are patron saints of ecology, and Francis is revered as the protector of all animals.
Indeed, many patron saints have more than one area of life that they protect, as in the examples of Rose of Lima, Francis of Assisi, or Brigid, who is also patron saint of midwives, babies, dairy farmers, and cattle, among others. Other animals that have a particular saint protecting them are cats, guarded by St. Gertrude of Nivelles, and dogs, protected by St. Rocco (also called St. Roch).
In some cultures national or local gods are the equivalent of patron saints. In China, Kuei Xing, the patron of scholars, reputedly passed his civil-service examination with great distinction and will assist others to do the same. Images often show him holding a writing brush to check off the most outstanding scholar candidates whose names are listed on a paper belonging to Yudi, the great Jade Emperor. In his left hand Kuei holds an official seal of a bushel basket to measure the talents of examinees.