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What
is a Patron Saint?
Patron
Saints are Saints that are admired as special protectors
or helpers. They can be for individuals, occupations,
cities, nations and even continents. People facing
particular problems may have a patron saint to help
them. Some people take a saint’s name at baptism
and confirmation and thereby receive that saint
as their patron saint.
Some
Occupations have patron saints, while others don’t.
Patron saints have been linked to special needs,
or ailments and just about everything under the
sun. Saint Joseph of Cupertino won the job as patron
saint of astronauts and pilots because one of his
spiritual gifts included flying to the ceiling of
his monastery. Some “special needs”
have patron saints, for example, St Camillus de
Lellis, a one-time compulsive gambler, and makes
a believable patron saint for gambling addicts.
Saint Peregrine suffered from Cancer for many years
and is the patron saint of this disease and many
others.
- Why
do we ask for help from the Saints?
Despite an old and persistent misunderstanding, we
do not worship the saints, God alone is worthy of
our worship and adoration. Saints are, however, worthy
of our honor as spiritual heroes or role models.
Think of saints as "friends" in heaven.
They delight in helping us when we ask them just
like our friends on earth do. The saints have long
provided comfort to people on earth. They can help
you find your lost glasses, your dream house or
even your soul mate. They can be invoked against
illness, pests, and twitching. Saints are heavenly
helpers. They assist us in our careers, in our personal
endeavors and especially in our struggles.
These heavenly friends are the kinds we would feel
comfortable calling at 3:00 a.m. for comfort, knowing
we will always get good advice and that we will
never be belittled for our fears.
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Which
Saint do we ask?
As explained above most saints are "patron"
saints of something. The possibilities are endless.
There are hundreds of books on this subject, and
also several websites. Our research department has
selected just a few for the Saint's Teddy Bear Company.
In the future we will be updating our current selection
and adding new Saint's Teddy Bears. If there is
a particular saint that is not currently on Saint's
Teddy Bears, just contact
us and we will do our best to fill your request.
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How
does someone become a Saint?
The person (who is deceased) is nominated though
the active and vocal devotion of a group of followers.
The fact that many official Saints were members
of religious orders does not mean that such people
are more holy than the general public, it simply
means that they had more influence with the people
who mattered within the church.
The
local bishop then appoints officials to collect
writings both by the person and about the person.
Witnesses give testimony about the person’s
life. Then the Vatican (a Catholic government official)
checks its archives to make sure there are no “black
marks” on the person’s record.
The
bishop then sends this testimony and other materials
collected to the Vatican’s Congregation of
Causes of Sainthood. Theologians (one who studies
religion) and the Promoter of the Faith judge the
material. It then goes to the Pope. If he approves
it, then the person is judged venerable (or found
to be of great respect).
A
person then must have a miracle attributed to them,
and the miracle must have occurred after they died.
Miracles while they were living don’t count.
Medical and theologians judge the evidence.
Once
the miracle is approved by the Pope and Cardinal,
the person is “beautified” (to declare
among the blessed in Heaven) by the Pope. Before
the person qualifies for official sainthood another
miracle is required.
