Catholic Saints & What They Represent

There are many saints. The lives of some saints are well-documented. However, there is no documentation at all for others. In some cases, it is doubtful that the saint ever lived at all. St. Christopher is an example of a persona that may have never really existed. For this reason, the Church downgraded St. Christopher to the status of legend. The patron saint of travelers, St. Christopher was invoked for protection against car accidents, lightning and pestilence, and for a holy death. Although St. Christopher is no longer considered an official saint, many believers still pray to him for his intercession and protection. Proof of the actual existence of some of the saints doesn’t seem to matter to those who continue to pray to them and seek their intercession.

Patron saints are associated with particular causes, professions and even countries. For example, St. Francis of Assisi and St. Martin de Porres are the patron saints of animals. St. Luke is the patron saint of artists, while St. Nicolas is the patron saint of brides. St. Lucy is the patron saint of eye disorders and St. Florian is the patron saint of firefighters.

St. James is the Patron of laborers and pilgrims to the Holy Land. He was also a great military patron of Spain and defender of the Christian Church. There is little reliable information about St. Agatha but it's believed she was born to a wealthy family in Sicily where she also died as a martyr.

St. Agatha is the patron saint of Palermo and Catania as well as the patron saint of nurses and miners. People invoke her protection against fire and volcanic eruptions, particularly Mt. Etna. St. James the Lesser, a disciple of Jesus, was persecuted for his faith and died a martyr.

He is the patron saint of dying people, pharmacists and the country of Uruguay. There are thousands of saints. Catholic Online provides a listing of the patron saints.

Some saints are more popular than others due to the acts they performed while they were alive. Saints that were apostles of Jesus during their lives performed miracles, such as healing the sick. St. Francis of Assisi, St. Teresa and St. Anthony are among the saints that are often prayed to for intercession.

One of the most beloved saints, St. Francis of Assisi is patron saint of the environment as well as animals.

St. Anthony of Padua performed many miracles and was known as a wonder worker.

The patron saint of horses, expectant mothers, barren women and harvests, he is often invoked for assistance in locating lost or misplaced objects.

St. Teresa of Avila, a Carmelite nun and Spanish mystic, is the patron saint of headaches, sick people and people in religious orders.

St. Expedite is the saint to call on when assistance can’t wait. He is the patron saint of speedy results.

Sainthood represents a lengthy process of investigation and canonization that can take many years after the person's death. Until 1234, there was no official process for becoming a saint. Typically, the Catholic Church declared martyrs and people who lived a holy life saints at the time of their death. After the process of canonization became official, a Church investigation became the procedure to determine if a person was worthy of sainthood. The investigation determines whether the person was martyred (died for his faith and love of Christ) and if he lived a life of virtue and heroism.

If the person did not die a martyr, he must be credited with a miracle. The Church examines whether the miracle was performed by God or occurred directly in response to the candidate's intercession. Once the candidate is beatified, a second miracle is required for canonization before the formal declaration of sainthood is made.