Sainthood refers to a person who lived a holy life and was credited with at least one miracle after death. Only the person who has been formally canonized can intercede with God on behalf of humans; one through whom divine power is made manifest. The canonization process may take up to centuries and goes through a long investigation of evaluation and revalidation. The canonization of a saint turns the decease’s body and personal objects holy relics displayed in altarpieces. Each saint is associated with a set of symbols connected to their miracles and symbols are means to identify specific saints. Patron saints are often chosen because of an interest, talent, or event in their lives and the faithful are encouraged to emulate the protector’s life. Each saint is officially commemorated with a feast day.
The Archangels: Saints Michael and Raphael/San Miguel y San Rafael
Feast day: September 29, Saint Michael; October 24, Saint Raphael
Saint Michael: Patron of the sick, radiologists, grocers, mariners, police officers, paratroopers, cemeteries, and the sick. Invoked in times of temptation and at the moment of death.
Saint Raphael: Patron of travelers, physicians, nurses, lovers, health inspectors, and the sightless. Invoked in illness, mainly illness related to sight.
Essay by Jillian Franzen
Saint Joseph / San José
Feast day: March 19
Patron of the Universal Church and the Discalced Carmelite Order, and a model husband, father, and worker. Protector of artisans, carpenters, laborers, the homeless, and those seeking a home.
Invoked for safe refuge in times of spiritual and physical danger.
Essay by Karen S. Billings
Saint Anthony of Padua / San Antonio de Padua
Feast Day: June 13
Patron of shipwrecked people, sterile and pregnant women, and women seeking husbands. Special patron of sailors and fishermen throughout Portugal, Italy, and Spain. Patron saint of Padua, Italy.
Invoked for aid in finding lost objects.
Essay by Karen S. Billings
Saint Jerome, Doctor / San Jerónimo, Doctore
Feast day: September 30
Patron of book editors, translators, librarians, scholars, philosophers.
Invoked for protection against temptation.
Essay by Jillian Franzen
Saint Isidore, the Laborer / San Isidro, Labrador
Feast day: May 15
Patron of farmers. Invoked for good weather and harvest. He is also the patron saint of Zacatecas, Madrid and the National Rural Conference in the United States (as per 1947).
Essay by Dr. Elizabeth Zarur
Saint Camillus de Lellis / San Camilo de Lelis
Feast day: July 18
Patron of hospitals, nurses, and the sick. Popularly, he is the patron saint of gamblers and is also invoked for a happy death.
Essay by Yael Cano
Saint Francis of Paola / San Francisco de Paula
Feast day: April 2
Patron of naval officers, navigators, maritime pilots, and anyone generally associated with the seas. Invoked for protection against flames and shipwrecks.
Essay by Paris Bowers
Saint Vincent Ferrer / San Vincente Ferrer
Feast day: April 5t
Patron of the Archdiocese of Valencia, Spain, and of Spanish orphans, fishermen, builders, and prisoners.
Invoked when in dire need of saving, protection, and guidance.
Essay by Alex Nipper
Saint Aloysius Gonzaga / San Luis Gonzaga
Feast day: June 21
Patron of the Roman Catholic youth and young students
Invoked in time of illness, plague, and when near death
Essay by Alex Nipper
San Raymond Nonnatus / San Ramón Nonato
Feast day: August 31
Patron of mid-wives, pregnant women, unborn children, and women in labor.
Invoked in Mexico for silence and protection against curses.
Essay by Carolyn Christensen
Saint Rita (or Margarida) of Cascia / Santa Rita (o Margarita) de Cascia
Feast day: May 22
Patroness of impossible causes, childhood sickness, infertility, loneliness, abuse victims, widowhood, physical illness, wounds, sterility, marital complications and parenthood; considered to be a model for married women.
Essay by Carolyn Christensen
Saint Rosalia / Santa Rosalia
Feast Day: July 14 (celebration); September 4 (Pilgrimage)
Patron Saint of Palermo, Italy; Sicilian Mariners, and protector from plagues
Other Names: La Santuzza (the Little Saint)
Essay by Yael Cano
Saint Helen / Santa Elena
Feast day: August 18
Patron of Converts and the Divorced
Essay by Paris Bowers
Saint Wilgefortis, Virgin and Martyr / Santa Librada o Liberata, Virgen y Mártir
Feast day: July 20
Patroness of laundresses
Invoked during moments of distress and headache.
Essay by Carolyn Christensen
Souls in Purgatory / Las Ánimas del Purgatorio
Feast day: All Souls day is celebrated on November 2.
Patron Saints: Our Lord of Mercy, as well as the thirteenth-century saints Augustinian priest Nicholas of Tolentino and the Benedictine nun St. Gertrude, the Great are invoked to pray for the Souls lost in purgatory.
Invoked by those who have lost loved ones.
Essay by Alex Nipper