In Catholicism, what can the Saints be patrons of?
score:6
A search of the Catechism, as well as of the Vatican website and of the Catholic Encyclopedia article, do not reveal any particular official protocol to decide whether a given saint is to be considered a patron saint, and of what.
Searching through the Vatican's website for the term "patron saint" yields a number of references to patron saints, including at least one document officially establishing a saint (Thomas More) as patron saint of a profession or class (statesmen). This document is a motu proprio, issued by the Pope on his own initiative, though in this case at least he was impelled by requests from others:
Recently, several Heads of State and of Government, numerous political figures, and some Episcopal Conferences and individual Bishops have asked me to proclaim Saint Thomas More the Patron of Statesmen and Politicians. Those supporting this petition include people from different political, cultural and religious allegiances, and this is a sign of the deep and widespread interest in the thought and activity of this outstanding Statesman.
(E Sancti Thomae Mori section 1)
It appears then that no particular protocol is required beyond the interest of the faithful and the decision of the Pope, or (in cases of older saints especially) simply a tradition of associating saints with particular causes.
As one reads through lists of patron saints, one does notice certain patterns occur. Saints are often declared patrons of:
- locations (real or virtual): e.g. St. Mark as the patron of Venice, Italy; or Our Lady of Guadalupe as the patron saint of the United States; or Isidore of Seville as the patron saint of the Internet
- occupations or professions: St. Thomas More, patron saint of politicians; the Blessed Virgin as patron saint of sailors (from her title "Stella Maris": "Star of the Sea")
- groups of people in general: St. Stanislaus Kostka as patron saint of the young; Our Lady of Loreto (and Saint Padre Pio), patron saint of air travelers
- people with specific illnesses or disabilities: St. Dymphna as patron saint of those with epilepsy; St. Damien of Molokai as patron saint of those with leprosy
Continuing through your list: the only "patron saint of relationships" I could find are Saints Joachim and Ann, parents of the Blessed Virgin and patron saints of parents. Saint Francis of Assisi is patron saint, not of animals but of ecology and ecologists. (St. Felix of Nola is apparently the patron saint of lost pets. Keep that in mind.)
Similarly, Saint Christopher is still the patron saint of travelers, though the Church admits he probably didn't exist (!!).
In terms of holidays—or holy days—those are specifically dedicated to God, or to one or more saints; but the respective saints are not called "patron saints" of those days.
Generally speaking, though, it appears that there are no particular restrictions on what saints may or may not be patrons of, nor any authoritative teaching on the subject.
More post
- 📝 When God creates each individual soul, is it without original sin at that moment?
- 📝 Was the Gathering Relics of Holy Men in 1st Century common in the Early Church?
- 📝 Why are the Psalms numbered this way in some Catholic Bibles?
- 📝 Did CS Lewis see 'pleasure' as being the purpose of our existence?
- 📝 Which, if any, of the seven Church Councils viewed as "Ecumenical" by Eastern Orthodox Christians are rejected by the Roman Catholic Church?
- 📝 Is there a difference of substance between the veneration of Mary, and the worship of God?
- 📝 How many Christian denominations are there?
- 📝 What is the basis of the view that Jesus was separated from the Father and Holy Spirit upon death?
- 📝 How would I juxtapose between the unity of God (Shema) in Deuteronomy 6.4 and the concept of Trinity in the Old Testament
- 📝 What is the sacramental principle at work with Anointing of the Sick?
- 📝 Can an Orthodox Christian of one diocese receive sacraments at a coterminous one, e.g. a Greek Orthodox at an OCA parish?
- 📝 When did the pronunciation of "Jesus" change?
- 📝 Can the Pope speak ex cathedra about the return of Christ?
- 📝 "Truth Matters 2013: Strange fire" conference" - What does the biblical term "strange fire" signify about the Charismatic movement?
- 📝 Were priests just dressed in secular garb in the early church?
- 📝 How do devils know what God permits in their doings? (Catholic perspective)
- 📝 Catholic Encyclicals/Bulls in Which Jews and Freemasons are Mentioned?
- 📝 Why does Infant Jesus wear a big crown in pictures?
- 📝 Do Mormons secretly pray about you and then consider you included in their church?
- 📝 Are there multiple levels to Heaven, for different levels of reward?
- 📝 What is the role of the British monarch?
- 📝 Where did Jesus go and what did he do between His Death and Resurrection?
- 📝 New Age Movement
- 📝 Why would Catholics believe that being kind to one's father will bring reparation for sins?
- 📝 Is there a difference between "co-redeemer" and "co-redemptrix"?
- 📝 What evidence is there that the genealogies in the early part of Genesis refer to tribes instead of individuals?
- 📝 From a LDS perspective, when does the Holy Ghost get a Physical Body?
- 📝 Why do Filipino Catholics have a harder time to get a church annulment?
- 📝 Could you add in romans.8:1 "made righteous" either just before "in Christ" or after "in Christ"?
- 📝 What is meant by "God is Omnipotent"?
Source: stackoverflow.com
Search Posts
Related post
- 📝 In Catholicism, what can the Saints be patrons of?
- 📝 How can the Son not know what the Father knows?
- 📝 What is the Biblical basis for saying that wives can divorce their physically abusive husbands?
- 📝 What is the basis for the claim that the entire New Testament can be reconstructed apart from original and copied manuscripts?
- 📝 What is the basis for the belief by some groups that a Christian can live a sinless life?
- 📝 What does "the saints are not keepers of the law, but legislators" mean?
- 📝 What is the scriptural basis for the idea that salvation can still be obtained after death?
- 📝 If we want to know what the Bible says about an issue, what methods can help us to find all the relevant scriptures?
- 📝 Why do Latter-day Saints believe that the US Constitution is divinely inspired and what does that mean?
- 📝 According to reformed theology, who or what will the saints reign over in eternity?
- 📝 According to reformed theology, who or what will the saints reign over during the millenium?
- 📝 Can a priest give a Mass in American Sign Language (ASL)? What does he do when he is supposed to lift up the Eucharist while speaking in ASL?
- 📝 What does the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints teach about who Jesus is and where He came from?
- 📝 What is the biblical basis for the doctrine that salvation can be lost?
- 📝 What was the main reason for excluding 35 latest names from the list of recognized saints by ROC?
- 📝 What sins can be absolved only by a bishop in the Roman Catholic Church?
- 📝 What was the pre-Babel language and what can be said about the mechanism used to confuse the languages?
- 📝 What is the significance of dead saints being resurrected to life at the crucifixion of Jesus?
- 📝 What is The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints view of historical-critical methods?
- 📝 What is the Catholic Church's view of Anne Catherine Emmerich - can her visions and prophecies be trusted?
- 📝 What is the name of this fragment? Where can I find more?
- 📝 What Scripture passages do Latter-day Saints use to refute the Trinity?
- 📝 What is the biblical & patristic basis for the belief that the saints go to Heaven instead of Sheol after the resurrection and ascension of Jesus?
- 📝 What biblical/traditional elements lead Catholics to believe that saints can hear our prayers?
- 📝 What plausible explanation can we find for the points of contact between Moses in the Pearl of Great Price and the Book of Enoch?
- 📝 What is the highest position a married man can achieve in the Catholic church?
- 📝 According to Catholicism, can the saints be given the title "co-mediator of Grace"?
- 📝 What Biblical support for praying to the saints is usually cited by those Christians who practice that?
- 📝 What is the Biblical basis for asserting that infants can have faith in Christ under a Calvinistic framework?
- 📝 What is the Biblical basis that individual gifts can be revoked by God?