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The following is a post from contributing writer Dianna Kennedy.
One of my favorite things about being Catholic is our treasury of saints. Countless men and women have gone on before us, struggled with some of the same vices, and gone on to be models of our Catholic faith. They’ve finished their time on Earth, and are now prayer warriors in Heaven.
Think of them as Church Alumni — they’ve been through the battle and now serve on the advisory board!
Who are my go-to saints? Folks that I turn to again and again? Prayer warriors who will understand my trials? Here’s my personal favorites list, along with resources to share them with your family.
1. Mary
I’ve loved Our Lady long before I was officially Catholic. She goes by many titles, but I tend to picture her as Our Lady of Grace – quiet, serene, and approachable.
She is my model for Catholic marriage and motherhood, even though I’m sure she thinks I’m incorrigable most days.
Get your little ones involved with saying the Rosary while you make this pipe cleaner Rosary craft.
2. St Joseph
Papa Joe is certainly a model for men as fathers and providers for their homes, but I look to him as well for a sense of strength and trust in God’s plan.
He packed up his family and moved to Egypt in the middle of the night, following God’s orders relayed by an angel. Joseph serves as a provider and protector to his family, while staying loyal to God. Quite simply, he put his faith and family first.
Lacy at Catholic Icing has a lovely lily craft for you and your little ones to make before praying St Joseph’s novena in March.
3. St Ann
My grandmothers are especially dear to me, so it’s no surprise that I have a special place in my heart for the grandmother of Our Lord.
St Ann is considered the patron saint of women in labor and Christian mothers. You’ll often see her mentioned with her husband St Joachim.
Poor St Anthony . I ask him for help at least twice a week — you know the ditty.
“Tony, Tony, look around, something’s missing and can’t be found.”
Our dear St Anthony is much more than the finder of lost articles. He was a dynamic speaker and had a gift for explaining the Gospel to even the most uneducated folks.
5. St Patrick
I married a man of Irish heritage, so it only makes sense that St. Patrick is well known in the Kennedy household.
Saint Patrick’s Day is more than just a reason to eat corned beef and cabbage and drink green beer. We celebrate the man who followed God’s plan for his life, and helped bring Christianity to Ireland.
Don’t miss my Saint Patrick’s Day pinboard, filled with ideas for Saint Patrick’s Day crafts and celebrations.
6. St Gianna Beretta Molla
I wear many hats – writer, homeschool mother, and I also work outside the home as an emergency room nurse. St. Gianna was a pediatrician and mother, choosing to save the life of her unborn child during a complicated pregnancy. She died shortly after the birth of her fourth child, leaving behind an amazing pro-life legacy.
She is known as the patron saint of the unborn, mothers, physicians, and those suffering from infertility.
7. St. Martha
Do you ever find yourself wanting to grumble while working away in the kitchen? St. Martha, of course, famously did just that. While she was doing what a good hospitable woman of her time would do, she didn’t have a servant’s heart at that moment, and that’s where her trouble started. How often do you find yourself lacking that servant’s heart too?
You can lean on St. Martha and pray for a cheerful servant’s heart and for correct priorities, just as she later dropped everything she was doing to run out and greet Jesus when he arrived after Lazarus had died. We can ask St. Martha to pray that we can find that same priority to drop everything to greet Jesus.
8. St Michael
As Christians, we’re engaged in spiritual warfare. Satan attacks the family, first and foremost, trying to destroy the domestic church.
St Michael is one of our defenders against the Enemy.
Want a spiritual role model for your boys? Look no further than this warrior for Christ.
9. St Monica
Those close to me know that despite how full my life seems, there’s an empty spot, too. My oldest daughter moved in with her father when my twins were small, and it broke my heart.
St Monica knows the pain of a wayward child – she prayed for St Augustine for years before he became one of the greatest saints of our Church.
She’s the patron saint of mothers, wives, abuse victims and alcoholics.
10. St Elizabeth Ann Seton
Mother Seton was the first American born saint of our Catholic Church. She was born to an upper crust New York family but lived a simple life. After marrying her husband William, the young couple cared for William’s siblings after William’s father died.
They moved to Italy with hopes of improving William’s health and shoring up a sagging shipping business, but William died, leaving Elizabeth a widow.
She had made many Catholic friends in Italy, and converted to the Catholic faith when she returned to the US. She established the first free Catholic school for girls in the United States, thus creating the model for the parochial school system. She later when on to establish a religious community – the Sisters of Charity of St Joseph.
As a teacher, she’s a saint I often call on when I’m having trouble dealing with my little students.
Want more information on the lives of the saints? I love A Book of Saints for Catholic Moms, and I pin my favorite resources to my Adventures in Faith board.
What about you? Have I mentioned your favorite saint? Did I leave your favorite off the list? Be sure and share your thoughts in the comments.
I’ll be linking up to Sunday Snippets, Top Ten Tuesdays, Titus 2sday, Domestically Divine Tuesdays, Word Filled Wednesdays, Women in the Word Wednesdays and more!
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Dianna is the Catholic homeschooling mother of five, over at The Kennedy Adventures. You’ll find her writing about homeschooling, living her faith and trying to stay fit, all while managing a large family. Head over and connect with her on Facebook, Twitter or Pinterest. You can also find her writing for The Homeschool Classroom and New Evangelizers.
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Great list! The saints on it are some of my best friends. I even named a son Seton and a daughter Gianna, and all of my daughters have some form of Mary in their names (Mary, Marie, and Guadalupe so far). It is so important to remember that the saints are “on our side” and are there for us in a very real way.
Thanks so much, Bridget!
Great List! Don’t forget St. John Bosco! He is a great helper!
God Bless!
Theresa
Awesome! Keep the ideas coming!
I pray to these especially St. Anne when my daughter was born 3 months premature. I also prayed to St. Rita. She is now 12 with NO medical issues or learning disabilities. In fact she was in the gifted program for several years. Also St. Joseph of Cupertino during exams!
And St. Jude as well!!
The Holy Spirit is on your list–Its not a saint but a maker of Saints
Great list! I would also include St. Therese, the Little Flower, who not only created the Little Way, but struggled with it every day, just like we moms do sometimes with our daily tasks! I also invoke her mother, Blessed Zelie Martin. Beatified along with her husband Louis in 2008, Zelie was a loving mother and a beautiful example on earth of Christ’s love for humanity: an unselfish woman who practiced charity toward her neighbor, love for the Church, a life of hard work, and lived her short life with a spirit of faith. She owned a successful lacemaking business and with the money she earned, Zelie helped out her poor neighbors all of the time, sending them money and homemade stew. She also taught her daughters (Therese among them), not only charity to the suffering poor, but to show them respect. I really feel a connection to the mother of my sister in Heaven, St. Therese!
St, Philomena!
Saint Philomena and Saint Joan of Arc are my favorites!!
Sts. Zelie and Justin Martin were phenomenal examples of Catholic marriage and parenthood!
Forgive me, Louis Martin!
Your list is perfect. Mine is a little longer with St. Therese, St. Rita, and St Jude and St. Elizabeth of Hungary, patron Saint of Social Workers. But here in Australia we have our own St. Mary McKillop who founded our first order of St. Joseph Nuns. She traveled about the south eastern parts of Australia, visiting the poor, educating children. She was even ex communicated for some years. Her trust in God was complete.