Catholics have a patron saint for almost everything: not only for countries and professions, but for the internet, exams, toothaches, bad weather and television. Some patronages were declared by popes; many grew from a saint’s life story or an old legend. Below are the patron saints people ask about most often that don’t fit the usual lists, with how each came to be a patron and a few honest answers to the funnier questions (is there really a patron saint of liars?).
Technology and modern life
| Patron of | Saint | Feast | Why |
|---|---|---|---|
| The internet and computers | St. Isidore of Seville | April 4 | He compiled an encyclopedia of all known knowledge (popular proposal, not official) |
| Gamers and young internet users | St. Carlo Acutis | October 12 | A teenager who loved video games and built a website on Eucharistic miracles (popular devotion) |
| Television | St. Clare of Assisi | August 11 | Named by Pope Pius XII in 1958: when ill, she saw and heard Christmas Mass on the wall of her room |
| Air travelers and astronauts | St. Joseph of Cupertino | September 18 | Famous for being lifted from the ground in prayer |
| Motorists | St. Frances of Rome | March 9 | Named by Pope Pius XI in 1925; tradition says her guardian angel lit her way at night |
See St. Carlo Acutis prayer and the Catholic travel prayer.
School, exams and work
| Patron of | Saint | Feast | Why |
|---|---|---|---|
| Exams and test takers | St. Joseph of Cupertino | September 18 | He struggled at his studies but passed his examinations for the priesthood |
| Students | St. Thomas Aquinas | January 28 | The great teacher of the Church; see the St. Thomas Aquinas prayer |
| Teachers | St. John Baptist de La Salle | April 7 | Founder of the Christian Brothers; named patron of teachers by Pius XII in 1950 |
| Lawyers | St. Thomas More; St. Ivo of Kermartin | June 22; May 19 | A lawyer and martyr; a judge who defended the poor |
| Police officers | St. Michael the Archangel | September 29 | Defender against evil; see the St. Michael prayer |
| Altar servers | St. John Berchmans; St. Tarcisius | August 13; August 15 | A young Jesuit devoted to serving Mass; a boy martyr who protected the Eucharist |
| Procrastinators and urgent causes | St. Expeditus | April 19 | Legend says he refused to delay his conversion “till tomorrow”; see the St. Expedite prayer |
For more, see patron saints of professions and our Catholic prayer for a job.
Health and the body
| Patron of | Saint | Feast | Why |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dentists and toothache | St. Apollonia | February 9 | Her teeth were broken during her martyrdom in Alexandria (249) |
| Eyes and vision | St. Lucy | December 13 | Her name means “light”; see the St. Lucy prayer |
| Throat illnesses | St. Blaise | February 3 | He saved a boy choking on a fishbone; see the St. Blaise prayer |
| Headaches | St. Teresa of Avila | October 15 | She suffered from severe headaches for much of her life |
| Expectant mothers | St. Gerard Majella | October 16 | See the St. Gerard prayer |
See also patron saints of healing.
Weather, actors and cooks
| Patron of | Saint | Feast | Why |
|---|---|---|---|
| Protection from storms and rain | St. Scholastica | February 10 | When she prayed, a storm kept her brother St. Benedict from leaving her visit |
| Weather (France and Belgium) | St. Medard | June 8 | An old saying links rain on his day with forty days of rain |
| Actors and comedians | St. Genesius | August 25 | A Roman actor converted while mocking baptism on stage |
| Cooks and comedians | St. Lawrence | August 10 | Legend says he joked on the gridiron, “Turn me over, I’m done on this side” |
Countries people ask about
| Country | Patron saint(s) |
|---|---|
| England | St. George (April 23) |
| Scotland | St. Andrew (November 30) |
| Wales | St. David (March 1) |
| Ireland and Northern Ireland | St. Patrick (March 17), with St. Brigid and St. Columba |
| Norway | St. Olaf (July 29) |
| The Philippines | The Immaculate Conception, with St. Pudentiana and St. Rose of Lima; Filipinos also honor St. Lorenzo Ruiz and St. Pedro Calungsod |
See the full list of patron saints of countries.
Funny questions, honest answers
Is there a patron saint of liars?
No. No saint is the patron of a sin. But those struggling with dishonesty can pray to St. Peter, who denied Christ three times and then wept and was forgiven.
Is there a patron saint of nothing?
No, though St. Jude, the patron of “hopeless” causes, is sometimes jokingly called the patron of lost causes that seem to be about nothing at all.
Who is the patron saint of patron saints?
There isn’t one. All the saints are honored together on All Saints’ Day (November 1), and Mary is invoked as Queen of All Saints.
Frequently asked questions
Who decides who is a patron saint?
Some patronages are officially declared by the Pope or a bishop; most come from long popular tradition connected with a saint’s life.
Can I choose my own patron saint?
Yes. Many Catholics choose a saint who shares their name, their work or their struggles, or one they feel close to. See confirmation saint names.
More patron saints
- St. Dismas, the Good Thief
- Patron saint of beer
- Patron saint of sleep
- St. Vitus, patron saint of dancers
- Prayer to St. Apollonia for toothache
- Prayer to St. Roch for dogs
- Patron saints
- Patron saints of professions
- Patron saints of sports and hobbies
- Patron saint of animals
- Prayers to the saints
Sources
- Roman Martyrology and the General Roman Calendar (feast days).
- Pius XII, apostolic letters naming St. John Baptist de La Salle patron of teachers (1950) and St. Clare patroness of television (1958); Pius XI, naming St. Frances of Rome patroness of motorists (1925).
- Catholic Encyclopedia (1913) and traditional lives of the saints for the stories behind each patronage.