The patron saint of mechanics is St. Eligius (St. Eloi, about 588–660), a skilled goldsmith who served the Frankish kings as goldsmith and moneyer, and later became bishop of Noyon, and who is the patron of metalworkers, blacksmiths, toolmakers and all who work with machines. Car mechanics, aircraft and military mechanics, and engineers who repair equipment have adopted him; the British Army’s corps of Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers took him as its patron. His feast day is December 1. Mechanics also pray to St. Joseph the Worker, patron of all who work with their hands. Below are their stories, Scripture for those who work with tools, and prayers for mechanics.
A short mechanic’s prayer, written for this page:
St. Eligius, you worked metal with skill and honesty.
Pray for me in my work: give me a sharp eye, steady hands and patience with hard problems,
keep me safe in the shop, and help me to serve my customers fairly. Amen.
Who was St. Eligius?
Eligius (in French, Éloi) was born around 588 near Limoges, in what is now France, and was apprenticed to a goldsmith who ran the local mint. He became so skilled that King Clotaire II asked him to make a throne of gold and precious stones. According to the story, Eligius made two thrones from the gold meant for one, returning the extra rather than keeping it, and the king, struck by his honesty, took him into his service; coins struck under the Frankish kings still bear his name. Under King Dagobert I he became one of the most trusted men in the kingdom.
Eligius used his wealth to ransom slaves, sometimes buying fifty or a hundred at a time and setting them free, and he founded monasteries and churches. In 641 he was made bishop of Noyon and Tournai, and he spent his last twenty years preaching the Gospel in Flanders. He died on December 1, 660. A well-known legend says that when a horse would not stand still to be shod, he removed its leg, fitted the shoe, and put the leg back, which is why he is also the patron of horses, farriers and veterinarians.
St. Joseph the Worker (May 1)
St. Joseph, the carpenter of Nazareth who taught his trade to Jesus, is the patron of all workers. In 1955 Pope Pius XII established the feast of St. Joseph the Worker on May 1. See the St. Joseph prayer.
Scripture for those who work with tools
The Book of Ecclesiasticus describes the smith at his anvil (Ecclesiasticus 38:29–30, Douay-Rheims):
So doth the smith sitting by the anvil and considering the iron work. The vapour of the fire wasteth his flesh, and he fighteth with the heat of the furnace.
The noise of the hammer is always in his ears, and his eye is upon the pattern of the vessel he maketh.
St. Paul on doing every job well (Colossians 3:23–24, Douay-Rheims):
Whatsoever you do, do it from the heart, as to the Lord, and not to men:
Knowing that you shall receive of the Lord the reward of inheritance. Serve ye the Lord Christ.
Prayers for mechanics
Written for this page.
Before starting a repair
Lord, help me to find the problem and fix it right the first time.
Give me patience, good judgment and honest hands. Amen.
For safety in the shop
St. Eligius, protect me and my coworkers today.
Keep us safe from lifts and jacks, fire and fumes, and every careless moment,
and send us home whole to our families. Amen.
For a mechanic’s customers
Lord, bless every driver whose car passes through my hands.
Let my work keep them safe on the road. Amen.
For an apprentice or student mechanic
St. Joseph, you taught Jesus your trade.
Help me to learn well, to ask questions, and to grow in skill and pride in honest work. Amen.
Frequently asked questions
Who is the patron saint of mechanics?
St. Eligius (St. Eloi), patron of metalworkers and of those who work with tools and machines. Many mechanics also invoke St. Joseph the Worker.
When is St. Eligius’s feast day?
December 1.
Who is the patron saint of auto mechanics and drivers?
Auto mechanics invoke St. Eligius; drivers and travelers invoke St. Christopher. See the St. Christopher prayer.
More patron saints
- Patron saint of electricians
- Patron saint of engineers
- Patron saints of professions
- St. Joseph prayer
- Catholic prayer for a job
- St. Christopher prayer
- Unusual patron saints
Texts and sources
- Ecclesiasticus 38:29–30 and Colossians 3:23–24 (Douay-Rheims).