The patron saint of business people is St. Homobonus (Omobono), a twelfth-century cloth merchant of Cremona, in northern Italy, who ran an honest business, gave a large part of his profits to the poor, and died kneeling at Mass in 1197. Pope Innocent III canonized him less than two years later, one of the first lay people who was neither a king, a noble nor a martyr to be declared a saint. His name means “good man,” and he is the patron of business owners, merchants, tailors and clothworkers. His feast day is November 13. Below are his story, Scripture for honest business, other saints for the workplace, and prayers for a business, for a new venture and for honest dealing.
A short prayer for a business, written for this page:
St. Homobonus, you showed that an honest merchant can be a saint.
Pray for my business: help me to work hard, deal fairly, treat my employees and customers well,
and use what I earn to do good. Amen.
Who was St. Homobonus?
Homobonus was born in Cremona, the son of a cloth merchant, and took over his father’s business as a tailor and trader in cloth. In an age of growing trade, when many merchants were tempted to cheat on weights, prices and quality, he became known for his honesty. He married and saw his work as a gift from God to be used for others: he gave generously to the poor, cared for the sick, helped to make peace among the quarreling factions of his city, and paid for the burial of people who had no one to bury them. According to tradition, his wife at first complained of his generosity, yet their business continued to prosper.
Every day he went to the early morning prayer of the Church and to Mass. On November 13, 1197, while praying in the church of Sant’Egidio during Mass, he stretched out his arms in the form of a cross and quietly died. The people of Cremona immediately venerated him, and on January 12, 1199, Pope Innocent III canonized him, praising him as a man who lived a holy life in the world.
Scripture for honest business
Honest weights and measures (Proverbs 11:1, Douay-Rheims):
A deceitful balance is an abomination before the Lord: and a just weight is his will.
Faithful in small things (Luke 16:10, Douay-Rheims):
He that is faithful in that which is least, is faithful also in that which is greater: and he that is unjust in that which is little, is unjust also in that which is greater.
Other saints for business and work
- St. Joseph the Worker, patron of workers and of families who depend on their work. See the St. Joseph prayer.
- St. Matthew, the tax collector who left his counting table to follow Jesus, patron of accountants and bankers. See the St. Matthew prayer.
- St. Cajetan, who founded charitable banks to protect the poor from loan sharks, patron of job seekers. See the St. Cajetan prayer.
Prayers for business
Written for this page.
For a business
Lord, bless this business and everyone who works here.
Give us good customers, wise decisions and steady growth,
and keep us honest in everything we do. St. Homobonus, pray for us. Amen.
For a new business
Lord, I am starting something new and I am afraid of failing.
Guide my plans, open the right doors, send me good partners,
and help me to trust you whatever happens. Amen.
For honest dealing
St. Homobonus, honest merchant, pray for me.
Keep me from cutting corners, from hiding the truth and from greed,
and help me to treat others as I would want to be treated. Amen.
For employees
Lord, I am responsible for the people who work for me.
Help me to pay them fairly, treat them with respect, and care for their families’ needs. Amen.
Frequently asked questions
Who is the patron saint of business?
St. Homobonus of Cremona, an honest cloth merchant canonized in 1199.
When is St. Homobonus’s feast day?
November 13, the day he died in 1197.
Who is the patron saint of entrepreneurs and merchants?
St. Homobonus, patron of business people and merchants.
More patron saints
- St. Josemaría Escrivá prayer
- Patron saints of professions
- Catholic prayer for financial help
- Catholic prayer for a job
- St. Joseph prayer
- St. Matthew prayer
- Patron saint of lawyers
Texts and sources
- Proverbs 11:1 and Luke 16:10 (Douay-Rheims).