The patron saint of plumbers is St. Vincent Ferrer (1350–1419), a Spanish Dominican friar and one of the most famous preachers in the history of the Church, who is also the patron of builders, construction workers and brick and tile makers. No one knows for certain how plumbers came to adopt him; the most common explanation is that the saint who “built up” the Church with his preaching became the patron of all who build, and plumbers, who work on every building, joined them. His feast day is April 5. Plumbers also pray to St. Joseph, the carpenter of Nazareth and patron of all workers. Below are St. Vincent’s story, the prayer of his feast, and prayers for plumbers.
A short plumber’s prayer, written for this page:
St. Vincent Ferrer, pray for me in my work today.
Help me to find the problem quickly, to fix it right, and to work safely,
and let me serve every customer honestly and well. Amen.
Who was St. Vincent Ferrer?
Vincent Ferrer was born in Valencia, Spain, on January 23, 1350, and entered the Dominican Order at seventeen. A brilliant student and teacher, he lived through the Western Schism, when two and then three men claimed to be pope, and he worked hard to end it. In 1399, after a serious illness in which he believed Christ commissioned him to preach, he set out on foot and spent twenty years preaching penance and the coming judgment across Spain, France, Switzerland and northern Italy.
Huge crowds followed him from town to town, so many that he organized them into groups who prayed and did penance together. People called him the “Angel of the Judgment.” Many sinners were converted, old feuds were reconciled, and many miracles of healing were reported. He died at Vannes, in Brittany, on April 5, 1419, and was canonized in 1455.
The prayer of his feast from the 1916 daily missal:
O God, who wast pleased to shed lustre on thy Church by the merit and preaching of thy blessed Confessor Vincent, grant us thy servants to be guided by his example and, by his patronage, to be delivered from all adversity. Through Jesus Christ, thy Son our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God world without end. Amen.
Why is he the patron of plumbers?
His patronage of builders and construction workers comes from his work of building up the Church, and in many lists it includes plumbers, along with brick makers and tile makers. Like many patronages, it grew from popular devotion rather than a decree of the Church. Plumbers who want a saint with a more obvious connection to their trade can also pray to St. Joseph the Worker, patron of all who work with their hands. See the St. Joseph prayer.
Living water
Plumbers bring clean water into our homes, one of the greatest gifts of daily life. Jesus used water to speak of the life He gives (John 4:13–14, Douay-Rheims):
Jesus answered, and said to her: Whosoever drinketh of this water, shall thirst again; but he that shall drink of the water that I will give him, shall not thirst for ever:
But the water that I will give him, shall become in him a fountain of water, springing up into life everlasting.
Prayers for plumbers
Written for this page.
Before a job
Lord, bless the work of my hands today.
Give me patience with hard jobs, a sharp eye for what is wrong,
and the honesty to charge fairly and do it right. Amen.
For safety on the job
St. Vincent Ferrer, protect me in crawl spaces and on ladders,
around gas lines, chemicals and tools,
and bring me home safely at the end of the day. Amen.
For an apprentice plumber
St. Joseph, you taught your trade to the Son of God.
Help me to learn my craft well and to take pride in honest work. Amen.
In thanks for running water
Lord, thank you for clean water in my home.
Bless those who make it possible, and help the many who still live without it. Amen.
Frequently asked questions
Who is the patron saint of plumbers?
St. Vincent Ferrer, the Dominican preacher, who is also patron of builders and construction workers.
When is St. Vincent Ferrer’s feast day?
April 5.
Who is the patron saint of construction workers?
St. Vincent Ferrer, and St. Joseph, patron of workers.
More patron saints
- Patron saints of professions
- Patron saint of mechanics
- Patron saint of engineers
- St. Joseph prayer
- Catholic prayer for a job
- Unusual patron saints
Texts and sources
- John 4:13–14 (Douay-Rheims).
- The Mass Every Day of the Year (1916), St. Vincent Ferrer (April 5), Collect, public domain (archive.org).