There is no single patron saint of all women; the first model and protector of every woman is the Blessed Virgin Mary, and the Church offers a patron for almost every season of a woman’s life: St. Anne for mothers and grandmothers, St. Catherine of Alexandria and St. Andrew for single women hoping to marry, St. Gerard Majella for pregnant women, St. Monica and St. Rita for wives in difficult marriages, St. Gianna Beretta Molla for working mothers, and St. Zita for women who work in the home. Below are these saints, a prayer for women, and links to their prayers.
A short prayer for women, written for this page:
Holy Mary, Mother of God and model of every woman,
pray for women everywhere: single and married, mothers and grandmothers, workers and widows.
Protect them from harm, strengthen them in their trials, and help each one to know her dignity in God’s eyes. Amen.
The Blessed Virgin Mary
Mary, the Mother of God, is the model of faith, courage and love for every woman. She was a young woman who said yes to God, a wife and mother, a refugee, a widow, and a mother who saw her Son die. See the Catholic prayers to Mary.
Patron saints for every season of a woman’s life
| Situation | Patron saint | Feast day |
|---|---|---|
| Single women and those hoping to marry | St. Catherine of Alexandria; St. Andrew; St. Anne | November 25; November 30; July 26 |
| Pregnant women and childbirth | St. Gerard Majella; St. Margaret of Antioch | October 16; July 20 |
| Mothers and grandmothers | St. Anne; St. Monica | July 26; August 27 |
| Wives in difficult marriages | St. Rita of Cascia; St. Monica | May 22; August 27 |
| Working mothers and women doctors | St. Gianna Beretta Molla | April 28 |
| Homemakers and domestic workers | St. Zita | April 27 |
| Widows | St. Monica; St. Jane Frances de Chantal; St. Elizabeth of Hungary | August 27; August 12; November 17 |
| Women with breast cancer | St. Agatha | February 5 |
| Women who want a child | St. Anne; St. Gerard Majella | July 26; October 16 |
Saints for single women
In France, unmarried women of twenty-five used to “coiffer Sainte-Catherine,” wearing extravagant hats on November 25 in honor of St. Catherine of Alexandria, patroness of young unmarried women. In Poland and other countries, girls kept customs on the eve of St. Andrew (November 29) hoping to learn whom they would marry, and many have prayed, half in jest, “St. Anne, St. Anne, send me a man!” to St. Anne, the mother of Mary. More important than any custom is the prayer behind it: that God will lead each woman to her vocation, whether marriage, religious life or a generous single life. See St. Catherine of Alexandria and the novena to St. Raphael, the archangel who led Tobias to his wife.
Women Doctors of the Church
Four women are Doctors of the Church, teachers for the whole Church: St. Teresa of Ávila, St. Catherine of Siena, St. Thérèse of Lisieux and St. Hildegard of Bingen. See the Doctors of the Church.
Prayers for women
Written for this page.
For a single woman
St. Catherine and St. Anne, pray for me as I wait and discern.
Help me to trust God’s timing, to grow in love and friendship,
and, if it is His will, to meet a good and faithful husband. Amen.
For a working mother
St. Gianna, you were a doctor, a wife and a mother.
Pray for me as I balance my work and my family, and give me strength, joy and peace. Amen.
For women who suffer
Holy Mary, Mother of Sorrows, protect women who suffer violence, poverty, illness or loneliness.
Give them courage and safety, and send them people who will help. Amen.
Frequently asked questions
Who is the patron saint of women?
There is no single patron of all women. The Blessed Virgin Mary is the model for every woman, and particular saints are patrons of single women, mothers, pregnant women, wives and widows.
Who is the patron saint of single women?
St. Catherine of Alexandria, together with St. Andrew and St. Anne, in popular tradition.
Who is the patron saint of pregnant women?
St. Gerard Majella. See the St. Gerard prayer.