5 Patron Saints to Call on in Time of Trouble

The Patron Saint of Money Problems

The Infant Jesus of Prague is technically not a saint. It is the veneration of the child Christ, but this statute has an interesting history. In the 1600s, Prague was in a country called Bohemia. In 1628, Princess Polyxena von Lobkowicz gave the statue of the infant Jesus to a local order of Carmelite nuns. By 1631, the country of Bohemia was invaded by the Swiss. The convent was pillaged and the statue was thrown into a trash heap. One day, six years later, a priest named Father Cyrillus was walking and he found the statue with its hands broken off in the trash heap. The statue started to speak. It said, “Have pity on me, and I will have pity on you. Give me my hands, and I will give you peace. The more you honor me, the more I will bless you.” This statue is associated with many powerful and good blessings. The Infant Jesus of Prague is also the patron of schools, vocations, students, foreign missions and good health.

Sample Prayer: “Precious Infant Jesus, have pity on me. Bless my home, finances and family. I pray in your most holy name.”

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The Patron Saint of Romantic Love

Now, this can’t be a surprise! St. Valentine was a Roman priest who got in trouble during the third century for marrying Christians. During the waning days of the Roman Empire, helping Christians was a punishable offense and Valentine was thrown in prison. There are various stories about why Valentine was martyred. Some sources say it was for trying to convert Emperor Claudius to Christianity, and other sources say it was for refusing to renounce his Christian faith. Regardless of the reason, he was beheaded after the Romans couldn’t kill him by stoning. In addition to being the patron saint of love, lovers and a happy marriage, St. Valentine is also the patron saint of protection against fainting.

Sample Prayer: Dear St. Valentine, help me find my true God-appointed love. Help me nurture that love when I find it, and forgive that love for not being perfect, for only God himself is perfect. This I pray.

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The Patron Saint of Good Luck

The life of Saint Christopher is shrouded in mystery. Some people think he was a soldier, and St. Christopher is also the patron saint of soldiers, but nobody knows for sure. Saint Christopher became a very popular hero in fantastic medieval legends that were called romances. Unlike modern romances, medieval romances often had a religious theme and where told to inspire and grow the listener’s Christian faith. St. Christopher is often identified with travelers, and his designation as the saint of good luck probably has something to do with the protection he offers those who travel. Statues of Saint Christopher are often placed on car dashboards to protect against accidents, and worn as medallions to protect the traveler.

Sample Prayer: Saint Christopher, intercede for me, and make my luck and my faith in my Lord increase every day.”

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The Patron Saint of Teenagers in Trouble

St. Dominic Savio may be the youngest saint ever canonized. He was only 15 years old when he died in 1857, but spent his young life helping less fortunate boys and organizing them in religious organizations. Dominic was born in Riva, Italy and was frail and sick his entire life. In 1854, he went to Turin, Italy to study with St. John Bosco and help him with his mission helping poor urban youth. In 1857, he died after a brief illness; St. Pius X canonized him in 1954.

Sample Prayer: “Dear St. Savio, show me how to relate to my troubled teenager. Help me provide the love and guidance that he/she needs. Take my teenager by the hand and lead him/her to God’s heavenly grace. Amen.”

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