Patron Saints (P to T)

St. Patrick
Feast Day:  March 17
Patron of Ireland, Snakes & Engineers
      
St. Paul the Apostle
Feast Day: January 25
Patron of Publishers and Reporters; Missions
      
St. Paula
Feast Day:  January 26
Patron of Widows    
  
St. Peregrine Laziosi
Feast Day:  May 1
Patron of Cancer and Running Sores
      
St. Perpetua
Feast Day:  March 7
Patron of Martyrs and Cattle
      
St. Peter the Apostle
Feast Day:  June 29
Patron of Butchers and Fishermen
      
    
St. Petronille Pétronille, Aurelia Petronilla; Pernelle; Peroline;  Pérette; Perrenotte; Perrette; Perrine; Peyronne;  Perronelle; Petronella;Peyronnelle; Pierrette;Périne
Feast Day: May 31
Patron of Fevers; Travelers and Mountaineers
      
St. Philip the Apostle
Feast Day: May 3
Patron of Hatters and Pastry Chefs

St. Philip Neri
Feast Day:  May 26
Patron of the United States Army and Rome
      
St. Philomena
Feast Day: August 11
Patron of Children, sterility, loss causes
      
Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati
Feast Day:  July 4
Patron of World Youth Day
      
St. Pio of Pietrelcina
Feast Day: September 23
Patron of adolescents, civil defense volunteers

St. Polycarp of Smyrna
Feast Day:  February 23
Patron of Dysentery and Against Earache
      

St. Rafka
Feast Day:  March 23
Patron of Bodily Ills and Loss of Parent
      
St. Raphael the Archangel
Feast Day:  September 29
Patron of the Blind, Love and Safe Journey
      
St. Raymond Nonnatus
Feast Day:  August 31
Patron of Infants and Childbirth
      
St. Rebecca
Feast Day:  September 4
Patron of Sickness
      
St. Regina
Feast Day:  September 7
Patron Against Poverty
    
St. Regis
Feast Day:  June 16
Patron of Social Workers and Lace Makers
        
    
St. Rene Goupil
Feast Day:  October 19
Patron of Anesthesiologists
      
St. Richard
Feast Day: April 3
Patron of Large Families
      
St. Rita of Cascia
Feast Day:  May 22
Patron of Loneliness and Impossible Dreams
      
St. Robert Bellarmine
Feast Day:  September 17
Patron of Catechists
  
St. Rocco(Roch)
Feast Day: August 16
Patron against Epidemics; Bachelors, surgeons
      
      
St. Rosalia
Feast Day:  September 4
Patron of Palermo, Sicily
      
St. Rose of Lima
Feast Day:  August 23
Patron of Vanity and South America

St. Sarah
Feast Day:  August 19
Patron of Infertility

St. Scholastica
Feast Day:  February 10
Patron of Nuns and Storms
    
St. Sebastian
Feast Day:  January 20
Patron of Athletes and Soldiers

  
St. Simon the Apostle
Feast Day: October 28
Patron of Couriers and tanners
    
  
St. Stanislaus
Feast Day:  November 13
Patron of Broken Bones

St. Stephen the Martyr
Feast Day:  December 26
Patron of Deacons and Stonemasons
  
St. Susanna
Feast Day: August 11
Patron of those named Susanna

St. Tarcisius
Feast Day:  August 15
Patron of Altar Servers

St. Teresa of Avila
Feast Day: October 15
Patron of Foreign Missions: loss of parents, people in religious order
    
St. Therese of Lisieux
Feast Day:  October 1
Patron of Aviators and Florists
    
St. Thomas the Apostle
Feast Day:  July 3
Patron of Architects and Blind People
    
St. Thomas Aquinas
Feast Day:  January 28
Patron of Catholic Schools and Students
    
St. Thomas A Becket
Feast Day: December 29
Patron of Clergy
    
St. Thomas More
Feast Day:  June 22
Patron of Lawyers and Statesmen
    
St. Thomas of Villanova
Feast Day:  September 18
Patron of the Poor and Orphans
    
St. Timothy
Feast Day:  January 26
Patron of Stomach Disorders
    
St. Teresa of Avila
Feast Day:  October 15
Patron of Headaches and Loss of Parents

Canonization

By canonizing some of the faithful, i.e., by solemnly proclaiming that they practiced heroic virtue and lived in fidelity to God's grace, the Church recognizes the power of the Spirit of holiness within her and sustains the hope of believers by proposing the saints to them as models and intercessors. "the saints have always been the source and origin of renewal in the most difficult moments in the Church's history. Indeed, "holiness is the hidden source and infallible measure of her apostolic activity and missionary zeal."

From: Catechism of the Catholic Church p.823

Canonization Process

VATICAN CITY, SEP 12, 1997 (VIS) - Today the Holy See Press Office made public the following note on canonical procedure for causes of beatification and canonization:

"1. Canon norms regarding the procedure to be followed for causes of saints are contained in the Apostolic Constitution 'Divinus Perfectionis Magister,' promulgated by John Paul II on January 25, 1983.

"2. To begin a cause it is necessary for at least 5 years to have passed since the death of the candidate. This is to allow greater balance and objectivity in evaluating the case and to let the emotions of the moment dissipate.

"3. The bishop of the diocese in which the person whose beatification is being requested died is responsible for beginning the investigation. The promoter group ('Actor Causae'): diocese, parish, religious congregation, association, asks the bishop through the postulator for the opening of the investigation. The bishop, once the 'nulla osta' of the Holy See is obtained, forms a diocesan tribunal for this purpose. Witnesses are called before the tribunal to recount concrete facts on the exercise of Christian virtues considered heroic, that is, the theological virtues: faith, hope and charity, and the cardinal virtues: prudence, justice, temperance and fortitude, and others specific to his state in life. In addition, all documents regarding the candidate must be gathered. At this point he is entitled to the title of Servant of God.

"4. Once the diocesan investigation is finished, the acts and documentation are passed on to the Congregation for the Causes of Saints. The public copy used for further work is put together here. The postulator, resident in Rome, follows the preparation of the 'Positio', or summary of the documentation that proves the heroic exercise of virtue, under the direction of a relator of the Congregation. The 'Positio' undergoes an examination (theological) by nine theologians who give their vote. If the majority of the theologians are in favour, the cause is passed on for examination by cardinals and bishops who are members of the congregation. They hold meetings twice a month. If their judgment is favourable, the prefect of the congregation presents the results of the entire course of the cause to the Holy Father, who gives his approval and authorizes the congregation to draft the relative decree. The public reading and promulgation of the decree follows.

"5. For the beatification of a confessor a miracle attributed to the Servant of God, verified after his death, is necessary. The required miracle must be proven through the appropriate canonical investigation, following a procedure analogous to that for heroic virtues. This one too is concluded with the relative decree. Once the two decrees are promulgated (regarding the heroic virtues and the miracle) the Holy Father decides on beatification, which is the concession of public worship, limited to a particular sphere. With beatification the candidate receives the title of Blessed.

"6. For canonization another miracle is needed, attributed to the intercession of the Blessed and having occurred after his beatification. The methods for ascertainment of the affirmed miracle are the same as those followed for beatification. Canonization is understood as the concession of public worship in the Universal Church. Pontifical infallibility is involved. With canonization, the Blessed acquires the title of Saint."

From: http://www.catholic-pages.com/saints/process.asp


The canonization process

“Canonization” is the process by which someone becomes a saint. The “canonization process” is a long, arduous investigation into the life and virtues of someone who is thought to have lived a saintly life. It begins in the diocese where the person died and eventually winds its way to the Vatican Congregation for the Causes of Saints.

Many people are involved in the canonization process – people who knew the candidate, theologians, doctors, bishops and cardinals, and finally the Pope himself. During the first phase of the process, a person being considered for canonization is referred to as a “Servant of God.”

The first step on the path to sainthood is the determination – through a study of his/her life and writings and the testimony of witnesses – that the Servant of God practiced heroic virtue. At this point he or she is referred to as “Venerable.” To advance to beatification, a miracle is needed (unless the person was a martyr; Martyrs do not require miracles!).

What is it about miracles? Pope Benedict himself gives us the answer: “As well as reassuring us that the Servant of God lives in Heaven in communion with God, miracles constitute the divine confirmation of the judgment expressed by the ecclesial authority on his/her virtuous life.”

From: http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/benedict_xvi/letters/2006/documents

A possible miracle is studied by a panel of theologians, doctors and clergy. If it is accepted, the Servant of God may be beatified. He or she is then given the title “Blessed.”

A second proven miracle is required for canonization, the final step in the process. Once this is approved, the Pope signs the decree of canonization and assigns a date for the ceremony. Although beatifications often take place in the Blessed’s native country, canonizations are held in Rome in the presence of the Pope. Once canonized, the Blessed acquires the title of Saint and may be venerated by the Universal Church. (for a detailed article on the canonization process see

From: http://www.catholic-pages.com/saints/process.asp