Saint Albert the Great, Patron Saint

June 17th, 2009

Saint Albert the Great was known mostly for being the teacher of Saint Thomas Aquinas. Saint Albert is sometimes also known as Albertus Magnus, and is prayed to by many students and scientists because he is their patron saint.

Albert is known mostly for his work as a theologian and philosopher, but in his times most people did not recognize his brilliance so he was sometimes over-looked. He was a great educator and many agree that he was indeed a genius.

Saint Albert’s genius was widespread as well, he not only published reports in theology but in numerous different areas of science. His works include theories in the fields of mathematics, physics, philosophy, zoology, metaphysics, chemistry, botany, and biology.

One would think that after a life full of such intelligence and learning that Albert would not have had time to accomplish much else. However, Saint Albert devoted much time to inform people of God, and was even a Bishop in Regensburg for a while. He also served as special consultant to the Pope, and helped many other high postioned religious leaders as well.

The fact that Albert held such high postions in the Church and was so widely respected really shows that the Church does believe that science is worthwhile and would like it to go hand in hand with the Church.

Saint Albert’s contributions to the world do not end there though, he also was a respected geologist. He had theories that there must be more land to the west of Britain. His theory eventually can be linked to America and its discovery at later dates.

As said previously, Albert is known as the one who educated Saint Thomas Aquinas, but his legacy as an educator was not only with Saint Thomas. He also taught Peter of Tarentasia, who would eventually be known on a more widespread basis as Pope Innocent V. Albert had such a large influence on the Catholic Church as a whole in and around the year 1200.

Saint Albert was extended an invitation to the Council of Lyons by Pope Gregory X, and intended to be in attendence until he got word of Saint Thomas Aquinas’s death. Saint Thomas’s death deeply saddened Albertand he decided not to go anymore.

Saint Albert died in the year 1280, and was finally made a saint by Pope Pius XI in 1931.

If you are interested in other patron saints, please visit The Catholic Gift Shop where you can find patron saint medals for all saints.

Do you think patron saints are still relied on today, as they were in the past? We are ALWAYS interested in hearing about your devotion to your favorite patron saint, or your parish church, named after a Saint.  Please tell us your favorite patron saint story below.

Tags: , , , , ,
Posted in Patron Saints | No Comments »

Saint Andrew the Apostle, Patron Saint

June 16th, 2009

Andrew could tell the moment he met Jesus Christ that he was the Savior and that he should follow him. He felt as though he should tell the world about Jesus and his greatness, and he started by introducing him to his brother Simon.

This was a huge moment for what is now the Catholic Church because Simon would later be known as Peter. He would be the “rock” that Jesus would build his church upon. Saint Andrew would also become and apostle of Jesus, just like his brother. Andrew was first introduced to Jesus by Saint John the Baptist.

Jesus convinced Andrew and Simon, or Peter, to follow him by telling them he would make them “fishers of men”. This made sense to Andrew and Simon because they were both fisherman when John the Baptist brought Jesus to meet them. Andrew with the initial person to give up everything in his life including all his belongings and his trade to follow Jesus.

Eventually, Andrew was crucified on a cross like Jesus, but Andrew was bound to the cross and not nailed to it like Jesus was. People say that this was done to draw out his suffering. Andrew was bound to a cross in the shape of an X, instead of the traditional cross. This was done because Andrew demanded he was not worthy to be put on the same cross as Jesus. That is why the X shaped cross is known today as Saint Andrew’s Cross.

Saint Andrew spent a large part of his life in Greece, and what is modern day Russia and Romania. He traveled the lands converting great numbers of people to Christianity. This is why Andrew is the patron saint of Russia, Scotland, and Romania. Seeing as he was a fisherman before devoting his life to Christ, he is known as the patron saint of the fishing industry and all its components as well. He is usually shown in paintings and other art with fishing nets, for this reason. Other things that Saint Andrew is known as the patron saint of are sore throats, single women, gout, Army Rangers, rope-makers, performers, mariners, and singers.

Saint Andrew was known as the one who brought others to Jesus, like his brother Simon. So people who bring others into the church and attempt to share knowledge of the church with others are usually known as followers of Saint Andrew.

Towards the end of his life, Saint Andrew did many miracles. One of which was freeing Matthias, a disciple, from prison, and another of which was raising a faithful woman’s son from the dead.

On November 30th each year, or the first Sunday in Advent the feast day of Saint Andrew is celebrated. This was the day that he was crucified, and is why the church chose this day to celebrate his life and deeds.

If you are interested in other patron saints, please visit The Catholic Gift Shop where you can find patron saint medals for all saints.

Do you think patron saints are still relied on today, as they were in the past? We are ALWAYS interested in hearing about your devotion to your favorite patron saint, or your parish church, named after a Saint.  Please tell us your favorite patron saint story below.

Tags: , , , ,
Posted in Patron Saints | No Comments »

Who was Saint Christopher?

April 11th, 2009

There is a LOT to know about St. Christopher!

First, the Roman Catholic Church actually removed Saint Christopher’s feast day back in 1969, but still recognizes St. Christopher and recommends devotion to the saint.

We DO know that Christopher was martyred in the 3rd century.  That’s about it, as far as hard details.  There are quite a bit of stories and legend associated with Saint Christopher, however.

The most frequently related legend is that Christopher carried a young child across a very difficult river.  The child grew heavier and heavier with each step Christopher took through the running river.   When reaching the other side of the river, Christopher told the child he felt as if he were carrying all the weight of the world on his shoulders, not just  a small child.  The child then turned to Christopher and told him that “you had not only the whole world on your shoulders but He who created it.”  I am Christ your King, and you are serving Me by carrying me across the river.”

From that legend, Saint Christopher became the patron saint of travelers.  You will often see Saint Christopher medals in cars, to help provide safety in travel.  St. Christopher is also the patron saint of athletes and cheerleaders as well.  We have several sports-related patron saint medals in stock at The Catholic Gift Shop which make wonderful gifts.

We have no way of verifying, but another legend was that Christopher actually had the head of a dog but the body of a man.  Technically, this is called cynocephaly.  He had also been described as a large oversized ogre as well.

There is also a story of how Ringo Starr lost his Saint Christopher medal when traveling with the Beatles to the United States (to New York) in 1964.   Check out the youtube video, and keep your eyes open for a guest appearance by Paul McCartney as well.

St. Christopher Medal and Ringo Starr

Also:

Tags: , ,
Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments »

« Older Entries
Newer Entries »