There's a Patron Saint for Just About Everything

A Patron Saint is a saint who has special affinity for a particular group. Prayers by such people are considered more likely to be answered if asked through their patron saint. It’s kind of like knowing somebody who knows somebody.

Most versions of Christianity that believe in the Intercession of Saints have a whole catalog of patron saints and growing up Catholic, my family put a lot of stake in them. Whenever I had lost something, my mother would tell me to say the prayer to Saint Anthony while I looked for it, because Saint Anthony just so happened to be the patron saint of lost things. We were Irish-American so there was always a picture of Saint Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland, somewhere in the house. To this day I still keep a Saint Christopher medal in my car. Chris, for those who are unaware, is the patron saint of travelers.

There are patron saints for just about everything - cities, countries, concepts, and as you will find from the list below, some rather odd things indeed.

The Patron Saint…

Against death by artillery – Saint Barbara. Saint Barbara is also the patron saint of those who use artillery and bomb technicians. Apparently, Babs really likes to hear stuff go boom, just so long as no one gets hurt. Barbara is also the patron saint against mine collapse.

Against moles – Saint Ulric is the patron saint against moles. My research has yet to determine if he intercedes for you against body moles, or moles that burrow under your house, or both.

American Indians – Saint Anthony is the patron saint of American Indians. Which makes perfect sense since Anthony was Italian and died 200 years before Europeans landed in America.

Arms Dealers – If you are an arms dealer, then Saint Adrian of Nicomedia is your boy. Because if anybody needs someone in Heaven watching their back, it’s arms dealers.

Bee Keepers – Saint Ambrose, who is also the patron saint of bees and Winnie the Pooh.