How does someone become a patron saint?

[Alpo]

The thread about December 6th, and it being Saint Nicholas's day got me to thinking.

 

Along with all the others, because apparently he's patron saint to all kinds of people I was unaware of, he is the patron saint of children and of prostitutes and of pawnbrokers.

 

That's the kind of eclectic collection.

 

So I'm not asking how somebody becomes a saint. How does he become a patron saint of a certain group of people?

[MizPete]

Usually has to do with the saint's doings in life.

[Rip Snorter]

https://www.dummies.com/article/body-mind-spirit/religion-spirituality/christianity/catholicism/how-to-become-a-saint-in-the-catholic-church-192610/

[Texas Lizard]

If you get there let us know....We will be waiting for your advice.....

 

Texas Lizard

[Subdeacon Joe]

Popular opinion and folklore.  Maybe the person was know for their almsgiving, or the gift of healing, or miracles attributed to them. 

 

Take your example of St. Nicholas of Myra.  Prostitutes - a man lost all his wealth and hand nothing with which to dower his three daughters and so was going to sell them into prostitution. Nicholas heard of this and, over a period of time, tossed three bags of gold over the wall or into the man's house so he had dowry for his daughters.  The three bags of gold became the three gold balls of the pawnbroker who is, or was, a means of help to those in need (OK, they had to have some goods to pawn in the first place, but basically, a source of some cash). Children for his generosity towards poor children (and also a bit of folklore that a man had murdered 3 children and hid the bodies in a wine cask and Nicholas brought them back to life - likely a false story, but who knows).  Patron of sailors because, again according to legend, on a voyage to the Holy Land there was a storm that threatened the ship, but he rebuked the waves and they subsided.  Patron of bakers because he fed the poor, often with bread.

 

A recent Orthodox saint, St. Olga of Alaska - the first Yup'ik to be recognized as a saint in the Orthodox Church - proclaimed a saint in November of 2023, and the first formal ceremony Nov. 2024. She was the wife of a priest and also a midwife for the village.  So, I think, she will be recognized as patron of midwives and possibly as an unmercenary healer.

from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Olga_Michael    "Olga receives veneration in the region in which she lived her earthly life, and personal veneration from many Orthodox women touched by her life story. It is said that she has appeared to those in need of healing, sometimes alongside the Mother of God. On November 9, 2023, the Holy Synod of the Orthodox Church in America announced her formal canonization, with her feast day set for November 10.^[6]"  

 

^{It started with local veneration, word spread.  Gradually she became recognized as a saint.}  

 

^{Romans do things somewhat differently.}

[Sgt. C.J. Sabre, SASS #46770]

48 minutes ago, Texas Lizard said:

If you get there let us know....We will be waiting for your advice.....

 

Texas Lizard

Alpo wouldn't be giving advice, he'd be the Patron Saint of Questioners

[Subdeacon Joe]

23 minutes ago, Sgt. C.J. Sabre, SASS #46770 said:

Alpo wouldn't be giving advice, he'd be the Patron Saint of Questioners

 

You saying Alpo is an inquisitor?

 

Nobody expected that.

[Texas Lizard]

34 minutes ago, Sgt. C.J. Sabre, SASS #46770 said:

Alpo wouldn't be giving advice, he'd be the Patron Saint of Questioners

I was going to say something else...But your is polite for the saloon...        BS

 

Texas Lizard

[Alpo]

1 hour ago, Subdeacon Joe said:

 

You saying Alpo is an inquisitor?

 

Nobody expected that.

In a past life I was Torquemada.

 

[Rip Snorter]

Just something about vanity.

[WOLFY]

No idea… I think the church just decides at the time they’re cannonized.  Wanna brain tease?  Santa Clara is the patron saint of television.

 

 

[Larsen E. Pettifogger, SASS #32933]

Simply go to the membership section and check the appropriate box.

 

[watab kid]

i actually think LEP is onto something here , in order to get remarried in the catholic church i had to pay for two annulments of previous divorces - i suspect that eliminates me from the running for the OPs topic but perhaps if i click the right box ..........it was important to my wife and its been a blessed 34 years now , weve been together over 40 , so ive got no complaints at this time , as thats more than half my lifetime , 

[watab kid]

Just now, watab kid said:

i actually think LEP is onto something here , in order to get remarried in the catholic church i had to pay a lot  for two annulments of previous divorces -neither of which were catholic marriages as i married lutherans  

 

i suspect that eliminates me from the running for the OPs topic but perhaps if i click the right box ..........it was important to my wife and its been a blessed 34 years now , weve been together over 40 , so ive got no complaints at this time , as thats more than half my lifetime , 

 

[Rye Miles #13621]

The Patron saint of handgunners??

 

https://catholicinsight.com/saint-gabriel-possenti-god-and-guns/#:~:text=A final note%3A Saint Gabriel,threatening the monastery and village.

[Marshal Mo Hare, SASS #45984]

Here’s an example

 

Quote

In 1997 Pope John Paul II declared Isidore of Seville the patron saint of the internet. Saint Isidore died in the year 636, long before the first host-to-host ARPANET connection in 1969. But Isidore did try to record everything ever known in an encyclopedia that was ultimately published after his death.