Sunday, January 2, 2011
2011 Patron Saint of the Year Devotion

I am very pleased to again be a part of the coordination of the Patron Saint of the Year Devotion.  I have been part of this annual tradition since 2006 and have helped coordinate devotions for hundreds of families.  It is my pleasure to now be part of the 2011 Patron Saint of the Year Devotion.

You can read about the past devotions at the following posts:
Again, I would like to take a few minutes to explain the devotion, which has its roots in St. Faustina.

 St. Louis IX - Virgin and Child Adored by Saint Louis, King of France

What is the Saint for the Year Devotion? Here is my post on this from years past to clarify the matter. This is from the person that draws all of the saints. I don't draw the saints. I will merely pass on your name or screenname to her so that she will draw a saint for you. Also, I will pass on the name of any of your family or friends that would like to participate. This isn't superstition. St. Faustina did the same thing!

Last year dozens of people received saints to be their special patron, and there were miraculous connections. It was truly amazing. We pray that this year the Holy Spirit will again work so that all participants receive a saint that they will be able to pray to for aid throughout the entire year:
Saint for the Year

I want to tell you about the practice of picking a saint at random to be your “holy protector” for the year. Actually, the saint is the one who chooses us though. The tradition of letting a saint “pick you,” is not a new one. St. Faustina wrote about it in her diary, Divine Mercy in My Soul. The excerpt is below.

“There is a custom among us of drawing by lot, on New Year's Day, special Patrons for ourselves for the whole year. In the morning during meditation, there arose within me a secret desire that the Eucharistic Jesus be my special Patron for this year also, as in the past. But, hiding this desire from my Beloved, I spoke to Him about everything else but that. When we came to refectory for breakfast, we blessed ourselves and began drawing our patrons. When I approached the holy cards on which the names of the patrons were written, without hesitation I took one, but I didn't read the name immediately as I wanted to mortify myself for a few minutes. Suddenly, I heard a voice in my soul: ‘I am your patron. Read.’ I looked at once at the inscription and read, ‘Patron for the Year 1935 - the Most Blessed Eucharist.’ My heart leapt with joy, and I slipped quietly away from the sisters and went for a short visit before the Blessed Sacrament, where I poured out my heart. But Jesus sweetly admonished me that I should be at that moment together with the sisters. I went immediately in obedience to the rule.”Excerpt from Divine Mercy in My Soul, the Diary of St. Faustina"

I have a container full of names ... I will be glad to pick out the name for you and send you the name if you prefer. I am so excited by my saint(s) ... I already picked mine. Well, I should say that they picked me ... I have Saints Marcus and Marcellianus ... they are twin brothers who were sent to prison before their death. St. Sebastian visited them continually in prison and helped keep their faith alive. They are buried near St. Felix and are specifically honored in Spain.

OK now ... here are a couple of immediate ironies in regard to these saints ... I have a SPECIAL place in my heart for twins! As a child, I LOVED reading the story about St. Sebastian. I had a children's book of saints and I think I wore out the pages on St. Sebastian! Felix is my grandfather's name! Silvia, our exchange student, is from Spain! I am so excited to have these two saints to walk through 2006 with me! I'm looking forward as to where and how they will intercede for me.
Please pass this message on through your blogs and/or email distribution lists, letting all of the Catholic blogsphere have the chance to participate. I only ask that you give me your email address so that I may contact you when your saint is drawn. Usually within one to two days I can email you about your saint.

So, please either make sure your email address is in your profile or please leave it below in the comment box when you ask to participate. If you wish to remain anonymous, please leave your initials instead of your name.  And, if you would prefer to email me directly and not write your email address in the comment box, please send an email entitled "Saint for the Year 2011" to acatholiclife [at] gmail.com

So, comment below and pass this message on throughout the entire Catholic Blogsphere!

Support

I participate in this devotion each year without any cost. Please take a minute and if you are a supporter of this devotion, please consider leaving us a free will donation. Your support is greatly appreciated and helps me continue working on this devotion and spreading it further.






23 comment(s):

del_button January 3, 2011 at 4:40 AM
Franciscus Carmelo said...

I would like to participate in this year's Patron Saint draw. Thank you very much.
franz15@ymail.com

del_button January 3, 2011 at 5:57 AM
Faith said...

I'd like a patron saint. I got off on the wrong foot with someone in authority, this year, so I need a saintly guide to help me get over this emotional hurt.

del_button January 3, 2011 at 9:46 AM
Bryan said...

Happy New Year to you and all who read this blog.

Please draw a lot for me as well.

Bryan

itemissa at hotmail.com

del_button January 4, 2011 at 11:25 AM
Anonymous said...

I would like a saint for the following people in my family. this is our first year and I am excited about the devotion
Mary
Jim
Maggie
Ellie
Lucy
Kate
Jack
Tommy

mlcorrigan@sbcglobal.net

del_button January 4, 2011 at 11:28 AM
Faith said...

St. Bernard of Clairvaux is an interesting choice. My Spiritual Director is a Trappist, so I'm use to Cistercians guides. Thank you for doing this.

del_button January 4, 2011 at 12:29 PM
Matthew said...

Faith, you are very welcome. Please pass along information about this devotion to many others. Let us spread this devotion.

God bless

del_button January 5, 2011 at 9:12 AM
Anonymous said...

I'd like to participate!

Tina Pelletier
lovingjchrist at gmail dot com

Thank you!

del_button January 5, 2011 at 11:54 AM
Lauren said...

I would like one also!

Lauren J
fizleglitz@gmail.com

del_button January 5, 2011 at 5:12 PM
Matthew said...

The devotion is still ongoing. Everyone that has written so far should have received their saint sent via email.

If you would still like one, please either comment here or email me. Thanks

del_button January 10, 2011 at 4:06 AM
Anonymous said...

Karl

stagparty27@yahoo.com

del_button January 11, 2011 at 2:39 AM
Josemaria Paulo Jeromino Martin Carvalho-Von Verster said...

Here's My Email:fightlikecrazy20@gmail.com

del_button January 11, 2011 at 7:33 PM
Sylvia said...

Here's My Email Address:babeslora2003@yahoo.com

del_button January 11, 2011 at 7:35 PM
Marem said...

Please Get Me My Patron:mabuhayria@yahoo.com

del_button January 11, 2011 at 7:39 PM
Maria Angela said...

I Would Like a Saint to Help Cope with My Hectic Job as Marketer:mairockstar@yahoo.com

del_button January 11, 2011 at 7:41 PM
Marivic said...

I Need a Saint to Help Me Get a New House:vikingzulueta@yahoo.com

del_button January 11, 2011 at 7:43 PM
Lem said...

I Need a Saint to Get a New House and Sell My Old One:tantelem@yahoo.com

del_button January 11, 2011 at 8:30 PM
Matthew said...

To ensure that comments received here are not spam comments, please send your requests in an email to acatholiclife[at]gmail[dot]com.

Thanks

del_button January 12, 2011 at 11:09 PM
Josemaria Paulo Jeromino Martin Carvalho-Von Verster said...

Please Remove These "Spam" Posts,I Was the Guy Who Requested It On Behalf of My Family and Friends(Think of My Work as Santa-Like)

Sorry for Causing Any Inconvenience!

del_button January 22, 2011 at 12:59 PM
Anonymous said...

May I please have a saint as my patron this year?
djordan48@tampabay.rr.com

del_button January 23, 2011 at 2:41 PM
Bells said...

May I please have a patron saint too? Thanks you :)
izzyfewster@yahoo.co.uk

del_button February 8, 2011 at 6:51 AM
Anonymous said...

I would gladly participate in the patron saint draw. Though I traditionally consider St. Matthew as Patron Saint. But it would be nice to get another. My email would be matt_nathanljw@msn.com
Thanks

del_button January 7, 2012 at 7:09 PM
Anonymous said...

Please include me in the patron saint drawing. My email is ursucathie@yahoo.com.
Thank you,
Cathie Ursu

del_button January 10, 2012 at 7:08 PM
Anonymous said...

I would like to participate in picking a Saint for the Year. My email is aceveskm@aol.com.
Thanks

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