UPDATE 2: Thank you to the 214 people who participated in this devotion. As of now the drawings for 2014 have closed. Thank you again and I'll be in contact with you in December 2014 regarding the 2015 Patron Saint of the Year Devotion
I am very pleased to again be a facilitator for 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 2014 Patron Saint of the Year Devotion.
You can read about the past devotions at the following posts:
- 2006 Saint for the Year Devotion
- 2007 Saint for the Year Devotion
- 2008 Saint for the Year Devotion
- 2010 Saint for the Year Devotion
- 2011 Saint for the Year Devotion
- 2012 Saint for the Year Devotion
- 2013 Saint for the Year Devotion
When will the saints be drawn? This year I will start the drawing of saints on the Octave Day of Christmas after the 10 AM Solemn High Mass and the recitation of both the Veni Creator Spiritus and the Litany of Saints. Saints will be emailed starting that afternoon and thereafter.
Last year hundreds 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 Ghost 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
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.
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.
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 2013" to acatholiclife [at] gmail.com
So, comment below and pass this message on throughout the entire Catholic Blogsphere!
Support
I handle the planning, marketing, and drawing for 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 and it helps keep A Catholic Life online.
Please - a donation of only $2.00 is appreciated and helpful! If each of you contributed only $2.00 I would be able to cover some of the most important updates this blog needs.
Results:
Name | Saint |
Susanne M. | St. Maria Goretti |
Amelia G | St. Hyacinth feastday 9/11 |
Alma R | St. Thomas Aquinas feastday 3/7 |
Evangeline | St. Gertrude Comensoli |
Antoniette | St. Romanus feastday 8/9 |
Andy M | St. Perpetuus feastday 4/8 |
Michael | St. Catherine feastday 11/25 |
Matthew | St. Hilary feastday 1/14 |
Max | St. Nazarius feastday 7/28 |
Cory L | St. Guilia Salzano |
Diane K | St. Bertha feastday 7/4 |
Kathy L | St. Marius feastday 1/19 |
Elizabeth C | St. Eligius feastday 12/1 |
Elynne W | The Guardian Angels |
Cathleen | St. Ephrem the Syrian |
Edmund | St. Theodulus feastday of 5/3 |
Carla | St. Augustine of Canterbury |
Anna | St. Elizabeth feastday of 7/8 |
Larry | St. Lupicinus feastday of 2/28 |
Betty | St. Ladislas feastday of 6/27 |
Perry | St. Caius feastday of 4/22 |
Fran T | St. Fabian feastday 1/20 |
GentleHeart64 | St. Didacus feastday 11/3 |
Kathy G | St. Mary of the Cross |
Karleen | St. Hyacinth feastday 8/17 |
Guy C. | St. Cajetan feastday 8/7 |
Terry | St. Tarasius feastday 2/25 |
John | St. Bede feastday 4/10 |
Joseph | St. Agnes |
Heidi M | St. Plutarch feastday 6/28 |
ABG | St. Romanus feastday 8/9 |
JL | St. John Francis Regis |
Anna B | St. John Leonard feastday 10/9 |
Bill | St. Ambrose |
Julie | St. Ladislas feastday of 6/27 |
Scott | St. Hyacinth feastday 8/17 |
Blake | St. Ludger feastday 3/26 |
Jonathan A | 40 Martyrs of Sebaste |
James A | St. Eventius feastday 5/3 |
Ron A | St. Thomas of Canterbury |
Jessa | St. Abraham feastday 3/16 |
Jessa's sister M. | Seven Holy Brothers feastday 7/10 |
Jessa's sister L. | St. Camillus of Leilis feastday 7/18 |
Jessa's future husband | St. Theodore Guerin |
Jessa's dad and mom | St. Barbara feastday 12/4 |
Joe | St. Philogonius feastday 12/20 |
Monica | St. John Baptist de Rossi |
Laura | St. Jerome |
Amy | St. Marcellinus feastday 6/2 |
Judy | St. Jerome |
Joan | St. Frances Cabrini |
Anonymous | St. Alphonsus Liguori |
Kathy R | St. Hospitius feastday 5/21 |
Lisa E | St. Martin de Porres |
Lisa B | St. Theodore Guerin |
Michael Y | St. Paternus feastday 4/15 |
Mariah | St. Julia feastday 5/22 |
Monica M. | St. John Gualbert feastday 7/12 |
Cynthia V | St. Medard feastday 6/8 |
N Alan Anderson | St. Paul the Apostle |
Rosalinda L | St. Methodius feastday 7/7 |
Lujan | St. Albert the Great |
Enrico | St. Helena feastday 8/18 |
Joy | St. Perpetuus feastday 4/8 |
Pancreatius | St. Edward feastday 10/13 |
Filip | St. Rufina feastday 7/10 |
Anna | St. Luigi Guanella |
Serv | St. Anthony Claret feastday 10/23 |
Va Family | St. Ludger feastday 3/26 |
Vi Family | St. Crescentia feastday 6/15 |
Leissue Claim | St. Hyacinth feastday 8/17 |
Leissue Home | St. Filippo Smaldone |
Leissue Doc | St. Joseph Calasanctius feastday 8/27 |
Ramzi | St. Barbatus feastday 2/19 |
Pam | Seven Holy Brothers feastday 7/10 |
Noah | St. Willibrord feastday 11/7 |
Noella | Our Lady under the title "Our Lady of the Rosary" |
Kate | St. Crescentia feastday 6/15 |
Paul W | St. Perpetuus feastday 4/8 |
Unknown | St. Marcellinus feastday 6/2 |
Cathy T | St. Barachisius feastday 3/29 |
Ray | St. Josaphat feastday 11/14 |
Rosie | St. Caspar |
Cristian | St. Alpohnsa of the Immaculate Conception |
Nicolaus | St. Bede feastday 4/10 |
Elena | St. Quintin feastday 10/31 |
Pablo | St. Tarasius feastday 2/25 |
Ruth | Seven Holy Servite Founders |
Dan & Kristin S. | St. John Leonard feastday 10/9 |
Sandy | St. Anthony of the Desert |
Brandon | St. George Preca |
Rachel | St. Paul of the Cross |
Sue | St. Bernardo Tolomei |
Rebecca | St. Joseph the Foster Father of Jesus Christ |
Clare | St. Peter of Alacantara feastday 10/19 |
Mark | St. Rafael Guizar Valencia |
Jess | St. Bernard feastday of 8/20 |
Lucy L | St. Frumentius feastday 10/27 |
Lucy E | St. Andrew the Apostle |
Sonya B | St. Melchior |
Susan | St. Chrysenthus feastday 10/25 |
Madalena | Our Lady under the title "Our Lady of the Rosary" |
A. Dawn M. Anderson | St. Julius feastday 4/12 |
Lois F | St. Albinus feastday 3/1 |
Gemma D | St. Paul the Apostle |
Barry M. | St. Frei Galvao |
Susan M. | St. Perpetuus feastday 4/8 |
Erin M. | St. Mary of the Cross |
Alex M. | St. Philogonius feastday 12/20 |
Elly M. | St. Edward feastday 10/13 |
Anna M. | St. Francis Xavier feastday 12/3 |
Evelyn M. | St. John the Apostle |
Tim W | St. Catherine Laboure feastday 11/28 |
Steve | St. Bernardine of Siena feastday of 5/20 |
Toni | St. Ethelreda feastday of 6/2 |
Stephanie | St. Soter feastday of 4/22 |
Christine | St. Mary feastday of 3/16 |
Butch | St. Arcangelo Tadini |
Ken | St. Paul the 1st Hermit |
John | St. Elizabeth feastday of 7/8 |
Lenore | St. Barnabas feastday 6/11 |
Baby #1 | St. Matthias |
Dan | St. John Joseph of the Cross feastday 3/5 |
Baby #2 | St. Bernard feastday of 8/20 |
Christopher | St. Hilary feastday 1/14 |
Craig V | St. Edward feastday 10/13 |
Vangie M. | St. Louis IX |
Lisa | St. Anthony Zaccaria feastday 7/5 |
Franciscus Carmelo | The Guardian Angels |
Sequoia S | St. Gregory Barbarigo |
Aimee | St. Damien Joseph de Veuster |
Jay | St. Thomas Apostle |
Cameron | St. Ludger feastday 3/26 |
Liam | St. Albert the Great |
Callie O. | The Holy Innocents |
Anonymous | St. Ethelreda feastday of 6/2 |
Anonymous' son Patrick | St. Teresa feastday 10/15 |
Lisa | St. Felix of Valois |
Bill | St. Cornelius feastday 9/16 |
Christopher | St. Abachum feastday 1/19 |
Sarah | St. Eusebius feastday 8/14 |
John | St. Quintin feastday 10/31 |
Monica | St. Dominic feastday 8/4 |
Caroline | St. Leocadia feastday 12/9 |
Bekki | St. Andrew Avellino feastday 11/10 |
Cindy | St. Marcellus feastday 1/6 |
Lila | St. Basil the Great |
Dustin | St. Boniface |
Hailey | St. Damien Joseph de Veuster |
Janet G | St. Andrew the Apostle |
Seppy P | St. Felicitas feastday 3/6 |
Pete R | St. Eligius feastday 12/1 |
fwkoes | St. John of Avila |
Lucy D | St. Victor feastday 7/12 |
Roger | St. Eusebius feastday 12/16 |
Demi | St. Frances Cabrini |
Renee M | St. Anthony Zaccaria feastday 7/5 |
Chistine M | St. Bridget feastday 10/8 |
Catherine | St. Mary dei Pazzi feastday 5/29 |
Tony M | St. Martha feastday 1/19 |
Michelle | St. Polycarp |
Rick | St. Donatian feastday 5/24 |
Sean | St. Benjamin feastday 3/31 |
Derek | St. Marie Eugenie of Jesus Milleret |
Dorothy | St. Hyacinth feastday 9/11 |
Mark L | St. James feastday 7/25 |
Pete S | St. Donatian feastday 5/24 |
Jon H | St. Cyril feastday 7/7 |
Cynthia H. | St. Martha feastday 1/19 |
John R. | St. Anthony of the Desert |
Lisa S. | St. Melchior |
Nanette | St. Caspar |
Dalleys | St. Victorian feastday 1/12 |
Christina B | Seven Holy Brothers feastday 7/10 |
John M. R. | St. Rafael Guizar Valencia |
Judi S. | St. Euphrasia feastday 3/13 |
Sharon K | St. Callistus feastday 10/14 |
Michael C | 40 Martyrs of Sebaste |
Heather | St. Peter feastday 6/29 |
M Porter | St. James feastday 7/25 |
Debbie | St. Vincent feastday 1/22 |
Joe | The Guardian Angels |
Thomas | St. Margaret feastday 6/10 |
David | St. Cyril feastday 7/7 |
Stephanie | St. Camillus of Leilis feastday 7/18 |
abjeschke089 | St. Stanislaus feastday 5/7 |
Cheryl | St. Marcellinus feastday 4/20 |
Jacob | St. Cyril of Alexandria |
Alicia | St. Silverius feastday 6/20 |
Alicia's Mom | St. Porphyrius feastday 2/26 |
Barb | St. Veronica of Milan feastday 1/13 |
Jim | St. Acacius feastday 5/8 |
Nathalie C | St. Evodius feastday 5/6 |
Gorraiz Family | St. Abachum feastday 1/19 |
Pamela M | St. Stanislaw Soltys |
Danielle R | St. Jerome |
Please-eaileron | St. Theodore Guerin |
Denise G | St. Camillus of Leilis feastday 7/18 |
Kathy S | St. Simon feastday 10/28 |
Michael V | St. Anthony Zaccaria feastday 7/5 |
Liz | St. Eleuthenus feastday 9/6 |
Ayden | St. Anne feastday 7/26 |
Sean. Jr | St. Veronica of Milan feastday 1/13 |
Barbara | St. Daria feastday 10/25 |
Daryl | St. Fabian feastday 1/20 |
Jeanie | St. Eventius feastday 5/3 |
Lawrence | St. Peter of Alacantara feastday 10/19 |
Erika | St. Barbara feastday 12/4 |
Jared S | St. Januarius |
Mark | St. Veronica feastday 7/12 |
Kay | St. Edward feastday 10/13 |
Ross | St. Gregory feastday 1/4 |
Carol | St. Marcellinus feastday 4/20 |
Lawrence | St. Marcellus feastday 10/30 |
If you are not familiar your saint, I encourage you to research online and even pick up a copy of Father Hugo Hoever's "Live of the Saints," from which I read daily. While the book does not include saints canonized in recent years, it is something that I am highly recommending. You may find information on your saint on my page dedicated to the saints: http://acatholiclife.blogspot.