# Oddball Patron Saints **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [August 27, 2008, 8:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oddball-patron-saints/461397 "2008-08-27T08:01:51Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![MissMossie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f6c823/32.png) [@MissMossie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MissMossie)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2008, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oddball-patron-saints/461397/21 "2008-08-27T17:46:51Z")
[QUOTE=Oy!] And this is why someday there will be a Ste. Mossie, patron saint of the Dope. 😃 [/QUOTE] And now I have a new life goal. Unfortunately, the Roman Catholic Church does far too much investigation of the lives of those up for becoming saints. I’m currently sinful enough not to be a saint but not so sinful to have some sort of remarkable turn around like ex-party boy St. Augustine or the late Thomas Merton. ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2008, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oddball-patron-saints/461397/22 "2008-08-27T17:48:53Z")
> [@](#): > > don’t think she was made the patron of astronauts in that book, she was mentioned as the patron saint of all who deal with high explosives, rocketmen among others. I don’t see the distinction. Rocketmen = astronauts. Yes, I know that Rocketmen includes more than astronauts. Don’t give me grief. The point is that it certainly DOES include astronauts. ---
**Author:** ![Oy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/bc8723/32.png) [@Oy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oy)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2008, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oddball-patron-saints/461397/23 "2008-08-27T18:42:52Z")
[QUOTE=MissMossie] And now I have a new life goal. Unfortunately, the Roman Catholic Church does far too much investigation of the lives of those up for becoming saints. I’m currently sinful enough not to be a saint but not so sinful to have some sort of remarkable turn around like ex-party boy St. Augustine or the late Thomas Merton. [/QUOTE] You’re bush league in the sin department compared to Augustine, so what’s the problem? Plenty of time to become a saint yet. Your reformation doesn’t _have_ to be grand. All you need is a miracle or three beneath your belt (do habits have belts? - do nuns of your order have habits?) and you’ll be all set. ---
**Author:** ![Rayne\_Man](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/df705f/32.png) [@Rayne\_Man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rayne_Man)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2008, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oddball-patron-saints/461397/24 "2008-08-27T18:45:38Z")
Every day the _Times_ (of London) shows which saint’s day it is. Today it’s St. Monica, who is the patron saint of wives and “disappointing children”. Last Friday it was St. Symphorian of Autun, patron saint against syphilis and eye problems. ---
**Author:** ![Oy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/bc8723/32.png) [@Oy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oy)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2008, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oddball-patron-saints/461397/25 "2008-08-27T18:47:38Z")
[QUOTE=Rayne Man] Every day the _Times_ (of London) shows which saint’s day it is. Today it’s St. Monica, who is the patron saint of wives and “disappointing children”. Last Friday it was St. Symphorian of Autun, patron saint against syphilis and eye problems. [/QUOTE] “And what do you want to be when you grow up, little Symphy?” “I want to be the patron saint of syphilis!” “Good heavens! What a disappointment!” ---
**Author:** ![Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spectre_of_pithecanthropus/32/12343_2.png) [@Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spectre_of_Pithecanthropus)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2008, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oddball-patron-saints/461397/26 "2008-08-27T18:50:50Z")
[QUOTE=astorian] An old friend of mine, who’s a devout Catholic and a former commander of a Marine Corps artillery unit, told me once that St. Barbara is the patron saint of artillery soldiers! Wikipedia confirms that, for whatever that’s worth. > **[Saint Barbara](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Barbara)** > > Saint Barbara (Ancient Greek: Ἁγία Βαρβάρα; Coptic: Ϯⲁⲅⲓⲁ Ⲃⲁⲣⲃⲁⲣⲁ; Church Slavonic: Великомученица Варва́ра Илиопольская; Arabic: القديسة الشهيدة بربارة), known in the Eastern Orthodox Church as the Great Martyr Barbara, was an early Christian Syrian Greek saint and martyr. > Saint Barbara is often portrayed with miniature chains and a tower to symbolize her father imprisoning her. As one of the Fourteen Holy Helpers, Barbara is a popular saint, perhaps best known as the patroness saint of armoure... [/QUOTE] I learned recently that Saint Sebastian is the patron saint of soldiers (he was one). For that reason our parish, near the VA in our city, was dedicated to him. Saint Isidore of the seventh century is the patron saint of the Internet. Presumably this came about because he wrote an encyclopedia of natural history in which fact and fancy was so confused that it was of little value. A dozen or so years ago this seemed appropriate as it was much more difficult to search effectively than it is now. ---
**Author:** ![Oy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/bc8723/32.png) [@Oy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oy)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2008, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oddball-patron-saints/461397/27 "2008-08-27T19:07:12Z")
[QUOTE=Spectre of Pithecanthropus] Saint Isidore of the seventh century is the patron saint of the Internet. Presumably this came about because he wrote an encyclopedia of natural history in which fact and fancy was so confused that it was of little value. A dozen or so years ago this seemed appropriate as it was much more difficult to search effectively than it is now. [/QUOTE] Whoever assigns these things has a great sense of humor! ---
**Author:** ![Yllaria](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yllaria/32/3452_2.png) [@Yllaria](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yllaria)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2008, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oddball-patron-saints/461397/28 "2008-08-27T19:08:34Z")
It’s always tickled me that Clare of Assisi is the patron saint of television. How did she get the job, do you ask? Once when she was sick and told to stay in the infirmary rather than attend mass, she had a vision of the mass, with sound, as it was happening, which greatly cheered her. Obviously a precursor. ---
**Author:** ![Sternvogel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bc79bd/32.png) [@Sternvogel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sternvogel)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2008, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oddball-patron-saints/461397/29 "2008-08-27T20:18:59Z")
[QUOTE=Yllaria] It’s always tickled me that Clare of Assisi is the patron saint of television. How did she get the job, do you ask? Once when she was sick and told to stay in the infirmary rather than attend mass, she had a vision of the mass, with sound, as it was happening, which greatly cheered her. Obviously a precursor. [/QUOTE] You took mine! For Christmas one year, my Aunt Sharon (who grew up Catholic) got, as a gag gift, a statue of Santa Clara posed on top of a TV. The packaging featured an explanation of the legend. Since I’ve collected stamps and postcards, I decided to see who got assigned patron of these hobbies. Turns out it’s the [Archangel Gabriel,](http://saints.sqpn.com/saintg03.htm) whose function as messenger of God translates to patronage of many communications-related activities and workers, including those involved with television production! ---
**Author:** ![Rayne\_Man](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/df705f/32.png) [@Rayne\_Man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rayne_Man)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2008, 9:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oddball-patron-saints/461397/30 "2008-08-29T09:52:30Z")
Today it’s St Sabina, patron saint of housewives and haemorrhages ! ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2008, 10:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oddball-patron-saints/461397/31 "2008-08-29T10:58:18Z")
[QUOTE=astorian] An old friend of mine, who’s a devout Catholic and a former commander of a Marine Corps artillery unit, told me once that St. Barbara is the patron saint of artillery soldiers! Wikipedia confirms that, for whatever that’s worth. > **[Saint Barbara](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Barbara)** > > Saint Barbara (Ancient Greek: Ἁγία Βαρβάρα; Coptic: Ϯⲁⲅⲓⲁ Ⲃⲁⲣⲃⲁⲣⲁ; Church Slavonic: Великомученица Варва́ра Илиопольская; Arabic: القديسة الشهيدة بربارة), known in the Eastern Orthodox Church as the Great Martyr Barbara, was an early Christian Syrian Greek saint and martyr. > Saint Barbara is often portrayed with miniature chains and a tower to symbolize her father imprisoning her. As one of the Fourteen Holy Helpers, Barbara is a popular saint, perhaps best known as the patroness saint of armoure... [/QUOTE] The Spanish name for a warehouse containing explosives, or for the part of a military ship’s warehouses where explosives are stocked, is santabárbara. Our Lady(, Mother) of Light, is the patron saint of plumbers and electricians among other things. Nowadays most people’s initial reaction is 😕 because they never remember that the first form of public street lighting was gaslight. Saint Isidore of Seville was one of the saints proposed for patron of the internet because he is the patron saint of librarians, printers and writers. His Encyclopedia may have been “confused” but it was the first such and it was used throughtout European schools and universities for a long time. He did not get the job for internet, I don’t remember who did but it wasn’t a Spaniard… ---
**Author:** ![Sternvogel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bc79bd/32.png) [@Sternvogel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sternvogel)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2008, 1:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oddball-patron-saints/461397/32 "2008-08-29T13:27:34Z")
[QUOTE=Nava] Saint Isidore of Seville … did not get the job for internet, I don’t remember who did but it wasn’t a Spaniard… [/QUOTE] Actually, nobody has apparently “gotten it” yet. Isidore [became the leading candidate for patron of computer users and the Internet in 1999](http://saints.sqpn.com/sainti04.htm), and has gained widespread acceptance in this regard, but apparently patronage (like sainthood itself) is not conferred lightly. ---
**Author:** ![Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ccd318/32.png) [@Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paul_in_Qatar)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2008, 1:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oddball-patron-saints/461397/33 "2008-08-29T13:37:21Z")
(Can someone provide a link to the Times’ daily report on the saint of the day? A quick search of their website does not make it easy.) **Nava** in Scotland? She travels more than I do. ---
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2025, 12:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oddball-patron-saints/461397/34 "2025-02-07T00:49:13Z")
Yes I do want to revive this topic. Over in the Pit there is an omnibus thread for stupid m\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*s and somehow we are talking about patron saints. I thought that could be moved here. Maybe nothing will be added but who knows. I looked for a sainthread and picked this one because some of the ones in the Pit discussion are also here… ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2025, 4:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oddball-patron-saints/461397/35 "2025-02-07T04:04:12Z")
Deleted. Let’s try this again. ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2025, 4:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oddball-patron-saints/461397/36 "2025-02-07T04:06:28Z")
St. Blaise is the patron saint of ear, nose and throat diseases, and also of wool combers. Blaise was a physician, and he’s credited with removing a fish bone stuck in a child’s throat (sort of a 4th Century Heimlich maneuver) so ENT makes sense. He was also martyred by being tortured with iron wool combs before beheading. ---
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2025, 4:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oddball-patron-saints/461397/37 "2025-02-07T04:18:46Z")
Saint Kateri Tekakwitha means “She who bumps into things” so maybe she provided this bump from the past. ---
**Author:** ![Slithy\_Tove](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slithy_tove/32/18248_2.png) [@Slithy\_Tove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slithy_Tove)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2025, 4:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oddball-patron-saints/461397/38 "2025-02-07T04:20:19Z")
The one that I found most alienating was Isabela of Lambertini, patron of first communion. A 14th C. child who entered a convent at age 9(!), she insisted on receiving communion although ordinarily she’d have to wait until she was 14. Only after she made the communion wafer hover in midair above her head would the priest administer it. After this, she remained at prayer for several hours until she died of ecstasy. Her example was held up to us as how a good child behaved. ---
**Author:** ![Nyvaak](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/5f8ce5/32.png) [@Nyvaak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nyvaak)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2025, 7:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oddball-patron-saints/461397/39 "2025-02-07T07:37:39Z")
I think St.Joseph of Cupertino was mentioned upthread as the patron saint of aviation. He’s only one of them. One of my all-time favorite patron-saint back stories involves the house in Nazareth where the Virgin Mary was born and raised. As Crusaders were driven out of Palestine toward the end of the 13th Century, this house was in danger and was therefore [flown by angels](https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/253041/how-could-the-holy-house-of-mary-in-nazareth-have-ended-up-in-loreto-italy) to Loreto, Italy, to keep it safe. Thus in 1920 Our Lady of Loreto was [proclaimed patron](https://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/pontifical_councils/migrants/documents/rc_pc_migrants_doc_20000601_avci_santi_en.html) of the fledgling field of air travel. ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2025, 9:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oddball-patron-saints/461397/40 "2025-02-07T09:03:53Z")
> [@Nyvaak](#): > > One of my all-time favorite patron-saint back stories involves the house in Nazareth where the Virgin Mary was born and raised. As Crusaders were driven out of Palestine toward the end of the 13th Century, this house was in danger and was therefore [flown by angels](https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/253041/how-could-the-holy-house-of-mary-in-nazareth-have-ended-up-in-loreto-italy) to Loreto, Italy, to keep it safe. [![](https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/images/The_Holy_House_of_Our_Lady_in_the_Shrine_of_Loreto_Credit_Tatiana_Dyuvbanova__Shutterstock_CNA.jpg?w=670&h=447) ](https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/images/The_Holy_House_of_Our_Lady_in_the_Shrine_of_Loreto_Credit_Tatiana_Dyuvbanova__Shutterstock_CNA.jpg?w=670&h=447) Did medieval Catholics believe Mary was raised in a marble rotunda with sculptures of herself as an adult on the walls? 🤔 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oddball-patron-saints/461397.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oddball-patron-saints/461397.md?page=3)