What is a patron saint?

Patron saints are chosen as special protectors or guardians over areas of life. These areas can include
occupations, illnesses, churches, countries, causes -- anything that is important to us. The earliest records
show that people and churches were named after apostles and martyrs as early as the fourth century.
Recently, the popes have named patron saints but patrons can be chosen by other individuals or groups as
well. Patron saints are often chosen today because an interest, talent, or event in their lives overlaps with
the special area. Angels can also be named as patron saints. A patron saint can help us when we follow the
example of that saint's life and when we ask for that saint's intercessory prayers to God.

For example, Francis of Assisi loved nature and so he is patron of ecologists. Francis de Sales was a writer
and so he is patron of journalists and writers. Clare of Assisi was named patron of television because one
Christmas when she was too ill to leave her bed she saw and heard Christmas Mass -- even though it was
taking place miles away.

Catholic Belief
I. To gain the happiness of heaven we must know, love, and serve God in this world. Man must know,
love and serve God in a supernatural manner in order to gain happiness of heaven. Man is raised to
the supernatural order only by grace, a free gift of God.
II. We learn to know, love, and serve God from Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who teaches us through the
Catholic Church.
III. In order to be saved, all persons who have attained the use of reason must believe explicitly that God
exist and that he rewards the good and punishes the wicked; in practice they must also believe in the
mysteries of the Blessed Trinity and the Incarnation.
IV. By the Blessed Trinity we mean one and the same God in three divine persons, the Father, the Son,
and the Holy Ghost.
V. By the Incarnation is meant that the Son of God, retaining His divine nature, took to Himself a
human nature, that is, a body and soul like ours.
VI. The Church is the congregation of all baptized persons united in the same true faith, the same
sacrifice, and the same sacraments, under the authority of the Sovereign Pontiff and the bishops in
communion with him.
VII. We find the chief truths taught by Jesus Christ through the Catholic Church in the Apostles' Creed.
The Commandments
 Besides believing what God has revealed, we must keep His law.
The Two Great Commandments
that contain the whole law of God are:

You shall love the Lord your God with your whole heart, and with your whole soul, and
with your whole mind, and with your whole strength; you shall love your neighbor as
yourself.
To love God, our neighbor, and ourselves, we must keep the commandments of God and of the Church,
and perform the spiritual and corporal works of mercy.

The Ten Commandments of God

I. I am the Lord your God; you shall not have strange gods before me.
II. You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain.
III. Remember to keep holy the Lord's day
IV. Honor your father and your mother.
V. You shall not kill.
VI. You shall not commit adultery.
VII. You shall not steal.
VIII. You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.
IX. You shall not covet your neighbor's wife.
X. You shall not covet you neighbor's goods.
The Chief Commandments or Laws, of the Church
 I. To assist at Mass on all Sundays and holy days of obligation.
II. To fast and abstain on the days appointed.
III. To confess our sins at least once a year.
IV. To receive Holy Communion during the Easter time.
V. To contribute to the support of the Church.
VI. To observe the laws of the Church concerning marriage.