Patron Saints of Christianity
Patron Saint Peter
St. Peter was also often called Simon Peter. He has the feast day of June 29th. He was known as the Prince of Apostles and the very first pope. He worked, like his brother Andrew, as a fisherman and Andrew was the one who introduced Peter to Christ. In Luke, it is Peter who caught such a large amount of fish due to Christ's instructions that he fell to Jesus' feet upon which time Christ told him he would be a fisher of men. Jesus also renamed Peter Cephas, which means the rock. Peter is recorded more in the gospels than any other disciple and he was at all of the most important events. When Jesus was arrested, he is known for cutting off the right ear of a slave of the high priest. But he then denied Christ three times, just as was predicted. After that time, he wept bitterly. Later, Christ first appeared in his risen form to Peter before he went to the other disciples. Peter is the patron saint of fishermen because of his former occupation and since he was the first pope, he is also the patron saint of popes.
St. Padre Pio
St. Padre Pio was named Francesco in honor of St. Francis of Assisi. He was born to peasant farmers in a small Italian village in 1887. He was a special, godly child even in his earliest days and he felt that he should become a priest at an early age. He received the habit in 1902 and was ordained after seven years of study. Padre PIo was kneeling in front of a cross once when he received visible marks of the crucifix. He became the first stigmatized priest within the history of the church. The doctor, upon examination, could not find any natural causes for the wounds. When he died in 1968, the wounds could no longer be seen.
St. Patrick was a Roman Christian missionary who is highly recognized in Ireland. Two letters about his life, which have been deemed authentic, still survive. The details that come from the letters are universally accepted as truths about his life. When St. Patrick was 16, he was captured by raiders and taken into Ireland as a slave. He lived there for six years before escaping and returning home. He entered the church and went back to Ireland as a bishop, but there is not much know about where he worked. Most of the details about his life are available in pictures. The dates of his life cannot be completely fixed since there is a widespread interpretation regarding his legends. St. Patrick's day is a widespread day of observation celebrated by virtually everyone, both religious and non-religious.
St. Paul has the feast day of June 29th. He was an apostle from the Gentiles who converted on the road to Damascus. He stayed in that region after he was baptized and then put himself further into missionary activities. He preached in synagogues about the truth of Jesus Christ and received a good deal of hatred due to his message. He was imprisoned due to this faith activities and much is known about his life travels because of the letters he wrote and due to the book of Acts, which keeps track of some of his movements. Paul had a huge interest and affection for churches and he was a very profound, religious thinker overall.
St. Paula has the feast day of January 26th. She was born to a noble Roman family and married to Toxotius. She had five children and the family was regarded as ideal. When Toxotius died, however, Paula renounced the world and decided to devote herself to helping the poor. She was closely associated with St. Jerome and his work in Rome. She built a monastery, convent, and hospice during her life and she was one of St. Jerome's closest confidantes and assistants. Because she was a widow herself, she was made the patron saint of widows.
St. Peregrine Laziosi
St. Peregrine Laziosi was born into a rich family in Italy. When he was young, he was active with anti-papal parties and other politics. During one riot, he struck St. Philip, who was trying to meditate. Philip offered Peregrine the other cheek and he was so overcome by the action that he converted to Catholicism. He received a vision of the Virgin Mary and went to Siena to join the Servites. Stories say that he did not allow himself to sit down for the next 30 years and he also observed as much solitude and silence as possible. Later, he went on to found a new house for the Servites and he was seen as an ideal priest who was known to preach fervently. He later had cancer, but was miraculously cured after much prayer. Because of his own personal cancer, he was made the patron saint of cancer victims and other such diseases that are often incurable.
St. Perpetua was martyred alongside Felicity. Perpetua was a nursing mother and a 22-year-old noble woman while Felicity was a slave and expectant mother. Together, they suffered in the Roman province of Africa. They were arrested around the year 203 when emperor Septimus Severus was persecuting Christians. Perpetua, Felicity, and five catechumens were executed for their faith.