Artists / Blessed Fra Angelico, 1387–1455,
Feast Day: February 18

Born Guido di Pietro in Tuscany, Italy, Fra Angelico became a Dominican monk in Florence. Believing that one must be Christlike to visually depict Christ, he lived a truly Christian life, living humbly and nursing the sick. He meditated and prayed before beginning his paintings, which are considered among the greatest works in art history. He earned the title “Blessed Brother Angel” because of the beauty of his work and the beauty of his soul.

Bulgaria / Cyril and Methodius, 827–869 / 826–885,
Feast Day: February 14

Known as “the Apostles to the Slavs,” these two brothers gave up the comfortable lives into which they were born to become priests. They were summoned to work in Moravia, where they began to teach in the native language, instead of the traditional Greek or Latin. They are credited with inventing the Cyrillic alphabet and are also considered the fathers of Slavonic literature. After their deaths, their methods of teaching were spread to Bulgaria, Serbia, and Russia.

Other patronages: Europe; professors, teachers

Childless People / Julian the Hospitaller, dates unknown, Feast Day: February 12

A noble layman, Julian was out hunting when a stag warned him that one day he would kill his own parents. To avoid this fate, he moved far away and married. After years of searching, his parents located him and went to surprise him. Returning to his house, he saw two figures in bed. Thinking his wife was with another man, he killed them. Turning back the covers, he saw it was his parents. He and his wife then gave up everything and went on a pilgrimage. Julian did penance, helping the poor and opening a sanctuary for lepers, until he earned divine forgiveness.

Other patronages: hospitality; boatmen, circus workers, clowns, fiddlers, innkeepers, jugglers, murderers, pilgrims, shepherds

Invoked: to find lodging while traveling

Dentists / Apollonia, d. 249, Feast Day: February 9

During festivities celebrating the Roman occupation of Egypt, a violent mob began attacking Christians. Apollonia, a revered deaconess, was repeatedly hit in the face until her teeth were broken. Confronted with a raging bonfire if she did not denounce her faith, she voluntarily threw herself into the flames. Another version of this story says that she was tortured by having her teeth pulled with pincers before being burned.

Invoked: against toothache

Florists / Dorothy of Caesarea, d. 311,
Feast Day: February 6

Her name means “gift of God.” Dorothy was a young Christian girl living in what is now Turkey. As she was being led away to her martyrdom, a lawyer in the jeering crowd mocked her by asking her to send him some flowers and fruits from the heavenly garden to which she was going. After her death, a child came by his house with Dorothy’s veil. Wrapped in it were three apples and three roses; this was in the middle of winter. The lawyer immediately converted and suffered the same fate as Dorothy.

Other patronages: brewers, gardeners, midwives; brides, newlyweds

Denmark / Ansgar, 801–865, Feast Day: February 3

Born in northern France, Ansgar earned the title of “Apostle of the North” by accompanying the newly baptized King Harald home to Denmark, where he set up the first Christian missions in Scandinavia. He was invited to Sweden, where he erected the first Christian church in an area extremely hostile to the new faith. As the bishop of Bremen, Ansgar witnessed the destruction of all he had worked for when the Vikings leveled his churches. His visions assured him his work would not be in vain. Two hundred years after his death, missionaries succeeded in evangelizing these northern countries in his name.

Other patronages: Germany, Iceland, Sweden

Dairy Workers / Brigid of Ireland, 453–523,
Feast Day: February 1

The daughter of a pagan king and a Christian slave, Brigid helped her mother run her owner’s  dairy with great success, despite the fact that she gave away more than they sold. After refusing to marry, Brigid entered into religious service and started the great Monastery of Kildare for men and women, which had a world-famous art school. She traveled extensively, founding religious houses throughout Ireland, and is buried with Saints Patrick and Columba.

Other patronages: Ireland, New Zealand; nuns, poultry workers, sailors, scholars, travelers; children with unmarried parents, fugitives, newborns

Invoked: against fire

Above Patron Saints excerpted from the book: “Patron Saints: A Feast of Holy Cards” by Barbara Calamari and Sandra DiPasqua. All images are from the collection of Father Eugene Carrella.