Saint Walburga  710–779. Feast Day: February 25. May 1.
Patron of: Cough sufferers. Famine. Storms at sea. Antwerp, Belgium. The daughter of one of the Saxon kings, Walburga was born in Wessex, England. As a Benedictine nun she moved to Germany where she became Abbess of several religious communities of men and women. She wears a crown denoting her royal birth and holds the Abbess’s staff. In her hand is the closed book of mysterious knowledge. On the book and at her feet are flasks of the oil which still oozes at her shrine and is reputed to have curative powers.

The above saints for May are excerpted from the book: “Holy Cards” by Barbara Calamari and Sandra DiPasqua. All images are from the collection of Father Eugene Carrella.