Military / Ignatius of Loyola, 1491–1556, Feast Day: July 31

A son of Spanish nobles and a dedicated soldier, Ignatius’ military career ended when he was hit by a cannonball. While recuperating, he read the lives of saints and decided to become a soldier for Christ. After a year in contemplation, he developed his program of “spiritual exercises” that are the basis of today’s twelve-step programs. Eventually he founded the Society of Jesus, now called the Jesuits. As an order, they educate over 200,000 students per year in schools and universities all over the world.

Other patronages: Basque Country (Spain); religious retreats, spiritual exercises.

Grandfathers / Joachim, first century b.c., Feast Day: July 26

Other patronages: Adjuntas (Puerto Rico); fathers

Novena to Saints Joachim and Anne

Psychiatrists / Christina the Astonishing, 1150–1224, Feast Day: July 24

An orphan from Liege, Belgium, Christina was thought to have died from a seizure. In the middle of her funeral mass, she rose up and levitated to the church ceiling. Ordered down by the priest, she gave a detailed account of her visits to heaven, hell, and purgatory. Thought to be insane, she had an acute sense of smell and found it unbearable to be near many people. As she advanced in age, she gained respectability. Many Church officials consulted her on her visions.

Other patronages: mental illness; mental-health caregivers, therapists

Hairdressers / Mary Magdalene, first century a.d., Feast Day: July 22

One of the first disciples of Christ, Mary Magdalene was a rich and worldly woman who washed Christ’s feet and dried them with her long, beautiful hair. She was at the foot of the cross when he was crucified, and she was the first person to see him alive when he rose from the dead. After his Ascension, she is said to have traveled to France and lived the rest of her life as a hermit.

Other patronages: carders, gardeners, glovers, perfumers, prostitutes; penitents, prisoners

Invoked: against fevers, lust

Childbirth / Margaret of Antioch, late third century, Feast Day: July 20

Margaret was a beautiful princess who secretly converted to Christianity. She was driven from her home and became a simple shepherdess. When she refused the advances of the local governor, she was imprisoned. The Devil appeared to her as a dragon and swallowed her whole. A cross she was carrying grew until it split the dragon in two, enabling her to climb out.

Other patronages: laundresses, midwives, nurses, shepherds; pregnant women

Invoked: against hemorrhages, infertility, pains of childbirth, floods, storms

Argentina / Francis Solano, 1549–1610, Feast Day: July 14

A missionary from Andalusia in Spain, Francis traveled to South America on a slave ship. The ship ran aground in a storm and was deserted by the captain and crew. Francis stayed with the slaves until their rescue. He was one of the first Europeans to travel in the Argentine rain forest, and he learned the languages of the indigenous people. He worked extensively in Lima, Peru, for the rights of native peoples. He had the gift of second sight and was a great healer.

Other patronages: Bolivia, Chile, Paraguay, Peru

Compulsive Gambling / Camillus of Lellis, 1550–1614, Feast Day: July 14

A soldier of fortune, Camillus lost everything gambling. To pay off his debts, he worked as a construction worker for the Capuchin monks. He entered their order and was hospitalized for an old war injury. He devoted himself to the care of the sick, founding the nursing order of the Congregation of the Servants of the Sick.

Other patronages: care of the sick; nurses

Invoked: for a good spiritual death

Forest Workers / John Gualbert, 985–1073, Feast Day: July 12

A wealthy soldier from Florence, Italy, John was dedicated to avenging his brother’s murder. When he found the man, who fell to his knees begging Christ to accept him, John could not kill him. He underwent a total conversion, eventually founding his own monastery dedicated to wiping out the corruption in the Church. His monks built everything by hand and transformed the wild and barren land into a lush park by planting numerous trees.

Other patronages: parks; park keepers

Physical Abuse Victims / Godelieve, 1049–1070, Feast Day: July 6

A Flemish noblewoman with an arranged marriage, Godelieve was considered ugly by her new husband and mother-in-law. She was deserted by him and was locked in a cell, starved and beaten by her in-laws. The local bishop made her husband return to the marriage, but her husband had Godelieve strangled and drowned in a pond. Local people considered the site of her murder sacred, and there have been multiple reports of miraculous healing through her intercession.

Other patronages: healthy throats; difficult marriages, verbal abuse victims

Invoked: against throat diseases

India / Thomas the Apostle, first century a.d., Feast Day: July 3

Thomas was the apostle who doubted the resurrection until he felt Christ’s wounds. His area of evangelization was India. A king had him design a fabulous palace and gave him a large sum of money to build it. Instead, he gave the money to the poor, saying he was building the king’s  palace in heaven. He was martyred there by sword.

Other patronages: the East Indies, Pakistan, Sri Lanka; architects, builders, construction workers, engineers, geometricians, masons, stonecutters, surveyors, theologians

Invoked: against doubt

The above patron saints are 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.