A missionary bishop sent to Bavaria, Rupert had great successes in gaining converts along the Danube River. He requested permission to settle in Juvavum, a dilapidated Roman outpost. There he started the industry of salt mining in the mountains. This led to the rejuvenation of the area and its being renamed Salzburg. The monastery he erected is still in use today.
Other Patronage: Salzburg
Joseph was the carpenter who served as Christ’s father on Earth. He never shirked his duties as the head of his family and stood by Mary, guarding her from ridicule and respecting her virgin state. It is thought that Joseph died well before Christ was crucified, hence he never had to suffer over the fate of his son. For this reason, he is invoked for a happy death.
Other Patronages: Austria, Belgium, Canada, Mexico, Peru, Vietnam; Carpenters; Fathers
Invoked Against: Doubt
Invoked For: the sale of a house, to find work
A British subject of Rome, Patrick was kidnapped by pirates and taken to Ireland when he was sixteen. After six years of herding sheep and being exposed to the elements, he managed to escape. He studied to become a missionary to Ireland, and on his return devoted himself to evangelizing the tribes there. It was said he had more power over nature than the druidic priests. He rid the island of snakes and could control the weather. He was granted his request to God that the Irish be judged by him when they died. He is a national hero there and his cult has spread all over the world.
Other Patronages: Nigeria
Invoked Against: Rabies, Serpents, the torments of hell
A noble Roman woman, Frances had a happy forty-year marriage. Though she lived in a palazzo, she organized a group of laywomen to help tend the sick. The city was in great political turmoil, and her husband was exiled, leaving her to manage alone. The family lost much of its fortune, and on his return, he died a broken man. Through prayer and a cheerful disposition, Frances was granted the privilege of always seeing her guardian angel, whose glow functioned much like a headlight on a car. After her husband’s death, Frances entered religious life.
Other Patronages: Motorists, Taxi Drivers; Death of Children
A Portuguese mercenary who fought in several wars, sold slaves, and lived hard, John was known to “think with his heart” by acting impulsively. While a book dealer in Grenada, he heard a sermon that changed his life, driving him to temporary madness. Upon his recovery, he devoted the rest of his life to the sick and destitute. He leaped into a river to save a drowning man and died himself from an overexhausted heart.
Other Patronages: Dying; Hospitals, Booksellers, Nurses, Printers
Invoked against: Alcoholism
Pepetua was a married noblewoman in Africa and Felicity was a pregnant slave, both were imprisoned together. Perpetua left a detailed journal about their captivity and the persecution of Christians. Perpeuta’s greatest torment was being separated from her child. Felicity gave birth two days before they were killed in the arena by a herd of wild cattle.
Other Patronage: Mothers
Above Patron Saints for March have been excerpted from the book: “Patron Saints: A Feast of Holy Cards” by Barbara Calamari and Sandra DiPasqua.
All images have been borrowed from the holy card collection of Father Eugene Carrella.
Saint Valentine, the Saint associated with marriage and love, has a very special place in the hearts of the people of Roquemaure, and small town in the Vaucluse region of Provence, France. In 1868 the town welcomed the Saint’s relics into their town in an effort to cure their terribly blight infested vineyards. Every year since the arrival of the holy relics, the town holds a huge festival, starting on the Saint’s feast day of February 14 and lasting three days. Couples promenade through the town square in 19th century attire, and there is much period dancing and live music, all dedicated to the theme of love. Kids play traditional 19th century games, and basket makers set up their stalls to demonstrate their craft. Barrel organs are on every street corner, and horse drawn carriages carry residents and tourists,dressed head to toe in the fashions of St. Valentine’s Day, through the town. This area now produces some of Provence’s best red wine and much of it is consumed during this cold weather, outdoor festival.
The St. Valentine’s festival also coincides with the black truffle season in the Vaucluse, where truffle hunters spend hours in the chilly Provence woods with their truffle hunting pigs or dogs, searching for these expensive prized tubers. Truffles have always been a culinary symbol of romance and an offering of love.
Black truffles are prepared simply so their beautiful perfume is not masked by competing flavors. In the Vaucluse shaving truffles over boiled potatoes drizzled with olive oil is a standard treatment, so is shaving them onto creamy scrambled eggs. But my favorite is a dish of egg pasta, tossed simply with butter and fine Provencal olive oil and topped with thin shavings of the Vaucluse truffle. If you really want to woo your lover, Provence style, try this simple but extravagant recipe.
(Serves two)
½ pound fresh tagliatelle pasta
Salt
3 tablespoons unsalted butter
2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil, from Provence, if possible
A few sprigs flat leaf parsley, leaves lightly chopped
1 ½ to 2 ounces fresh black truffle
Freshly ground black pepper
Put up a pot of pasta cooking water and bring it to a boil. Season it with a generous amount of salt.
Warm a pasta serving bowl and have it close at hand.
Drop the tagliatelle into the water and cook until just tender. The fresher the pasta the shorter the cooking time. Just made egg pasta can take as little as a minute. Store bought, fresh pasta tends to be slightly firmer and might take about 3 minutes. When tender, drain the pasta, leaving a little water clinging to it, and pour it into the serving bowl. Add the butter and olive oil, the parsley, a few big grindings of black pepper, and a pinch of salt, and toss until the pasta is well coated. With a vegetable scraper or a truffle shaver, shave the black truffle over the top. Serve right away.
By Erica De Mane, chef and cookbook writer
A Franciscan tertiary, Margaret had lived with her lover until his murder. Upon her conversion, she struggled with the temptation to return to her former life. She suffered extreme bouts of self-hatred and had to be prevented from self-mutilation. Despite the ridicule and gossip that surrounded her, she was extremely spiritual, experiencing visions of Christ.
Other Patronages: Fallen Women, Falsely Accused People
Invoked Against: Temptation
A virgin martyr from Catania, Sicily, Agatha is closely identified with the protection of her homeland. When she refused to renounce her Christian faith, Agatha was tortured by having her breasts cut off. While in prison, Saint Peter came and healed her. She was later killed by being rolled in burning coals. At the same time, a great earthquake shook Catania, destroying her persecutors. Her veil is still used to ward off the eruptions of nearby Mount Etna.
Other Patronages: Malta, Burns, Pulmonary Diseases, Bell Ringers, Bell Makers, Brass Workers, Cloth Makers, Glass Workers, Wet Nurses, Nursing Mothers
Invoked Against: Fires, Volcanic Eruptions
An Armenian bishop known for his healing powers, Blaise took refuge in a forest during a time of persecution. When many animals stayed by his side, angry hunters reported him to the authorities. While in prison, he healed a boy choking on a fishbone by praying in his cell. Condemned to death, he then promised to protect all who brought a candle to church on his feast fay. He is commemorated on his feast during the “Blessing of the Throats.”
Other Patronages: Croatia, sick cattle, wild animals, builders, carders, laryngologists, mattress makers, swineherds, wind musicians, wool workers
Invoked against: Goiter, Throat Disease
The above patron saints descriptions are excerpted from the book: “Patron Saints: A Feast of Holy Cards” by Barbara Calamari and Sandra DiPasqua. Unless otherwise notated, all images are fom the holy card collection of Father Eugene Carrella.
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