What's the difference between a Saint and a Patron Saint?

Question

What's the difference between a Saint and a Patron Saint?

Answer 1

A Patron Saint is one who is picked by a specific group to represent them. He is usually picked for whatever values he had, that were the reasons for his being designated a saint. A saint who has not been selected by a specific group, is just referred to as a Saint. Saint Patrick is the Patron Saint of the Irish, while he might be referred to as a Saint by a Brazilian.

Answer 2

A Saint is someone who has been declared by the Christian Church to be an example of holiness and virtue that believers can follow. Any believer can pray for any saint's guidance and inspiration.



A Patron Saint is a saint chosen as a special guardian and protector by a person, institution or group.



Sometimes this is done through historical association with something in the saint's life or legend. Saints Cosmas and Damian, who were twins and healers, are patron saints of doctors and surgeons (though not of twins!) The angel Gabriel, God's messenger, is the patron saint of messengers, including broadcasters. The reason can be grisly - St. Lawrence, who was roasted alive on a gridiron, is the patron saint of cooks.



A saint can also become a patron saint by personal choice. A church makes St. John the Evangelist their patron saint when they dedicate the church to him. Parents make St. Francis Xavier their son's patron saint when they name the child after him.



Sometimes there's no explanation for a choice of patron. Brussels chose Saint Michael the Archangel as their patron and has him defeating the devil on the city coat of arms. That makes sense - he's a fine, strong protector for a city, and you can understand why he's also patron saint of swordsmen and soldiers - but why is he the patron saint of bakers and greengrocers?



The legends and lives of the saints make fascinating reading and often tell us more about the time in which they were written and the aspirations of the writers than about the saint him or herself. Saints have also inspired much great art and music.

Answer 3

Patron Saint Of Messengers

Answer 4

A Patron saint "is a saint looked upon as the special guardian of a person, place, institution", whereas a Saint is a "person officially recognized as having lived an exceptionally holy life, and thus as being in heaven and capable of interceding for sinners; canonized person." Given this, a Patron Saint is more of a guardian Angel, like St. Catherine Alexandria is the Patron Saint of Philosophers. The saint is recognized as a special guardian of whatever field they're focused on.



Just as when people Pray to Saint Anthony when they lose something. Saint Anthony is the Patron Saint of Lost Articles, and given that, can probably aid someone more in finding what they lost, than praying to Mother Mary...

Answer 5

Usually in very Catholic families the day a child is born on is a particular saint's day and the child is given the name of that saint as a first name. That saint becomes your patron saint.

Answer 6

A patron saint is one who is seen as helping a particular group of people or a particular individual and interceding with God on behalf of that group of person. For example, St. Joseph is often seen as the patron saint of travelers or Our Lady of Guadalupe is seen as the patron saint of Mexico, and people will pray to them to intercede with God on their behalf.