Soufflé not rising? Homebrew beer not bubbly? Bees … suffering Colony Collapse Disorder? There may be an app for everything these days, but guaranteed, there are patron saints for more—including disasters of the food-and-drink-related variety. So rather than turning to your iPhone for practical intercession, how about turning to the patron saint of baking or beer-making or beekeeping for divine intervention?
Saint Anthony the Abbottis technically a patron saint of butchers, but since there aresomanypatron saints of butchers—including the apostles John, Bartholomew, Andrew, and Peter—Anthony can afford to specialize in bacon. He was a 4thcentury ascetic who lived for 20 years in an abandoned fort, only occasionally performing miracles and healing people who broke in on his solitude. He is frequently depicted with pigs, possibly owing to his use of pig fat in his healing concoctions, so he was adopted by pig butchers as their patron saint—meaning that if you’re craving the crispy, smoky flavor of good bacon, Anthony is the man you want to talk to.
2. Coffee: Saint Drogo
Saint Drogo, born the son of a Flemish nobleman in 1105 in Flanders, was the original multi-tasker—he could reportedly “bilocate” and was seen simultaneously working in the fieldsandgoing to Mass on Sundays. This undoubtedly took a lot of energy, which is probably one of the reasons why he is the patron saint of coffee and coffeehouses (as well as ugly people and cattle).
Having bread troubles? You’ve got two saints to call on:Saint Elizabeth of Hungary, a princess born in 1205 who rejected courtly life in order to distribute bread to the poor, andSaint Nicholas—yep,thatSaint Nick, the jolly fat man with the belly like a bowl full of jelly. Nicholas was a 4th century bishop who rescued three poor women from a life of prostitution by tossing bags of gold through their window at night; he’s also the patron saint of children, pawnbrokers, and Greece.
4. Beer: Saints Nicholas, Luke, and Augustine
If you’re having trouble with your beer—whether you're suffering a homebrew disaster or the waitress is taking too long to bring your pint—then you’ve got three different saints to whom you could appeal. There’s Saint Nicholas, mentioned above;Saint Luke, author of the third Gospel and considered the first Christian physician; andSaint Augustine of Hippo(top). Augustine, who lived in the early 5th century, had a boozy, wantonly licentious lifestyle;he earned saint status after giving up his wanton ways, and became the patron saint of beer sometime after.
Saint Vincent of Saragossadied so that we could have good wine. Well, not exactly: The 3rd century Spanish martyr died for his faith, after some serious torture involving iron hooks and being roasted on a red-hot gridiron. But since his death, he’s become the patron saint of wine and wine-makers. So thank you, Saint Vincent. And thank you,Saint Urban, another patron saint of wine. He was the bishop of Langres in France during the 4thcentury, but found himself on the receiving end of some persecution after the political situation got murky. He hid in a vineyard, and took the opportunity to convert the vineyard workers who concealed him; he went from vineyard to vineyard thereafter, spreading the Gospel.
6. Hangovers and alcoholics: Saints Bibiana and Monica
If, unlike Augustine, you’re not quite ready to give up your inebriate ways, then you may want to keep a prayer toSaint Bibiana, patron saint of hangovers, on your lips. Little is known about the 4th century virgin and martyr, except that she was reportedly both a virgin and a martyr—she was, according to legend, tied to a pillar on the orders of the Governor of Rome and beaten to death after she refused to convert or be seduced. Why she’s the patron saint of hangovers, as well as headaches, the mentally ill, and single women, is totally unclear. Tired of having hangovers all the time? The first step might be to admit you have a problem (beer for breakfast might be an indication). The second step might be to reach out toSaint Monica. She was the mother of wild, drunken St. Augustine and she earned her saintly status by spending 17 years praying for him. She’s the patron saint of alcoholics.
But back to cheerier topics, like tiny saints and fish.St. Neot, a Glastonbury, England monk who died in 877, is the patron saint of fish. He was also reportedly only 15 inches tall and spent his days in a well, water up to his neck, practicing his devotions.
8. Cooking: Saint Lawrence
Making a fancy dinner?Saint Lawrence of Romeis your go-to man, the patron saint of cooking. A 3rd century Roman deacon, he and his brethren ran afoul of the Prefect of Rome, an occupational hazard of being a Christian back then. He was sentenced to death by slow roasting over an open fire, but he was reportedly so filled with God’s strength and joy that he didn’t even feel the flames. At one point, he even joked with his torturers, “Turn me over, I’m done on this side!”
Before you get down to cooking, you probably want make sure that your local grocery store has all the ingredients you need. For that, you can appeal toMichael the Archangel, one of the stars of the Old Testament. Some claim that grocers adopted Michael as their patron saint because he was also the patron saint of law enforcement officials, who protected the grocers’ business. But how about the people who grow the food that turned up at market? For that, you’ll wantSaint Isidore the Farmerwho was, well, a farmer and whose plowing was often accomplished with the help of three angels. If you’re on the look out for some really good cheese to pair with a fine wine (thank you, Saint Vincent), have a quick chat with 5th century Saint Brigid of Kildare, one of Ireland’s big three: Before giving her life over to virginity and Christian piety, she’d made a success of the dairy owned by the Druid landowner who’d bought her from her mother. And finally, offer a prayer of thanks toSaint Ambrose, patron saint of bee-keepers, for keeping the natural world buzzing, because without bees, life would lack sweetness (and economic, agricultural stability). Ambrose, who lived in Rome and Milan in the 4th century, earned his patronage from his nickname, the Honey Tongued Doctor, owing to his eloquent speaking and preaching.
10. Wait-staff: Saint Martha
Or maybe, you’ll just go out to eat. At which point, your waiter or waitress may just offer a quick prayer toSaint Martha. Martha, the patron saint of wait staff and housewives (who sometimes feel like wait staff, without the tips), frequently hosted Jesus and his Apostles at dinner. But one day, she became irritated that her sister, Mary, wasn’t helping serve and was instead sitting and listening to Jesus. Jesus admonished Martha by noting that all her serving was distracting her from hearing his message. Martha learned her lesson and next time he came around, she stopped what she was doing to be with him. She became the patron saint of those who serve, especially food.
You’ve come down with food poisoning, it happens. Who are you going to call?Saint Charles Borromeowas a 16thcentury cardinal who dedicated his life to helping the poor and sick; exactly why he’s associated with stomach ailments is unclear, but he is.Saint Timothy, a 1stcentury early Christian who was stoned to death, is also the patron saint against intestinal disorders, although again for reasons occluded by time. And then there’s wildSaint Brice, a 5th century priest who was at first better known for his wicked ways, but whose genuine conversion earned him a place in the canon; he’s another patron saint of tummy troubles, also for unknown reasons.Saint Blaiseonce rescued a child from choking to death on a fishbone, so he’s the patron saint of throat ailments (choking would be one); he also once convinced a wolf to return a pig he’d stolen from a poor woman. Handy guy to have around.
There are more saints than there are days of the year to celebrate them, sure, but a surprising number of things don’t have a patron saint—like chocolate, for example, or tea. What would you like to see a patron saint of?
FAQs
Is there a patron saint of coffee? ›
Saint Drogo of Sebourg (March 14, 1105– April 16, 1186) was a French penitential pilgrim and shepherd. He is the patron saint of coffee, coffeehouse keepers, coffeehouse owners, and unattractive people/those whom others find repulsive, among other things.
Who is patron saint of food? ›Saint Lawrence, Lawrence also spelled Laurence, (died 258, Rome [Italy]; feast day August 10), one of the most venerated Roman martyrs, celebrated for his Christian valour. He is the patron saint of the poor and of cooks.
Who is the patron saint of alcohol? ›Saint Matthias the Apostle is a patron saint of alcoholics. He was also the man whom early Christians chose to replace one of Jesus Christ's original apostles who betrayed him -- Judas Iscariot -- after Judas' suicide.
Who is the patron saint of pasta? ›Saint Lawrence is the patron saint of various categories of food workers, such as cooks, pasta makers, rotisserie workers and pastry makers. He is depicted as a young deacon dressed in the dalmatic. His iconographic attribute is the gridiron, because of the torture he suffered.
Who is the patron saint of pizza? ›Saint Anthony the Abbot
He is the patron saint of pizza makers, fire fighters and pigs.
Lu Yu has truly been the patron saint of tea. The Tang Dynasty has been recorded as one the brightest historic eras in the history of China. In fact, the Tang emperors brought such wealth and prosperity to their shores that were credited for making their empire the most powerful centers in the world.
Who is the patron saint of chocolate? ›Paperjam - Saint Nicholas, patron saint of chocolate makers.
Who is the patron saint of breakfast? ›| Arnold of Soissons | |
|---|---|
| Venerated in | Catholic Church |
| Canonized | 6 January 1120 by Pope Callixtus II |
| Feast | 14 August |
| Attributes | As a bishop, with a mash rake |
Charles Borromeo Prayer Card Holy Card Cards Patronage Patron Obesity Dieting with Medal.
Who is the patron saint of vodka? ›Saint Bibiana (Bibiane, Viviana, or Vivian) is a Roman Virgin martyr.
Who is patron saint of addictions? ›
St. Maximilian Kolbe, Patron Saint of those suffering with addictions.
Who is the patron saint of those with addictions? ›St. Jude, most holy Apostle, in my need I reach out to you. I beg you to intercede for me that I may find strength to overcome my illness. Bless all those who struggle with addiction.
Who is the patron saint of ice cream? ›Lidwina (Lydwine, Lydwid, Lidwid, Liduina of Schiedam) (1380-1433) was a Dutch mystic who is honored as a saint by the Catholic Church.
Is there a patron saint of tacos? ›Francis, The Patron Saint of Mexican Food.
Who is the patron saint of cheese? ›According to the panel on display at the Parmigiano Reggiano Museum in Soragna (Parma), Saint Lucio became the patron saint of cheese-makers, and this prerogative inspires much of his iconography; he is depicted in a shepherd's clothes, holding a round of cheese and a knife, with which he is about to cut it; he often ...
Who is the patron saint of bread? ›The patron saint of bacon is Saint Anthony the abbot. He's also the patron saint of swine herders, butchers, epilepsy, amputees, shingles, gravediggers, hermits, lost items, and Canas Brazil.
Who is the saint for anxiety? ›Today, Dymphna is known as the patroness of nervous disorders and mental disease, depression and incest, but she is not the only saint who can help the faithful in times of mental anguish.
Is there a patron saint of water? ›On 17 July Orthodox Christians honour the Holy Great Martyr Saint Marina. In folklore belief in Bulgaria, the saint is called Fiery Marina and symbolizes celestial fire.
Is there a saint of candy? ›Saint Macarius of Alexandria Patron Saint of Sweets and Cooks Fact File.
Who is the patron saint of wine? ›
Who was Saint Vincent? Saint-Vincent was a deacon, a martyr of the Church of Saragossa, Spain, who lived during the fourth century. He is now regarded as the patron saint and protector of winemakers.
Who is the patron saint of happiness? ›| Saint Gemma Galgani | |
|---|---|
| Beatified | 14 May 1933 by Pope Pius XI |
| Canonized | 2 May 1940, Saint Peter's Basilica, Vatican City by Pope Pius XII |
| Major shrine | Passionist Monastery in Lucca, Italy |
| Feast | 11 April (celebrated by Passionists on 16 May) |
St. Martha (feast day July 29) is the patron saint of cooks and housekeepers.
Is there a patron saint of fish? ›Saint Andrew is the patron saint of fishermen. He is also the patron saint of Scotland and Russia. Both Andrew and his brother Simon Peter were fishermen and became Christ's first disciples.
Who is the patron saint of sausage and peppers? ›| Saint Roch | |
|---|---|
| Born | c. 1348 ( trad. 1295) Montpellier, Kingdom of Majorca |
| Died | 15/16 August 1376/79 Voghera, County of Savoy ( trad. 1327, Montpellier) |
| Venerated in | Catholic Church Anglican Communion Aglipayan Church |
| Canonized | by popular fervour; added to the Roman Martyrology by Pope Gregory XIV |
August 16 is the annual feast day of St. Roch, the patron saint of dogs. Saint Roch (pronounced "rock") was a Frenchman born to nobility in 1295, so it may seem strange that he is recognized as the patron saint of dogs.
Who is the patron saint of refrigerators? ›Urho the patron saint of refrigeration, which makes it possible to ship fresh fruits and vegetables to the rest of the nation.
Who is the patron saint of anorexia? ›St Catherine of Siena, a patron saint of Italy, is the most prominent of the “holy anorexics.”3 She was a model of virtue, and her excessive fasting was widely emulated.
Is there a prayer for losing weight? ›Heavenly Father, I love you. Thank you for giving me an earthly body to serve You and others. Today, I offer it up to You and ask that You help me in my weight loss journey. I've reached the end of my rope, Lord.
Who do you say a prayer to when you lose something? ›Saint Anthony is widely known as the Patron Saint of lost things.
Who is the patron saint of partying? ›
Born in Italy circa 1181, Saint Francis of Assisi was renowned for drinking and partying in his youth.
Who is the patron saint of lost causes? ›SAINT JUDE - St. Jude is the patron saint of desperate cases and lost causes because he was known for taking on any "lost cause" in order to demonstrate and share his trust in God.
Who is the saint of lost things? ›Saint Anthony of Padua – The Patron Saint of Lost Items.
Who is the saint of hopeless causes? ›St. Jude, patron saint of hopeless causes, is the most popular saint of the American Catholic laity, particularly among women.
Is there a saint for gambling? ›The St. Cajetan (Cayetano) is the patron saint of bankers, gamers, gamblers, job seekers, unemployed people, and workers.
Who is the patron saint of strength and courage? ›Saint Sebastian
He is commonly depicted in art and literature tied to a post or tree and shot with arrows. The artistic depiction of St Sebastian is considered symbolic of the virtues and gifts of strength, stamina, perseverance, courage and justice in the face of adversity.
...
Maximilian Kolbe.
| Saint Maximilian Kolbe OFMConv | |
|---|---|
| Feast | 14 August |
| Saint Notburga of Rattenberg | |
|---|---|
| Major shrine | Shrine of Saint Notburga, Chapel of Saint Rupert, Eben, Austria |
| Feast | 13 September |
| Attributes | Ear of corn, or flowers and a sickle in her hand; sometimes the sickle is suspended in the air |
| Patronage | Rural Youth Servants Peasants |
Martha. She is the patron saint of servants and cooks. There is not much in the Bible about Martha, the sister of Mary and Lazarus, who was raised from the dead. The last thing that is mentioned about Martha in the Bible is, “Martha served.”
Who is the goddess of cheese? ›
The Sumerians and the Goddess Inanna
Yes—civilization grew with cheese. The story goes that the goddess Inanna had to choose between a farmer and a shepherd to marry. The shepherd Dumuzi gave her a sales pitch focusing on the all different kinds of dairy he had to offer: milk, yogurt, and, of course, cheese.
He is the patron saint of bishops, cardinals, seminarians, and spiritual leaders. Borromeo received a doctorate in civil and canon law from the university of Pavia in 1559.
Is there a saint of chocolate? ›Paperjam - Saint Nicholas, patron saint of chocolate makers.
Why is Saint Drogo important? ›He is a patron saint of shepherds. After his death, people also prayed for his intercession for healing.
Who is the patron saint of dogs? ›August 16 is the annual feast day of St. Roch, the patron saint of dogs. Saint Roch (pronounced "rock") was a Frenchman born to nobility in 1295, so it may seem strange that he is recognized as the patron saint of dogs.
Who is the patron saint of weight loss? ›Charles Borromeo Prayer Card Holy Card Cards Patronage Patron Obesity Dieting with Medal.
Who is the patron saint of diabetics? ›Saint Josemaria Escriva is the Patron Saint of Diabetes.
Who is the patron of catechists? ›Saint Pedro Calungsod, Patron for Catechists.
Who is the patron saint of ice cream? ›Lidwina (Lydwine, Lydwid, Lidwid, Liduina of Schiedam) (1380-1433) was a Dutch mystic who is honored as a saint by the Catholic Church.
Who is the patron saint of bread? ›Is there a patron saint of tacos? ›
Francis, The Patron Saint of Mexican Food.
Who is the patron saint of procrastination? ›...
John Chrysostom.
| Saint John Chrysostom | |
|---|---|
| Patronage | Constantinople, education, epilepsy, lecturers, orators, preachers |
As the internet was gaining sway in everyday life, Pope St. John Paul II named St. Isidore of Seville the patron on the internet, which is interesting because St. Isidore was bishop of Seville in 600 AD – a few years before the internet came to be.
Who is the patron saint of birds? ›St. Gall, a Patron Saint of Birds.
Who is the patron saint of knee pain? ›| Saint Roch | |
|---|---|
| Born | c. 1348 ( trad. 1295) Montpellier, Kingdom of Majorca |
| Died | 15/16 August 1376/79 Voghera, County of Savoy ( trad. 1327, Montpellier) |
| Venerated in | Catholic Church Anglican Communion Aglipayan Church |
| Canonized | by popular fervour; added to the Roman Martyrology by Pope Gregory XIV |
In the West Nicholas is most widely known as the patron saint of children. Many of his stories tell of children rescued from calamity and returned to the care and keeping of their families.