Heavenly Helpers: Saints & Their Intercession

Finding Your Saint

Discover the Saints, Their Devotions, Prayers & Testimonies of Their Intercession

“The prayer of a just man availeth much.” — James 5:16

Have you ever wondered which saint to turn to when you are facing a particular struggle, carrying a special intention, or simply longing to grow closer to God?

The saints are our friends in Heaven. They lived ordinary human lives filled with joys, sufferings, temptations, responsibilities, losses, and trials. Through the grace of God, they persevered in faith and became extraordinary examples of holiness.

As Catholics, we do not worship the saints. We worship God alone. We honor the saints and ask for their prayers, just as we might ask a faithful friend or family member to pray for us.

Throughout the centuries, Catholics have also shared remarkable testimonies of prayers answered and favors received after asking for the intercession of particular saints.

Perhaps there is a saint waiting for you to discover.

What Are You Praying For?

Sometimes we discover a devotion because a saint's life speaks to us. Other times, we meet a saint because we desperately need help.

Whatever has brought you here, begin with what is on your heart.

Impossible or Desperate Situations

St. Jude Thaddeus • St. Rita of Cascia • St. Philomena

When a situation seems hopeless and you cannot see a way forward, these saints have long been invoked by Catholics in difficult and seemingly impossible circumstances.

Healing & Illness

St. Raphael the Archangel • St. Peregrine • St. Camillus • St. Philomena

Ask their intercession for the sick, those undergoing treatment, their families and caregivers, and for the grace to endure suffering faithfully.

Fear, Worry & Peace of Heart

St. Dymphna • St. Thérèse of Lisieux • St. Francis de Sales

When fear or worry weighs heavily upon you, ask these saints to pray that Our Lord will give you peace, confidence, perseverance, and greater trust in His Providence.

Marriage & Difficult Family Situations

St. Rita of Cascia • St. Monica • St. Joseph

Turn to these saints when praying for a marriage, reconciliation, peace within the home, or family members experiencing difficulties.

Children Who Have Left the Faith

St. Monica • St. Augustine • St. Thérèse of Lisieux

St. Monica prayed for years for the conversion of her son Augustine. She is a beautiful example for parents and grandparents who continue to pray for someone they love to return to God.

Pregnancy, Motherhood & Children

St. Gerard Majella • St. Anne • St. Gianna Beretta Molla

Ask their prayers for mothers, expectant mothers, unborn children, difficult pregnancies, safe deliveries, and couples longing for children.

Fathers & Families

St. Joseph

The foster father of Our Lord and protector of the Holy Family is a powerful intercessor for fathers, husbands, workers, families, purity, material needs, and a holy death.

Work, Employment & Financial Needs

St. Joseph the Worker • St. Cajetan

Bring your worries about employment and providing for your family to God while asking these saints to join their prayers to yours.

Lost Things

St. Anthony of Padua

One of the most beloved saints in the Catholic world, St. Anthony is famously invoked when something has been lost—but his life and intercession extend far beyond finding missing objects.

Students, School & Examinations

St. Thomas Aquinas • St. Joseph of Cupertino

Students can seek their intercession for wisdom, perseverance, clarity of mind, examinations, and the proper use of their studies for God's glory.

Protection Against Evil

St. Michael the Archangel • St. Benedict

Catholics have long sought the intercession of St. Michael and St. Benedict for spiritual protection and strength against temptation.

Priests & Vocations

St. John Vianney • St. Thérèse of Lisieux • St. Joseph

Pray for holy priests, seminarians, religious vocations, and for young men and women discerning God's will for their lives.

The Holy Souls in Purgatory

St. Gertrude the Great • St. Nicholas of Tolentino

Learn about the beautiful Catholic practice of praying and offering sacrifices for the souls who can no longer merit for themselves and await the fullness of the Beatific Vision.

Discover Their Stories

Behind every devotion is a real life of faith.

As you explore each saint, you will find more than a list of patronages. You will discover who they were, what they suffered, how they loved God, and what their lives can teach us today.

Each saint's page will include:

Their Story

A short account of the saint's life, struggles, virtues, miracles where historically attested, and path to holiness.

Why People Turn to Them

Learn why Catholics traditionally seek that saint's intercession for particular intentions.

Testimonies & Favors Received

Read accounts associated with the saint's intercession, including remarkable historical testimonies and devotional traditions.

When possible, we will distinguish between well-documented historical accounts, approved miracles, and stories handed down through Catholic devotional tradition.

Prayers & Novenas

Find traditional prayers, novenas, chaplets, and other devotions so that you can begin asking the saint's intercession yourself.

Promises & Traditions

Some devotions have particular promises or traditions associated with them. We will explore where those traditions came from and what the Church teaches about them.

How to Begin the Devotion

You do not need to do something complicated. Sometimes a devotion begins simply by learning about a saint, keeping their feast day, asking for their intercession, or praying a short prayer each day.

Saints to Discover

St. Philomena

Patroness of difficult and desperate causes

St. Philomena became one of the most beloved saints of the nineteenth century, and devotion to her was notably promoted by St. John Vianney. Discover her fascinating history, traditional accounts of favors attributed to her intercession, and prayers and devotions in her honor.

St. Jude Thaddeus

Patron of desperate and seemingly hopeless causes

When there appears to be no earthly solution, many Catholics turn to St. Jude. Discover the history of this Apostle, his powerful devotion, traditional novenas, and testimonies associated with his intercession.

St. Rita of Cascia

Saint of the Impossible

Wife, mother, widow, and religious, St. Rita knew tremendous suffering during her earthly life. She is especially loved by those experiencing impossible situations, troubled marriages, family difficulties, and seemingly unanswered prayers.

St. Anthony of Padua

Patron of lost things and lost souls

Most people know to call upon St. Anthony when something disappears, but there is much more to this great Doctor of the Church. Discover his life, miracles, preaching, and centuries-old devotion.

St. Joseph

Protector of the Holy Family & Patron of the Universal Church

Quiet, faithful, obedient, and strong, St. Joseph protected Our Lord and Our Lady during his earthly life. Catholics entrust families, fathers, workers, financial necessities, purity, the Church, and the dying to his intercession.

St. Thérèse of the Child Jesus

The Little Flower

St. Thérèse teaches us that holiness can be found in the smallest actions when they are performed with great love for God. Discover her Little Way, her desire to spend Heaven doing good upon earth, and the beautiful devotional tradition associated with receiving roses.

St. Monica

Patroness of those praying for loved ones

St. Monica prayed and suffered for years for the conversion of her son Augustine. Her tears were not wasted. St. Augustine eventually converted and became one of the greatest saints and Doctors of the Church.

Her story offers tremendous hope to anyone praying for someone they love.

St. Gerard Majella

Patron of mothers and expectant mothers

Generations of Catholic mothers have sought St. Gerard's intercession during pregnancy and childbirth. Learn his story, the traditions surrounding his patronage, and prayers asking for his intercession.

St. Dymphna

Patroness of those suffering mental and emotional distress

Those carrying emotional or mental suffering, as well as their families and caregivers, have traditionally sought the intercession of St. Dymphna.

St. Michael the Archangel

Defender in spiritual battle

“Who is like unto God?”

Learn about the great Prince of the Heavenly Host, the traditional Prayer to St. Michael, the Chaplet of St. Michael, and Catholic devotion to this powerful defender against the forces of evil.

Perhaps a Saint Will Find You

Sometimes we choose a saint because we admire his courage or her holiness.

Sometimes we turn to a saint because we desperately need help.

And sometimes a saint seems to appear in our lives again and again—through a holy card, a book, a conversation, a feast day, or a story that reaches us at exactly the right moment.

When that happens, learn more about that saint.

Read his story.

Ask for his prayers.

Begin a novena.

Celebrate his feast day.

Try to imitate one of his virtues.

Most importantly, allow that devotion to lead you closer to Our Lord Jesus Christ.

The saints never keep our attention for themselves. Their lives continually point beyond themselves toward the One whom they loved above everything else.