10 Saints Students Should Get to Know This School Year

As students return to school this fall, it may be an opportune time to learn about the lives and works of some of the Catholic Saints most influential to Catholic education. Here are 10 saints who impacted Catholic education and whom every student should get to know this school year. 

Why pray to Catholic Saints? 

Saints are ordinary people who have lived extraordinary lives of heroic virtue. Saints become close to God through prayer and virtuous action. Catholics believe that when saints die, they pass into heaven and directly into God's presence and can obtain blessings and graces for others through intercessory prayer. Intercessory prayer and devotion to saints are supported and encouraged in the Catholic faith. 

Learning about the lives of saints can help us become better Catholics. By studying the lives of saints, we can see the power and positive influence of having great faith. 

Saint John Baptist de La Salle

We begin with Saint John Baptist de la Salle, the patron saint of teachers. It is impossible to have education without teachers!

Saint John Baptist de La Salle was a French priest born into an aristocratic family during the mid-15th century. Like most members of his class at the time, John was well-educated. He was ordained a priest in 1678 and received a doctorate in theology in 1680.

The plight of the poor and illiterate class, which Saint John recognized as being so "far from salvation" due to their inability to afford formal education, inspired him to act. Despite resistance from the educational establishment, Saint John went on to give up his wealth and titles and formed the first free public school in France.

With the group he founded, which would eventually become known as the Brothers of the Christian Schools, he established many free, quality schools across France that were open for anybody to enroll. Passionate teachers who instructed students in reading, writing, arithmetic, and religious studies ran these schools.

Saint John also established one of the first institutions in France designed to care for and educate criminally delinquent youths. In 1900, the Catholic Church canonized John Baptist de La Salle, and in 1950 he was made the patron Saint of Christian teachers for his dedication to spreading the Word of God through formal education for all.

Saint John Baptist de la Salle's feast day is April 7.

Saint Catherine of Alexandria

Saint Catherine of Alexandria, patron saint of students, was born to a wealthy family in Alexandria, Egypt, around 287 A.D. At around 14 years old, a moving vision of Mary and the infant Jesus appeared to her. This experience caused a conversion of faith for Catherine, and she became a devout Christian. 

Despite her young age, Catherine was very intelligent and well-spoken. When Egyptian Emperor Maxentius began persecuting Christians, Catherine visited him and denounced his cruelty. Rather than execute her, Emperor Maxentius brought in 50 orators and philosophers to debate her. Moved by the Holy Spirit, Catherine defended her faith articulately. Her speech was so moving that it inspired the conversion of several of her opponents, who were swiftly executed by the emperor.

When he was unable to defeat her in debate, the emperor ordered Catherine to be tortured and jailed. She was scourged and imprisoned, but she did not lose faith. Her story drew hundreds of visitors, and she converted many to Christianity.

After she was released from prison, the emperor offered her one final chance to spare her life. He asked Catherine, who was very beautiful, to become his wife. She turned down his offer, saying she was married to Jesus Christ and that her virginity was dedicated to him. Enraged, the emperor ordered her to be executed on a breaking wheel−a medieval torture instrument that would rip a person limb from limb.

At her execution, Catherine performed a miracle by touching the wheel, which caused it to shatter. Finally, Emperor Maxentius had her beheaded.
Saint Catherine has been venerated by Orthodox Christians and the Catholic Church since the sixth century. 

Saint Catherine’s feast day is Nov. 25.

Saint Sebastian

If you participate in athletics, you may wish to learn more about the life of Saint Sebastian, the patron saint of athletes. Saint Sebastian is known as the Patron Saint of Athletes for his strength and endurance during times of high stress.

The myth surrounding Saint Sebastian is that he was a Roman soldier during the third century when being a Christian was illegal. The Roman Emperor, Diocletian, persecuted Christians for their beliefs and had many tortured and killed. Despite the threat of execution, Saint Sebastian joined the Roman Army to function as a spy to protect his people.

The Roman Emperor discovered Saint Sebastian’s Christianity when he performed a miracle that healed the wife of a fellow soldier from a speech impediment. This miracle led to conversions of faith by many/ Eventually, the emperor found out about Sebastian and ordered his execution. Saint Sebastian was stripped, tied to a tree, and shot at by multiple arrows that pierced his body. Still, he endured and survived this attack and tried to convert Diocletian to Christianity. He was beaten to death by Roman soldiers, but the memory of his strength and endurance lives on in martyrdom.

Saint Sebastian's feast day is Jan. 20.

Saint Thomas Aquinas

If you want to learn more about church teaching and philosophy, look no further than Saint Thomas Aquinas, the patron saint of academics. 

Saint Thomas Aquinas was a Dominican Friar in Italy during the early- to mid-13th century. Saint Thomas joined the Order of Dominican Friars while studying at the University of Naples, attracted by their commitment to academics and poverty. Saint Thomas's family disapproved of his joining the Dominican Friars and took many measures to keep him from returning to the friars. They held him captive for a year, but eventually, he was allowed to go to the University of Paris, where he studied theology under Albert the Great.

Saint Thomas Aquinas is known for combining the study of philosophy with Christianity. Saint Thomas used the philosophical methods of Aristotle to examine Christianity, a new and profound way of looking at religion for the time. He encountered much resistance from other scholars in France.

Saint Thomas wrote more than 60 works during his life, including Bible exposition, apologetics of the Catholic Church, and writings on philosophy and theology. He was given the title Doctor of the Angels for his profound intellect. The teachings of Saint Thomas are still used and studied by theologians and students today.

Saint Thomas Aquinas's feast day is Jan. 28

Here is a student's prayer, written by Saint Thomas Aquinas: Come, Holy Spirit, Divine Creator, the true source of light and fountain of wisdom. Pour forth your brilliance upon my intellect, dissipate the darkness which covers me, that of sin and of ignorance. Grant me a penetrating mind to understand, a retentive memory, method and ease in learning, the lucidity to comprehend, and abundant Grace in expressing myself. Guide the beginning of my work, direct its progress, and bring it to successful completion. This I ask through Jesus Christ, true God, and true man, living and reigning with You and the Father, forever and ever. Amen.

Saint Gemma Galgani

Saint Gemma Galgani, the patron saint of students, was born in Italy in March 1878. She possessed a love for prayer from an early age and was beloved by her teachers and classmates. Unfortunately, due to chronic illness, Gemma was unable to complete school. 

Despite her struggles, Gemma intensely loved others, especially the poor. Her father died when she was 19, and she became responsible for her seven brothers and sisters. She took care of them, and when they were old enough to care for themselves, she went to live with her aunt.
Despite multiple offers for marriage from eligible young men, Gemma desired only to talk with God, and she turned them down. Gemma wanted to be a nun, but her poor health prevented her from being able to join a Sisterhood.

On June 8, 1899, Gemma experienced one of many messages from the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit warned her that she would experience a remarkable Grace. That day, Gemma experienced pain and bleeding in her hands, feet, and heart. She received the marks of the stigmata. The stigmata, in Christian mysticism, are the bodily marks, scars, or pains corresponding to those of the crucified Jesus Christ. The marks continued to appear every Thursday and would bleed continuously for two to three days. The wounds only ceased appearing after Gemma prayed that they were healed. The scars remained with her for the rest of her life. Gemma was also visited often and corresponded with a Guardian Angel. She experienced many messages and Grace from the Holy Spirit throughout her life.

By those who knew her, Gemma was described as humble and modest. She never sought recognition for her stigmata or correspondence with the Holy Spirit. 

Saint Gemma's feast day is April 11.

Saint Angela Merici

You should learn about Saint Angela Merici, a Catholic educator, the foundress of the Ursuline Sisters, and patron saint of education for girls.

Saint Angela Merici was born March 21, 1474, in Desenzano, a small town on the shore of Lake Garda in Lombardy. At an early age, she became an orphan and was sent to live with her uncle in Salo. Tragically, Saint Angela's sister died prematurely, preventing her from receiving her last Sacrament.

The experience of her sister's death significantly impacted Saint Angela. She was inspired to give her life up to God through her grief. She became increasingly devout and joined the Third Order of Saint Francis. She pledged to remain a consecrated virgin, forsaking marriage to one man to be married to the Lord and His Church.

Upon her uncle's death, at the age of 20, Angela moved back to her birthplace, Desenzano. Upon her arrival there, she witnessed that many of the girls were uneducated and had little hope for successful futures. Their ignorance saddened Saint Angela, and she knew she had to do something to make a difference.

Saint Angela opened her home to these girls and began to educate them. She taught them the Catholic faith and bestowed Grace upon them. In a vision from the Lord, she was instructed to join with other consecrated virgins to open an institute for girls to receive a Catholic education. Along with educating girls, this institution would help prepare young girls for religious life.

News of Saint Angela and her ministry spread throughout the world. In 1525, during a pilgrimage to Rome, the Pope personally offered Saint Angela a job in Rome as a religious teacher. She humbly turned down his offer. She returned to her village, and on Nov. 25, 1535, Angela gathered 12 young women and laid the foundation for the Order of the Ursulines under the patronage of Saint Ursula.

Saint Angela knew the importance of family life for a young woman. She aimed to educate the girls at her institution within their communities and surrounded by their families. Together with Saint Angela, the Ursulines went on to open many schools and orphanages.

Saint Angela's feast day is Jan. 27.

Saint George

Whether you are a bookworm or dislike reading, you will be fascinated with the story of the life of Saint George, the patron saint of books and reading.

Many legends surround the life and feats of Saint George, who lived around 303 A.D. Saint George is unique because he is known and revered by both Muslims and Christians.

Saint George survived brutal torture, was healed by an apparition of Jesus while he was in jail, and finally died when he was beheaded in Nicomedia, Bithynia. Like Saint Christopher, the Roman Emperor Diocletian persecuted Saint George for being Christian. When the orders came down from Emperor Diocletian for Christians to renounce their faith, Saint George tore the orders to pieces. As punishment, he was brutally beaten and imprisoned by the emperor.

An apparition of Jesus appeared to Saint George in his cell at night and healed his wounds. The next day, Saint George was dragged through the street and beheaded. He died a martyr for the Christian faith.

There are many myths surrounding Saint George. Most famously, he is said to have been a medieval knight who fought and beheaded a dragon. In artwork, Saint George is typically depicted battling a dragon or standing over one that has just been defeated, a symbolic depiction of his martyrdom for refusing to renounce the Christian faith.

Saint George's feast day is April 23.

Saint Joseph of Cupertino 

Suppose you are a student who needs help studying or struggles with a learning disability. In that case, you may find some inspiration in the story of Saint Joseph of Cupertino, the patron saint of studying and people with learning disabilities.

Saint Joseph of Cupertino was born in 1603 at Cupertino. Saint Joseph was described as a problematic child and experienced a strained relationship with his mother, who treated him harshly. He did not do well in school; he was a slow learner and was easily distracted.

In Saint Joseph's early life, he attempted to learn the shoemaking trade but failed. He tried to join the Order of Franciscans, but they rejected him. He joined the Capuchin monks, but they sent him away after eight months. When he returned home, his mother was not happy, and she did her best to have him accepted as a servant at a Franciscan monastery.

At this point in his life, Joseph began to change. He intensely devoted himself to God and began practicing humility, penance, and prayer. Joseph showed such devotion to God that he was eventually allowed to study with the Franciscans to become a priest. Although his devotion to God was great, Saint Joseph struggled with academics. During his seminary exams, he was luckily asked by the examiner about the only topic he fully understood, so he passed his exam and was ordained a priest.

After he was ordained, Saint Joseph became renowned for his miracles. He was witnessed levitating over 70 times while performing Mass in front of crowds and speaking in tongues. Saint Joseph became so famous that he was eventually sequestered.

Saint Joseph of Cupertino's feast day is Sept. 18.

Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton

If you are a student at a Catholic institution, you have Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton, the patron saint of Catholic schools, to thank for your education.
Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton was the first American-born person canonized by the Catholic Church. She also founded the very first Catholic school in America, which is why she is the patron Saint of Catholic schools.

The story of Saint Elizabeth's life is an inspirational one. Her life was filled with good works, and her legacy lives on to this day. Her example shows that it is possible to be an excellent wife, mother, educator, and businesswoman, and possess a solid devotion to God.

Saint Elizabeth was born in New York in 1774 to a wealthy family. At age 20, she married the love of her life, a wealthy young man named William Seton. For a brief period, they lived together happily as husband and wife. Shortly after they were married, William's father passed away, and the young couple became responsible for William's seven half-siblings.

Stricken by poverty and William's failing health, the couple eventually filed for bankruptcy and moved to Italy. There, William passed away from tuberculosis. Saint Elizabeth's only comfort was her recent evangelization to the Catholic faith and her love for God.

In Italy, Elizabeth converted to Catholicism and developed a special devotion to the Blessed Virgin. Urged by the president of Saint Mary's College in Baltimore, Md., Saint Elizabeth founded The Saint Joseph's Academy and Free School in 1809. This was the first free Catholic girls’ school in America. Many American Catholic schools and colleges are named after her, including the Archdiocese's own Seton Hall Prep and the local Seton Hall University.

Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton's feast day is Jan. 4.

Saint Carlo Acutis

As a 21st-century student, you will undoubtedly need to be internet-savvy. If you struggle with an internet-based research project, pray to Saint Carlo Acutis, the patron saint of the internet, for intercession.

Saint Carlo Acutis was a London-born teenager who demonstrated a fascination with and devotion to the Catholic church from an early age. During his short life, he spent much of his free time in Catholic churches, praying before the tabernacle. He was also known to give away his allowance to strangers on the street and to show emotional support to his classmates who were going through challenging times
.
Saint Carlo is considered the patron saint of the internet because of his love for computer coding and website development. Saint Carlo used his computer talents to develop websites for Catholic organizations, including one website which cataloged all Catholic miracles recorded throughout history.

Saint Carlo developed leukemia when he was a teenager. When he heard of his diagnosis, he offered up his suffering for Pope Benedict XVI and the Church. He said, "I offer all the suffering I will have to suffer for the Lord, the Pope, and the Church."

Saint Carlo died on Oct. 12, 2006, at age 15, in Monza, Italy. In 2019, a seven-year-old girl born with a pancreatic defect was miraculously healed after praying to Saint Carlo. Pope Francis canonized Saint Carlo on Oct. 10, 2020.

Saint Carlo Acutis' feast day is Oct. 12.

Learn More

Visit the Loyola Press website for resources, activities, and stories to learn more about Catholic saints. You can also find books about Catholic saints available at your local or school library. 
 

---

The information in this article was gathered from www.catholic.org