Three Catholic saints to help students pray in times of stress

As students across the U.S. are now preparing to take standardized tests and exams, experts say feeling stressed or overwhelmed is par for the course.  

Students take over 100 million tests annually in the U.S., but teachers and parents report that high-stakes tests lead to higher levels of anxiety and lower levels of confidence among students as young as elementary school, according to Edutopia. 

In the Archdiocese of Newark, students in 2nd through 8th grades take the Northwest Evaluation Association (NWEA) Measures of Academic Progress (MAP) Growth assessments. MAP Growth is a national assessment, which measures student achievement and growth in math, reading, language usage, and science. MAP is an online assessment that is aligned with the Common Core standards, according to the NWEA website. 

Many healthcare professionals recommend practicing mindful prayer and meditation, especially during times of high stress or adversity. The practice can have a beneficial impact on mental and physical well-being. According to Psych Today, those who regularly engage in prayer are better able to cope with stress, they heal faster from illnesses, and they experience increased benefits to their general health and well-being.  

Here are three Catholic saints that students can read about and pray to for intercession during times of stress.  

 Archdiocese of Newark / Jessica Miano
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Saint Joseph of Cupertino 

For those who struggle with studying, experience learning differences, or have a learning disability, pray for the intercession of Saint Joseph of Cupertino. 

Saint Joseph of Cupertino was born in 1603 in Cupertino, a small town in southeast Italy. Saint Joseph Cupertino was described as a problematic child. He had 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 Cupertino'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 arranged for him to be 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 Cupertino still struggled with academics. He impressed the friars with the devotion and simplicity of his life that he was admitted to their Order, destined to become a priest in 1625. After he was ordained, Saint Joseph Cupertino became renowned for his miracles. He was witnessed levitating over 70 times while performing Mass in front of crowds and speaking in tongues. He became so famous that he was eventually sequestered. He is known as the patron saint of mental handicaps, test taking, and students. 

His feast day is Sept. 18. 

Saint Dymphna 

For healing of stress, anxiety, and mental-health afflictions, pray for the intercession of Saint Dymphna. 

Saint Dymphna, a beautiful, young Irish princess from the 7th century, is known as the patron saint of those with nervous and emotional disorders. Dymphna lived a short but pious life and died a martyr for her faith and freedom. 

Dymphna was born into a noble family. Her mother was a devout Christian, and her father was a pagan nobleman. At the age of 14, Dymphna consecrated herself to Jesus Christ and took a vow of chastity in His name.  

Shortly afterward, her mother tragically died and her father went mad with grief. Unable to find a suitable wife in any other woman, Dymphna’s father soon began to lust after his daughter, who resembled her beautiful mother and sought to marry her. Upon finding out her father's plan Dymphna fled Ireland with her confessor, a priest named Gerebran, and sailed to Belgium.  

However, her father tracked her down and attempted to force her to return to Ireland to marry him. When she refused to accompany him, Dymphna’s father beheaded her and Gerebran. She was buried in Belgium in the small town of Gheel. There have been many reports of Saint Dymphna miraculously curing the mental, emotional, and neurological afflictions of pilgrims to her burial site. 

Saint Dymphna was canonized in 1247 and named the patron saint of stress, anxiety, and mental health. Her patronage also extends to runaways and victims of incest and sexual assault.  

Her feast day is May 15. 

Saint Sebastian 

For strength, courage, and fortitude, pray for the intercession of Saint Sebastian.  

Sebastian 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 Diocletian discovered Saint Sebastian 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. The emperor then 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.  

He tried to convert Diocletian to Christianity, bravely demonstrating the perseverance of a Christian martyr. He was beaten to death by Roman soldiers, but the memory of his strength and endurance lives on in martyrdom. 

His feast day is Jan. 20. 

Featured photo: Students take over 100 million tests annually in the U.S., but teachers and parents report that high-stakes tests lead to higher levels of anxiety and lower levels of confidence among students as young as elementary school, according to Edutopia. (Image: Canva)

Information about the lives of saints was sourced from catholic.org and Catholic Saint Medals.