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Patron Saints: A Feast of Holy Cards
An introduction to Catholic patron saints is illustrated by color photographs of holy cards depicting the saint and includes information about the saint's life and feast day, other patronages and what they may be invoked for.
160 pages, Hardcover
First published September 1, 2007
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
July 10, 2021
I gave this book 4 stars for the illustrations alone. It is a coffee table book, not a good book for studying saints. There is no index by name or Feast date, there are five sections by topic of patronage; health, nations, nature, occupations and states of life. Some saints are a patron of more than one topic so you need to find which section they are in. You cannot look to see if your favorite saint is in the book as there is no index by name. That being said the reproductions of vintage holy cards are lovely & if you like making your own novena candles as I do, the ability to photocopy these old cards is worth the cost of the book.
March 24, 2025
I stumbled upon another volume by this writing team and have since reading that first one tracked down all but 1 in digital format. Because of a dual form of dyslexia I greatly prefer eBooks. The first volume I read was all about Holy Cards, and it was a fascinating read. This is the seventh and final volume I have read by this writing duo and I can easily state they are all been great. I do sincerely wish that they had more in the works. But back to this specific volume, the description of this book states:
“An introduction to Catholic patron saints is illustrated by color photographs of holy cards depicting the saint and includes information about the saint's life and feast day, other patronages and what they may be invoked for.”
The chapters and sections in this volume are:
Introduction
Saints of Health
Saints of Nations
Saints of Nature
Saints of Occupations
Saints of States of Life
The dustjacket states:
“From the birth of Christianity, saints have inspired the classic works of Western art. They are human representatives of divine grace, and their stories of faith and suffering, trials and transcendence have fascinated the secular and comforted, consoled, and encouraged believers. One of the most important and endearing traditions of Catholic iconography is the holy card. Offering images of the saints, these portable objects of daily ritual are carried for protection, given as remembrances at communions, confirmations, and funerals, and collected and traded.
In Holy Cards, authors Barbara Calamari and Sandra DiPasqua offer the first book to survey this rich and varied art form. Featuring both a pantheon of major religious figures in Catholicism and many little-known saints—such as St. Clare, patron saint of television, and St. Monica, patron saint of disappointing children—this book is sure to inform and inspire. Beautifully reproduced, the holy cards are arranged thematically and each is accompanied by a brief biography of the subject, including attributes and powers. A glowing compendium of jewel-like images, Holy Cards can be treasured for both its spiritual and artistic qualities. Indeed, it is the perfect gift for all those interested in Catholicism and devotional art.
110 illustrations in full color.”
As the final volume I read by this writing duo it packs a lot of punch. From the introduction we are informed:
“There are more than ten thousand saints in the Catholic calendar. They hail from all corners of the world, as well as every social class and ethnic group. They have all suffered from human faults, made terrible mistakes, endured illnesses, and borne disappointments both large and small. Some were great rulers and leaders, traveling the world; many never left the towns and cities where they were born, toiling in dull, quiet lives.”
“Since holiness is an energy that transcends all boundaries and does not weaken and disappear as material things do, Catholics believe that the saints exist on a spiritual plane and have a very real presence in the world today. In life, saints served as human examples of what one could achieve by using Christ’s precepts of universal love, and they continue to guide and aid the living in the afterlife by praying with and for them upon request. Every Catholic has a patron saint who functions as a guide or mentor throughout their earthly existence.”
“The word “patron” derives from the Latin word patronus, which means “protector of clients” or “defender.” The intercession of a patron saint is thought to help speed the efficacy of one’s prayers before God. There are many ways to find one’s patron saint, although the most common way is through one’s name. Children are often named in honor of a relative, who in turn was named for a saint. In this way, the saint serves as an ancestral guide through life, connecting several generations of a family. Others claim their patron saint by matching their own day of birth with a saint’s feast day, which commemorates the day of a saint’s death.”
“Representing an immense range of human experience, the stories of holy people related in this book span over two thousand years of history. Because it is common practice for Catholics to carry images of their patron in holy card form, we have chosen to illustrate this book solely with these images. We have divided the patronages of these saints into five basic categories: Health, Nations, Nature, Occupations, and States of Life. In the instances where a saint has multiple patronages that span across these categories, we list all their other areas of support.”
“Saints can enjoy both local and global popularity. Some are well-known in particular regions of the world and totally unknown in others. Their traditional patronages are derived from details about their lives, birthplaces, occupations, or visual iconography. There is no official or comprehensive index of saints; rather, there is a myriad of sources listing saints and their patronages.”
Saints of Health:
St Louis de Gonzague
Martin of Tours
Anthony of Padua
Alphonsus Maria de Liguori
Agatha
John the Apostle
Peregrine Laziosi
Margaret of Antioch
Saint Placid
Saint Maurus
Camillus of Lellis
Saint Roch
Saint Willibrord
Saint Blaise
Francis de Sales
Margaret of Cortona
Joseph
Lucy of Syracuse
Genevieve
Gregory the Great
Margaret of Castello
Teresa of Ávila
John of God
Bernadine of Siena
Vitus
Gerard Majella
James the Greater
Anthony the Abbot
Casilda of Toledo
Andrew Avellino
Rita of Cascia
Saints of Nations:
Cyprian of Carthage
Francis Solano
Francis Xavier
Colman of Stockerau
Cyril and Methodius
Louis Bertran
Wenceslaus
Ansgar
Dominic de Guzman
George
Thérèse of Lisieux
Boniface
Andrew the Apostle
Stephen of Hungary
Thomas the Apostle
Patrick
Catherine of Siena
Vincent de Paul
Paul the Apostle
Adalbert of Prague
Ephrem of Syria
Josaphat
Gertrude the Great
Saint of Nature:
Gerlac of Valkenburg
Ambrose of Milan
Perpetua and Felicity
Columba of Rieti
Gregory Thaumaturgus
Margaret of Hungary
Barnabas the Apostle
Hippolytus of Rome
Martin de Porres
Wendelin
Magnus of Füssen
Januarius
Edmund of East Anglia
Saints of Occupations:
Pelagia the Penitent
Helena
Blessed Fra Angelico
Cosmas and Damian
Augustine of Hippo
Stephen the Martyr
Vincent Ferrer
Hilda
Fiacre
Catherine of Alexandria
Brigid of Ireland
Apollonia
Conrad of Parzham
Francis of Assisi
Dorothy of Caesarea
John Gualbert
Mary Magdalene
Elizabeth of Hungary
Eligius
Ivo of Kermartin
Isidore the Farmer
Saint Anne
Ignatius of Loyola
Rupert
Peter Claver
Cecilia
Raymond Nonnatus
Hildegard of Bingen
Justin Martyr
Christina the Astonishing
Albert the Great
Blessed Lydwina of Schiedam
John Regis
John Baptist de La Salle
Clare of Assisi
Saints of States of Life:
Germaine Cousin
Clotilde
Zeno of Verona
Martina
Adelaide
Julian the Hospitaller
Afra
Julitta and Cyriacus of Iconium
Philomena
Catherine of Genoa
Blandina
Joachim
Benedict Joseph Labre
Nicholas of Tolentino
Monica
John Damascene
Norbert
Godelieve
Edward the Confessor
Leopold III
Denis
Benedict
Frances of Rome
A few samples of saints I was unfamiliar with:
“Cancer / Peregrine Laziosi, 1260–1345, Feast Day: May 1
An antipapist political leader, Peregrine converted to Catholicism after his violence against the papal legate was rebuffed with kindness. He eventually became a popular preacher, dedicating himself to working with the hopelessly ill. He himself was diagnosed with cancer. The night before he was to have his leg amputated, Christ came to him and healed him in his cell.
Other patronages: incurable illnesses, running sores
Invoked: for medical breakthroughs”
“Austria / Colman of Stockerau, d. 1012, Feast Day: October 13
A monk from the British Isles, Colman was making a pilgrimage to the Holy Land when he was stopped in Austria under suspicion of spying for their enemy, Moravia. Unable to speak German, he could not defend himself and was tortured and hanged. His body was left to dangle as a warning, and for eighteen months, it did not decompose and no animal touched it. The Austrians recognized this as a sign of his sanctity and made him their patron.
Other patronages: horned cattle, horses; hanged men
Invoked: against hanging, plague.
“Pastures / Wendelin, 554–617, Feast Day: October 21
The pious son of a Scottish king, Wendelin made a pilgrimage to Rome, where he was advised to follow his heart. He toured religious sites in Europe and settled in Germany, where he tended sheep, which enabled him to pray most of the day. Eventually he founded a community of religious hermits that became the Benedictine Abbey of Thole.
Other patronages: farmers, shepherds.”
“Dentists / Apollonia, d. 249, Feast Day: February 9
During festivities celebrating the Roman occupation of Egypt, a violent mob began attacking Christians. Apollonia, a revered deaconess, was repeatedly hit in the face until her teeth were broken. Confronted with a raging bonfire if she did not denounce her faith, she voluntarily threw herself into the flames. Another version of this story says that she was tortured by having her teeth pulled with pincers before being burned.
Invoked: against toothache.”
“Childless People / Julian the Hospitaller, dates unknown, Feast Day: February 12
A noble layman, Julian was out hunting when a stag warned him that one day he would kill his own parents. To avoid this fate, he moved far away and married. After years of searching, his parents located him and went to surprise him. Returning to his house, he saw two figures in bed. Thinking his wife was with another man, he killed them. Turning back the covers, he saw it was his parents. He and his wife then gave up everything and went on a pilgrimage. Julian did penance, helping the poor and opening a sanctuary for lepers, until he earned divine forgiveness.
Other patronages: hospitality; boatmen, circus workers, clowns, fiddlers, innkeepers, jugglers, murderers, pilgrims, shepherds
Invoked: to find lodging while traveling.”
I must admit there were numerous saints I was unfamiliar with in this volume. It was wonderful to read through. The layout is a picture of a holy card then the information about that saint, and if applicable ‘other patronages’ and ‘what they are invoked for.
This is another excellent volume from the team who created it. It ties in well with the books the duo have written on Holy Cards, Mary, and Saints. This is a stunning volume and I look forward to the release of the eBook edition. I greatly enjoyed working through it and plan on rereading it again. It is a wonderful book I can easily recommend for home, school, or church library!
This book is part of a series of reviews: 2025 Catholic Reading Plan!
“An introduction to Catholic patron saints is illustrated by color photographs of holy cards depicting the saint and includes information about the saint's life and feast day, other patronages and what they may be invoked for.”
The chapters and sections in this volume are:
Introduction
Saints of Health
Saints of Nations
Saints of Nature
Saints of Occupations
Saints of States of Life
The dustjacket states:
“From the birth of Christianity, saints have inspired the classic works of Western art. They are human representatives of divine grace, and their stories of faith and suffering, trials and transcendence have fascinated the secular and comforted, consoled, and encouraged believers. One of the most important and endearing traditions of Catholic iconography is the holy card. Offering images of the saints, these portable objects of daily ritual are carried for protection, given as remembrances at communions, confirmations, and funerals, and collected and traded.
In Holy Cards, authors Barbara Calamari and Sandra DiPasqua offer the first book to survey this rich and varied art form. Featuring both a pantheon of major religious figures in Catholicism and many little-known saints—such as St. Clare, patron saint of television, and St. Monica, patron saint of disappointing children—this book is sure to inform and inspire. Beautifully reproduced, the holy cards are arranged thematically and each is accompanied by a brief biography of the subject, including attributes and powers. A glowing compendium of jewel-like images, Holy Cards can be treasured for both its spiritual and artistic qualities. Indeed, it is the perfect gift for all those interested in Catholicism and devotional art.
110 illustrations in full color.”
As the final volume I read by this writing duo it packs a lot of punch. From the introduction we are informed:
“There are more than ten thousand saints in the Catholic calendar. They hail from all corners of the world, as well as every social class and ethnic group. They have all suffered from human faults, made terrible mistakes, endured illnesses, and borne disappointments both large and small. Some were great rulers and leaders, traveling the world; many never left the towns and cities where they were born, toiling in dull, quiet lives.”
“Since holiness is an energy that transcends all boundaries and does not weaken and disappear as material things do, Catholics believe that the saints exist on a spiritual plane and have a very real presence in the world today. In life, saints served as human examples of what one could achieve by using Christ’s precepts of universal love, and they continue to guide and aid the living in the afterlife by praying with and for them upon request. Every Catholic has a patron saint who functions as a guide or mentor throughout their earthly existence.”
“The word “patron” derives from the Latin word patronus, which means “protector of clients” or “defender.” The intercession of a patron saint is thought to help speed the efficacy of one’s prayers before God. There are many ways to find one’s patron saint, although the most common way is through one’s name. Children are often named in honor of a relative, who in turn was named for a saint. In this way, the saint serves as an ancestral guide through life, connecting several generations of a family. Others claim their patron saint by matching their own day of birth with a saint’s feast day, which commemorates the day of a saint’s death.”
“Representing an immense range of human experience, the stories of holy people related in this book span over two thousand years of history. Because it is common practice for Catholics to carry images of their patron in holy card form, we have chosen to illustrate this book solely with these images. We have divided the patronages of these saints into five basic categories: Health, Nations, Nature, Occupations, and States of Life. In the instances where a saint has multiple patronages that span across these categories, we list all their other areas of support.”
“Saints can enjoy both local and global popularity. Some are well-known in particular regions of the world and totally unknown in others. Their traditional patronages are derived from details about their lives, birthplaces, occupations, or visual iconography. There is no official or comprehensive index of saints; rather, there is a myriad of sources listing saints and their patronages.”
Saints of Health:
St Louis de Gonzague
Martin of Tours
Anthony of Padua
Alphonsus Maria de Liguori
Agatha
John the Apostle
Peregrine Laziosi
Margaret of Antioch
Saint Placid
Saint Maurus
Camillus of Lellis
Saint Roch
Saint Willibrord
Saint Blaise
Francis de Sales
Margaret of Cortona
Joseph
Lucy of Syracuse
Genevieve
Gregory the Great
Margaret of Castello
Teresa of Ávila
John of God
Bernadine of Siena
Vitus
Gerard Majella
James the Greater
Anthony the Abbot
Casilda of Toledo
Andrew Avellino
Rita of Cascia
Saints of Nations:
Cyprian of Carthage
Francis Solano
Francis Xavier
Colman of Stockerau
Cyril and Methodius
Louis Bertran
Wenceslaus
Ansgar
Dominic de Guzman
George
Thérèse of Lisieux
Boniface
Andrew the Apostle
Stephen of Hungary
Thomas the Apostle
Patrick
Catherine of Siena
Vincent de Paul
Paul the Apostle
Adalbert of Prague
Ephrem of Syria
Josaphat
Gertrude the Great
Saint of Nature:
Gerlac of Valkenburg
Ambrose of Milan
Perpetua and Felicity
Columba of Rieti
Gregory Thaumaturgus
Margaret of Hungary
Barnabas the Apostle
Hippolytus of Rome
Martin de Porres
Wendelin
Magnus of Füssen
Januarius
Edmund of East Anglia
Saints of Occupations:
Pelagia the Penitent
Helena
Blessed Fra Angelico
Cosmas and Damian
Augustine of Hippo
Stephen the Martyr
Vincent Ferrer
Hilda
Fiacre
Catherine of Alexandria
Brigid of Ireland
Apollonia
Conrad of Parzham
Francis of Assisi
Dorothy of Caesarea
John Gualbert
Mary Magdalene
Elizabeth of Hungary
Eligius
Ivo of Kermartin
Isidore the Farmer
Saint Anne
Ignatius of Loyola
Rupert
Peter Claver
Cecilia
Raymond Nonnatus
Hildegard of Bingen
Justin Martyr
Christina the Astonishing
Albert the Great
Blessed Lydwina of Schiedam
John Regis
John Baptist de La Salle
Clare of Assisi
Saints of States of Life:
Germaine Cousin
Clotilde
Zeno of Verona
Martina
Adelaide
Julian the Hospitaller
Afra
Julitta and Cyriacus of Iconium
Philomena
Catherine of Genoa
Blandina
Joachim
Benedict Joseph Labre
Nicholas of Tolentino
Monica
John Damascene
Norbert
Godelieve
Edward the Confessor
Leopold III
Denis
Benedict
Frances of Rome
A few samples of saints I was unfamiliar with:
“Cancer / Peregrine Laziosi, 1260–1345, Feast Day: May 1
An antipapist political leader, Peregrine converted to Catholicism after his violence against the papal legate was rebuffed with kindness. He eventually became a popular preacher, dedicating himself to working with the hopelessly ill. He himself was diagnosed with cancer. The night before he was to have his leg amputated, Christ came to him and healed him in his cell.
Other patronages: incurable illnesses, running sores
Invoked: for medical breakthroughs”
“Austria / Colman of Stockerau, d. 1012, Feast Day: October 13
A monk from the British Isles, Colman was making a pilgrimage to the Holy Land when he was stopped in Austria under suspicion of spying for their enemy, Moravia. Unable to speak German, he could not defend himself and was tortured and hanged. His body was left to dangle as a warning, and for eighteen months, it did not decompose and no animal touched it. The Austrians recognized this as a sign of his sanctity and made him their patron.
Other patronages: horned cattle, horses; hanged men
Invoked: against hanging, plague.
“Pastures / Wendelin, 554–617, Feast Day: October 21
The pious son of a Scottish king, Wendelin made a pilgrimage to Rome, where he was advised to follow his heart. He toured religious sites in Europe and settled in Germany, where he tended sheep, which enabled him to pray most of the day. Eventually he founded a community of religious hermits that became the Benedictine Abbey of Thole.
Other patronages: farmers, shepherds.”
“Dentists / Apollonia, d. 249, Feast Day: February 9
During festivities celebrating the Roman occupation of Egypt, a violent mob began attacking Christians. Apollonia, a revered deaconess, was repeatedly hit in the face until her teeth were broken. Confronted with a raging bonfire if she did not denounce her faith, she voluntarily threw herself into the flames. Another version of this story says that she was tortured by having her teeth pulled with pincers before being burned.
Invoked: against toothache.”
“Childless People / Julian the Hospitaller, dates unknown, Feast Day: February 12
A noble layman, Julian was out hunting when a stag warned him that one day he would kill his own parents. To avoid this fate, he moved far away and married. After years of searching, his parents located him and went to surprise him. Returning to his house, he saw two figures in bed. Thinking his wife was with another man, he killed them. Turning back the covers, he saw it was his parents. He and his wife then gave up everything and went on a pilgrimage. Julian did penance, helping the poor and opening a sanctuary for lepers, until he earned divine forgiveness.
Other patronages: hospitality; boatmen, circus workers, clowns, fiddlers, innkeepers, jugglers, murderers, pilgrims, shepherds
Invoked: to find lodging while traveling.”
I must admit there were numerous saints I was unfamiliar with in this volume. It was wonderful to read through. The layout is a picture of a holy card then the information about that saint, and if applicable ‘other patronages’ and ‘what they are invoked for.
This is another excellent volume from the team who created it. It ties in well with the books the duo have written on Holy Cards, Mary, and Saints. This is a stunning volume and I look forward to the release of the eBook edition. I greatly enjoyed working through it and plan on rereading it again. It is a wonderful book I can easily recommend for home, school, or church library!
This book is part of a series of reviews: 2025 Catholic Reading Plan!
September 7, 2017
Interesting book on an interesting topic.
April 12, 2016
Saints serve as patrons of many causes, professions, and nations. This collection of feast cards [religious icons of the saint] are colorfully reproduced and also provide the information about the saint from the reverse side. It is well put together and would be of of interest to anyone interested in the saints of the Church and/or learning which are their patrons. I would recommend it for fellow Catholics.
January 3, 2008
Gorgeous photographs of old holy cards with depictions of the saints. Any art lover will apprecite the beauty of these cards, religiously devout or not. Another great coffee table book by this duo.
November 20, 2008
good reference
January 16, 2009
I couldn't believe it when I found this at my local TJ MAxx for only $2. This is a beautiful book.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews