A Few Of My Favorite Saints

While you probably know that I’m a musician, you may not know that I’m also a practicing Catholic. In Catholicism, we see saints as role models. These real, imperfect, holy people inspire us to offer more of ourselves to Christ.

It’s important to note that Catholics don’t pray to saints. Rather, we ask saints to pray for us, and to bring our intentions to Jesus. Like us, saints had specific interests and hobbies in their lifetimes, so when their skills align with our needs, we ask for their help. For example, during his life, Saint Thomas Aquinas was a scholar (among many other things), so he’s a good saint to call upon during times of academic difficulty. 

Here are a few of my favorite saints, and how learning about their Christ-centered lives has impacted my life.

Saint Cecilia (200 AD-230 AD) 

Patron saint of musicians. 

“Arise, soldiers of Christ, throw away the works of darkness, and put on the armor of life.”-Saint Cecilia

Saint Cecilia made a life-long vow of purity at a young age. Unfortunately, her parents forced her into an arranged marriage with a Pagan man named Valerian. Cecilia loved music, so she used song as a form of prayer, singing out to God and asking for His protection. On her wedding night, she told her new husband that an angel was watching over them, and would not be kind if Valerian took away her virginity by force. Valerian asked to see the angel. Cecilia took him to be baptized, and when they returned, Valerian did, in fact, see an angel standing before them. He repented and converted. Both Valerian and Cecilia were later martyred. In the 16th century, Cecilia’s body was exhumed and found to be completely incorrupt (intact). Because of Saint Cecilia’s love of prayer through song, she is known as the patron saint of musicians.

Personal connection: I have a long history with Saint Cecilia. I was confirmed under her name, and, being a pretty nervous performer, have asked for her assistance many times throughout my musical career. The most important time I’ve implored her help was during the Blind Audition process for The Voice. Singing for four of the biggest names in music, (plus 12 million viewers) is a daunting undertaking. Especially for a shy, 18 year-old church cantor.

Artists don’t have a lot of control over the songs they perform on the show (it would take too much time, money and energy). Because of this, the song I was originally given was not a great fit for me. Not wanting to speak up though, I decided to just make the best of it, and asked Saint Cecilia to help me transform the song into something worthy of a chair-turn.

Every artist is assigned a vocal coach to help them perfect their audition song. Walking into my first vocal lesson, I expected a confidence boost in my unfortunate song choice. I was met with a rude awakening instead. My coach essentially told me that I would not turn a single chair. She said it was imperative that I make the necessary phone call and ask for a new song. Her words, though a little harsh, prompted me to pick up the phone. My song was changed to my all-time favorite:“Vienna” by Billy Joel. A week or two later, I exited The Voice stage as the newest member of Blake Shelton’s team.

I didn’t think much of my experience with the vocal coach, nor did I see her again, until the finale rolled around six months later. I was placed in a group to sing a song together, and we were assigned a vocal coach to work out any kinks. Yep, same vocal coach. I walked into the room and she immediately stood up, called me by name, and embraced me. As we’d only met the one time, I was surprised that she even recognized me out of the dozens she’d assisted, much less remembered my name. She placed her hands on my shoulders and told me that she had never been so harsh with another contestant in all her years working for the show. She continued, saying God spoke to her, conveying that I would only take initiative and request a new song if she was blunt with me. All these months later, after I’d sung 10 songs on the show and made it all the way to 5th place, I saw how St Cecilia had been pulling strings during my audition process (and in many other occasions during my time on the show).

*Fun fact*: Although secular in nature, “Cecilia” by Simon & Garfunkel is named after Saint Cecilia because of her role as patron of musicians.

Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati  (1901-1925)

“You ask me whether I am in good spirits. How could I not be so? As long as faith gives me strength, I will always be joyful!”- Bl. Pier Giorgio Frassati

“The higher we go, the better we shall hear the voice of Christ.” -Bl Pier Giorgio Frassati

Not technically a saint, Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati is considered a “Blessed.” To be canonized as a saint in the Catholic church, one must be credited with two miracles, both occurring post-mortem. When the first is proven, they can be beatified (beatification is what earns a person the title of “Blessed.”). Blessed Frassati has been beatified, but is still one proven miracle short of canonization.

Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati was born into a wealthy Italian family, but devoted his entire life to serving the poor and sick of his community. He loved Jesus with his whole heart and was a social activist, and a strong defender of faith and freedom. Pier passed away at the young age of 24 after falling ill. At his funeral, hundreds of those he had served and helped came flooding in to pay their respects. His family had no idea that Pier spent every day giving his time, money (he often gave away his bus fare and ran home instead), and love to the less fortunate. Likewise, those Pier had helped had no idea that he came from such a prominent family. In 1981, Pier’s body was exhumed and found to be entirely incorrupt. 

My personal connection: I spent this past 4th of July staying in a hotel by myself in the downtown of a big city. Once I arrived, I learned that this particular area is widely considered one of the most dangerous in all of America. At 19 years-old, and a whopping 4 feet 11 inches tall, I wasn’t stoked to learn this. After watching fireworks with a friend in one of the surrounding suburbs, I headed back into the city, where I had to park in a 6 story structure, then cross two intersections in the dark to reach my hotel. Fireworks are completely legal in this state, meaning the entire night (and well into the next morning), the thundering booms never ceased. Something about the situation unsettled and (honestly) frightened me. So I turned to prayer and for God’s protection. Still uneasy, even when I finally made it safely to my room, I reached into my bag for my pajama shirt, and was surprised to find that the UVA shirt I thought I’d packed for bed was actually a Verso L’ Alto shirt: Blessed Frassati’s favorite saying, which translates to “to the heights.” I felt an inexplicable tug on my heart imploring me to ask for Blessed Frassati’s intercession to calm my nervous spirit and keep me safe. A few long hours later, sunlight peeked through my window, and the fear finally abandoned me. When I got home, I pulled out my computer to learn more about Blessed Frassati. Searching his name on the Internet, I was shocked to learn that July 4th is actually his feast day! I now have no doubt that he helped protect me during that interesting night. 

Saint Anthony of Padua (1195-1231)

Patron saint of finding lost items, the poor, and the illiterate. 

“The life of the body is the soul. The life of the soul is God.”-Saint Anthony of Padua

Saint Anthony was born into a wealthy family in Lisbon, Portugal in the late 12th century. He was ordained a franciscan friar and became fast friends with Saint Francis of Assisi. Saint Francis gifted Anthony an annotated book of psalms to assist in teaching theology to others. Saint Anthony deeply treasured and valued the book, especially considering the printing press was not yet invented, so books in general were hard to come by. A prospective friar decided to leave in the night, and he stole the book on his way out. When he discovered it was missing, Saint Anthony prayed deeply for the book to be returned to him, and for the thief’s heart to return to God. Soon after, the man both returned the book and decided to rejoin the Order. This event is what earned Saint Anthony the title “the finder of lost things.” Anthony was a gifted preacher and was known to speak the Gospel to anyone, or anything that would listen. He would preach to the poor and illiterate of his community (which is why he’s named their patron) and is said to have once preached to the fish when those he’d set out to speak to rejected his words. When he was exhumed years after his death, it was discovered that his body had been corrupted but his tongue had not. This is believed to have happened because of his knack for speaking the Gospel to any who encountered him.

*fun fact*: The book of psalms Saint Francis of Assisi gifted to Saint Anthony has been preserved, and is currently in a Franciscan friary in Bologna.

Personal Connection: I like to call Saint Anthony my sidekick. He has stepped in to help me so many times, it would take dozens of pages to document them all. So I’ll settle for two of my favorite anecdotes instead. 

The first time I ever asked for Saint Anthony’s help, I was 5 years old. I was upset because I had lost one of my lavender crocs (my favorite shoes, both then and now) and couldn’t find the missing shoe anywhere. I tore apart my bedroom and the garage until I’d exhausted my options. My mom instructed me to ask for Saint Anthony’s help. She taught me the famous rhyme: Saint Anthony, Saint Anthony, please come around. Something is lost and must be found. Having a sudden desire to check my shoe cubby again, though I’d already checked it half a dozen times, I walked into the garage and… you guessed it! Hidden in plain sight, my missing croc was neatly placed alongside all my other shoes. Perplexing and completely incomprehensible, I still haven’t forgotten it 14 years later. 

 Another story: my senior year of high school, I took a friend with me to a football game at a neighboring school. Lined along the track were a set of bleachers that were stacked upon each other so that they couldn’t be used. Behind them was a long rail and a usable set of bleachers that overlooked the field. Throughout the game, my friend and I moved around frequently, standing and sitting in a dozen different locations. When it was time to go, I realized with horror that I’d lost my car keys. It was after 10 pm and I had parked in a residential neighborhood that was not particularly close to the stadium. I told my friend not to worry, that I’d just retrace my steps, and then closed my eyes and silently begged Saint Anthony to help me. In my mind, I immediately saw an image of the end of the rail that overlooked the stacked bleachers and field. I stood up and walked to the end of the rail and looked down. 15 feet below me, hidden underneath the stacked bleachers, were my keys. If I had glanced at the ground 5 feet to my left, I would not have been able to spot them. They’d somehow fallen out of my pocket early in the game when we’d been standing there. I had a cheerleader fetch them for me, and my friend and I were able to safely make it back to the car. I still get chills when I think about Saint Anthony’s miraculous intercession during this time!

Saint Maria Goretti (1890-1902)

Patron saint of rape victims, youth, and purity.

“He loves, He hopes, He waits. Our Lord prefers to wait for the sinner for years rather than to keep us waiting for an instant.” -Saint Maria Goretti

Saint Maria Goretti was born into a struggling family in Ancona, Italy. When her father passed away from Malaria, Maria and her siblings worked tirelessly in the fields to keep their family afloat. One day, Maria’s neighbor, Alessandro, snuck up behind her and grabbed her. When he attempted to rape her, 11 year old Maria cried out that rape was a mortal sin, and that “God does not want it!” Her words angered Alessandro and he began to choke her. She announced that she would rather die than submit to his wishes. Alessandro then pulled out a knife and stabbed her 14 times. Maria’s family took her to a hospital where she underwent surgery but was beyond help. Laying in a hospital bed, Maria forgave Alessandro, telling her family that she hoped to see him in Heaven. She passed away later that same day, holding a cross to her chest and gazing at an image of the Virgin Mary. After her death, Alessandro was arrested and charged. He showed no remorse. Years later, Alessandro had a dream that he was in a garden and Maria appeared to him, offering him lilies. He took them and they burned in his hands. He awoke a new man. Alessandro repented and converted. Once he was released from prison, he immediately sought out Maria’s mother to beg for her forgiveness, to which she replied “If my daughter can forgive you, who am I to withhold forgiveness?” In 1950, Maria was declared a saint, and Alessandro was in the crowd to witness and celebrate her canonization. He spent the rest of his life working in a monastery. Saint Maria Goretti is considered a martyr because her actions and words of faith led to her death. But what’s most remarkable about Maria is her willingness to forgive. In choosing to forgive Alessandro, she showed the world what it means to be a Christian.

Personal connection: While I don’t have a story about a particular time Saint Maria Goretti interceded in my life, learning about her has strengthened my faith in a special way. She taught me that there is no age threshold you must cross in order to have a strong relationship with Christ. Let’s face it: there aren’t many devout young people in the church. How many times have you heard the cradle-Catholic-that-lost-their-way-before-returning-to-the-church-as-an-adult testimony? Our secular society certainly makes it easy for youth to turn away from the church and never look back. But Saint Maria Goretti literally died with Jesus’ name on her lips. At 11 years old. Her story is a reminder that we are all called to be saints. Right here. Right now. You’re never too young or too old to take up your cross and follow Him.