www.byzcath.org Forums Faith & Christian Life Faith & Theology Name a favorite Saint and why?

Who is you favorite Saint and why? You probably have several, but let's just pick one per post. Add more later if you want.

Lately I have really been drawn to the writings and homilies of St. John Chrystostom and, of course, the Divine Liturgy of St. John Chrystostom .

As I posted earlier this month Pope Benedict XVI honored St. John Chrystostom and his love for the Eucharist while speaking to a crowd outside his summer home in Italy.

You can see that post and links to that event here.

Pope Benedict XVI gives tribute to St. John Chrystostom.

Anyway, St. John is known for his "Golden Mouth" as a great speaker, his writings, and his love of God and the Church.

In Christ,

Porter (Mary Jo)

Here are some my favorites:

St. Alexis the Man of God - he's my patron saint and his life has relevance to me and is an inspiration to me.

St. Michael the Archangel - I like him because he is the devil's primary foe, and because his Prayer is always assuring to me.

St. Philip Neri - his sense of humor, his humility, and his affinity for teaching children about the Holy Faith.

Logos Teen

Thanks,
St. Michael the Archangel is one of my favorites too. My nephew is named Michael and so was my grandfather. My mother had planned to name ME Michael had I been a boy. I suppose she could have chosen Michelle but she named me after the Theotokos (for which I am most grateful) and St. Joseph (another favorite of mine). Thus, Mary Josephine.

I have often said the prayer to St. Michael:

Saint Michael the Archangel,
defend us in battle.
Be our protection against the wickedness and snares of the devil.
May God rebuke him, we humbly pray;
and do Thou, O Prince of the Heavenly Host -
by the Divine Power of God -
cast into hell, satan and all the evil spirits,
who roam throughout the world seeking the ruin of souls.

Amen

In Christ and the Theotokos,


Porter (Mary Jo)

Yes, since my Name is Michael I have a strong devotion to him. Today is his feast day in the Roman Rite.

My middle name is Joseph. I have a strong devotion to St. Joseph too. I have icons of both on my icon corner.

I also have devotion to St. Benedict Joseph Labre. He was, what we in the East would call, a "fool for Christ's sake". I visited his tomb and the room where he died when I was in Rome.

Athanasios, He took a licking and kept on ticking. His explication of the Incarnation has stood the test of time. Where would we be without his defense of the Nicean Creed?

Given my avatar my choice was rather obvious.

Dan L

Saint Ignatius of Antioch. His seven letters should still be required reading for all adult, literate Christians once a year.

Incognitus

For myself, I have a few that I hold dear to me. They are:

Saint Anthony the Great (January 17th) My patron Saint and Father of Monasticism
Saint Benedict of Nursia (March 14th Byzantine Calendar) Father of Western Monasticism and Author of the Rule
Saint Irene Chrysovalantou (July 28th) Abbess
Saint Nektarios of Aegenia (Novemember 9th) Wonderworker
Saint Nicholas (December 6th) Wonderworker, and Icon of Pastoral Love

Each touches my life in a different way.The first three are monastic saints, and being a monastic before being a priest, they each contribute to my vocation. The last is a testimony to love and humility. He was one whose life is a beacon for me to endure, despite the short-comings that may be dealt to us. Each is an icon of the gospel lived and loved. I pray that I might be shown by their example how to achieve the goal for all Christians, the path to eternal life.

In IC XC,
Father Anthony+

There are many people that saved Europe during the middle ages. However, I give St. Benedict of Nursia the utmost credit. It is difficult to imagine what kind of place Europe would have become without St. Benedict.

Dan L

Dear Porter,

My favorite Saint is Saint Nektarios of Aegina. He never ceases to answer my prayers, and sufferred so much because of slanderous lies.

And of course I love Saint Anthony of Padua...even though I'm Orthodox. He's always finding things for me. Never fails!

Then there's Saint Nicholas who concerned himself with protecting the virtue of others, and then Saint Therese of Liseaux who I love and have dedicated others to...even if I'm not Catholic.

And then there's Saint Michael whose protection I need badly.

Zenovia

Favorite saints:

Mary the Mother of Jesus
--By Christ's grant from the Cross, she is my mother too. She prays for me even when I cannot pray for myself.

my Guardian Angel
--He has saved my life, literally. He has helped me in many ways, most of which I will not know till the afterlife. He has put up with my s#t for 38 years now, God bless him, and he still keeps looking out for me.

my Dad and my Mother-in-Law and my Friend
--They are three good people whom I knew and loved in this life, and who have passed on. I have (from time to time) asked them to pray for me . . . and they have always come through for me.

John Bradburne
He is up for canonization in the diocese of Zimbabwe. Apparently, he was the real thing: a genuine holy man. http://www.welcome.to/johnbradburne

the souls in purgatory
--I pray for them everyday. They need help. Also, they are powerful intercessors.

St. Phocas the Gardener
--He was a small farmer who lived alone and who offered his house, for free, to travellers for shelter. He was also a Christian. When a persecution of Christians was announced by the Roman empire, a troop of soldiers was sent to find and kill him. Unwittingly, they came to his house and asked for shelter, which Phocas offered for free. Later, the solders asked him where they could find Phocas; and he replied that he would should them Phocas in the morning. He fed them and sent them to bed. Then, he prayed and prepared his soul for death, and he dug his own grave. In the morning, he told the solders his identity. At first, they were so impressed by his honor and courage that they did not want to kill him. But, St. Phocas forgave them and insisted that they carry out their command. And thus, St. Phocas showed love to even those who would kill him; and thus too he prevented others from being hurt because of him or on his behalf. Truly, like Christ, he gave his live for his neighbor.

I have to say, that so far this has been one of my favorite threads. It gives me a chance to be edified by others in the Champions of God they feel close with , The Saints.

God bless all!

In IC XC,
Father Anthony+

St. Gregory Palamas for his brilliant discourse on essence and energia;

any and all of the Cappadocians, but especially St. Basil the Great for his discourse on the Holy Spirit and St. Gregory of Nyssa on Moses;

St. John Climacus for his Ladder which helps us climb out of the pit of the passions every Lent;

St. Seraphim of Sarov for reminding us how important and beautiful it is to acquire the Holy Spirit;

and Hieromartyrs Leonid Feodorov and Pavel Florensky for their example of bearing the Passion throughout their entire ministerial lives.

Gosh, do I have to stop there?

Harmon; thank you for the introduction to the Servant of God John Brandburne; what a holy man! And so kindred: Franciscan, English, African.
I love to discover saints!
As for myself; given my Latin background:
St Martin de Porres
St Francis
St Bonaventure
Bl Duns Scotus
St Rose of Lima
St Joseph
St Patrick [Padraigh]
St Benedict
St Juan Diego
St Faustina
St Gemma
St Catherine of Sienna
Venerable Solanus Casey [!]

And from the Eastern tradition:

St Nicholas
St Panteleimon
St John the Baptist
St Gregory of Nyssa
St Seraphim of Serov [who I named my youngest son after]
St Herman of Alaska
Bl Leonid Feodorov
-Daniel

St Seraphim of Serov ... a favorite of all who use the Jesus Prayer, and also animal lovers because he he had a bear as a friend

Too many favorites to list here.
But... I just wanted to add a few - St. John Bosco; St. John Neumann; Bl. Andre Bessette.. I've been reading a wonderful collection of Carmelites' prayers that is so inspiring including those of Bl. Titus Brandsma (imprisoned in the Nazi death camp, still wrote beautiful prayers there), Pere Jacques Bunel (I understand there was a film made about him - I wish I could see it - "Au revoir les enfants" - anyone here see it?) ...
Teen: Who is Saint Alexis? When did he live?
Communion of Saints