Saints for today’s kids

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A patron saint of the internet

St. Isidore of Seville died in 636, so he never surfed the Web, had a Facebook account or downloaded tunes to his iPod. But he did compile a 30-volume encyclopedia of all the knowledge of his time. In the 1990s, when Catholic webmasters were looking for their own saint, they heard about Isidore’s encyclopedia, thought it sounded like the world’s first database, and proclaimed St. Isidore the patron saint of the Internet! Pray to St. Isidore for help with quick and easy Web searches.

A patron saint of music lessons

It is said that in her heart St. Cecilia always sang a hymn to Jesus. Over the centuries great artists have shown St. Cecilia playing a pipe organ as she sings, so she has become the patron saint of all musicians, and music students. Ask for St. Cecilia to inspire you the next time you don’t feel like practicing.

A patron saint for athletes

Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati is not just the patron of athletes. He’s the patron saint of the adrenaline rush. He loved mountain climbing and long hikes, but his favorite sport was skiing — particularly wild freestyle skiing races down the Alps. He would have loved snowboarding. Pray to St. Pier Giorgio Frassati when you want to learn a new sport.

A patron saint for snow days

On a hot August night in 352, the Blessed Mother appeared in a dream to Pope Liberius and to a Roman senator named John, telling them to build a church dedicated to her on the Esquiline Hill in Rome. The next day the pope and the senator visited the hill and saw the exact spot where Mary wanted her church — it was outlined in snow. The church is now St. Mary Major Basilica. The next time you’re hoping for a snow day, pray to Our Lady of the Snow!

A patron saint for good friendships

Jesus loved all his apostles, but his closest friend was St. John, who was known as “the Beloved Disciple.” When Jesus carried His cross, St. John was the only apostle who followed Him. And as Jesus was on the cross, He entrusted His blessed mother, Mary, to St. John, and asked Mary to treat John as if he were her own child. Pray to St. John to help you be a good friend.

Communion of Saints

As Catholics, we believe in the Communion of Saints — which simply means that all of the faithful, both living on earth and living in the final life, are still connected. We’re lucky as Catholics because we have much more than memories to lean on; we believe that all of the faithful departed are still very much a part of our lives. And we can connect with them any time — not in a séance — but in a real way that provides us comfort, strength and the promise of eternal life.

It is powerful to remember that the celebration of the Eucharist includes many more people than simply those gathered at Mass. Each time we share in the Eucharist, the whole Church is united through time and space to become one Body of Christ. We call upon “all the angels and saints,” who we believe are present with us throughout the sacred liturgy, and celebrate that we will one day see each other again at the heavenly feast!