One way to increase devotion to the saints is by developing a relationship with one particular saint—your patron saint. This exercise will help students choose their own patron saint. Create and distribute a worksheet with the following prompts.
Your Patron Saint
Write your first and middle names here:
Using a Catholic encyclopedia, or a book of saints, or an Internet site list as many saints as you can find that share one of your names.
Write your birthday and the date of your Baptism here:
List those saints whose feast day is one of the dates written above.
List as many hobbies or regular activities as you can think of that are important to you here:
Find out if there are patron saints for those hobbies or activities. List them here:
Now read the short biographies of the saints you have listed above until you find a story that inspires you. Write that saint’s name here:
Complete the following information about the saint who inspires you and who we can define as your “patron saint.”
- Date and place of birth
- Lifelong Catholic or convert?
- Date and circumstance of death
- Best known for
- Virtues exhibited by this saint
- Temptations or struggles faced by this saint
Extra Credit: Purchase and wear a necklace with a medal of your patron saint. Show the medal to your teacher.
