Updated November 21, 2024
Saints are people from the past whom Catholics can look up to for encouragement and inspiration. These champions of the faith are examples of what it means to serve and follow Christ. Many of even the most legendary Catholic saints were ordinary humans like anybody else. They had families, friends, desires and aspirations. Yet, they chose to serve humankind by sharing the Good News of Jesus before all else.
There are many saints of the Catholic Church to learn about. The Church recognizes more than 10,000 individuals who meet the appropriate criteria. We assembled this list of famous saints every Catholic should know about as an introduction to the topic. Read on for a list of saints’ names and their backgrounds.
What Does It Take to Become a Saint?
Catholic saints dedicated their lives to God through holiness, devotion and good works while on Earth. Many saints experienced intense hardship and even martyrdom because of their faith. Regardless of persecution, they faithfully focused on fulfilling God’s plan for them.
Saints are often seen as role models of faith, courage and virtue. They were devoted to God and chose to follow Christ even when doing so led to hardship. Because saints are in heaven, many Catholics ask them to intercede on their behalf.
Catholics are officially recognized as saints through a canonization process after their death. To be deemed “Venerable,” their lives must be carefully examined for heroic virtue. One miracle must be acquired through their intercession for the individual to be deemed “Blessed.” To be deemed a “Saint,” a second miracle after beatification is required. Only after this extensive official process can the person be canonized and added to the list of saints.
St. Michael the Archangel, Patron Saint of Soldiers and Police
St. Michael the Archangel is one of three angels, along with St. Gabriel and St. Raphael, that the Church refers to by name. The Bible mentions him on more than one occasion, establishing him as an important figure in both heavenly and earthly affairs. The Feast Day of St. Michael and All Angels is celebrated on September 29.
Catholic Tradition attributes St. Michael as the angel who will battle Satan in the prophetic account of Revelation 20:1-3. St. Michael also defeated Satan when the devil first fell, which is why Catholics honor this archangel as the patron saint of protection and people working in dangerous vocations like the police force and the military.
When Catholics seek defense and protection in various circumstances of life, many will pray to St. Michael. This petition, known as the “St. Michael Prayer,” makes the following requests:
Defense in battle
Protection against the wickedness of Satan
That God would rebuke Satan
That God would cast Satan and his evil spirits into hell to spare people on Earth from their mischief
Catholics revere St. Michael for his dedication to God and his impressive strength. In fact, most artistic renditions of the archangel show his moment of triumph in the battle against Satan.
St. Christopher, Patron Saint of Travelers
Before the modern advances we enjoy today, travel was a dangerous affair. The common folk had to do most of their traveling on foot and in groups, making journeys seen as easy by today’s standards quite a task to undertake. The story of St. Christopher begins during this time.
St. Christopher was a large, strong man from the Eastern Mediterranean region. In his early life, he decided to serve Satan and began a life of thievery. One day, he tried to steal from a traveler who stopped him with the sign of the cross. Amazed by the power of the cross, St. Christopher decided to serve God by helping travelers instead of harming them.
One day, he carried a young boy across the river by his home. As they crossed the river, the child’s weight grew and grew until he was extremely heavy. Upon reaching the other side, St. Christopher realized he had been carrying the Christ Child. As he helped travelers across the river, he was carrying out the work of Jesus.
Many Catholics wear necklaces depicting St. Christopher when they travel. Traveling can cause some worry, but remembering St. Christopher and meditating on God’s protection can put one’s mind at ease. St. Christopher no longer has a universally celebrated feast day, but many Catholics continue celebrating him on July 25.
St. Jude, Patron Saint of Lost Causes
Patron saints are those whom the Catholic Church regards as advocates for specific situations in a Catholic’s life. Sometimes, a saint’s patronage can cover a broad range of needs, as is the case with St. Jude.
St. Jude Thaddeus is the patron saint of miracles and lost causes. When Catholics face difficult circumstances like grave illness, intense need or deep depression, St. Jude represents hope. He reminds us that God works miracles and cares about our needs.
During his life, St. Jude was a disciple of Christ who went on to pen the Letter of Jude in the New Testament. He followed Jesus’ command in Matthew 28:19-20 to spread the gospel throughout the world and suffered death as a martyr because of his preaching. St. Jude was a close relative to Jesus and is often depicted with the image of Our Lord held close to his heart.
The Feast Day of St. Jude falls on October 28. He shares a feast day with St. Simon, another early Christian mentioned in the Bible.
St. Anthony of Padua, Patron Saint of Lost Items
Some Catholics refer to St. Anthony of Padua as the “Wonder Worker” because of the many miracles that have occurred as a result of his intercession. St. Anthony lived in Portugal during the 12th and 13th centuries and joined the Augustinian Order. He soon left to join the newly established Franciscan Order, hoping he could be a martyr for the sake of Christ.
St. Anthony was a gifted preacher who traveled the world to teach people about the Catholic faith. God gave him the ability to defend the Church from heresies, which earned St. Anthony the nickname the “Hammer of Heretics.” He spent the majority of his time preaching and living in Padua, Italy, where he garnered great love and respect for his humility and gentleness.
His miracles and sermons led to many lost people dedicating their lives to Christ. For this reason, he is revered as the patron saint of lost items. He also encourages the hungry and poor, expectant mothers, unmarried women and people who are infertile. St. Anthony’s feast day is celebrated on June 13.
St. Joseph, Patron Saint of Fathers, Workers, and a Holy and Happy Death
St. Joseph is well-known in Catholic Tradition for his status as the husband of the Virgin Mary and earthly father to Jesus Christ, the Son of God. In both of these relationships, St. Joseph displayed exceptional dedication, love, humility and trust in God, from the moment God commanded him to take Mary as his wife to his fostering and raising of Jesus during his formative years.
In Matthew 13:55, we see Jesus referred to as “the carpenter’s son” upon returning to his hometown. And although many of Jesus’ relatives are listed in this passage, Joseph goes unmentioned. This silence leads many to believe that Joseph died before Jesus began his public ministry. Joseph would have died surrounded by Jesus Christ and Mary, the holiest and happiest death indeed.
St. Joseph’s title as “the carpenter” also reveals a great deal about who he was during his life. He was a hard worker, using his hands to fashion wood for his clients. He would have put in work and effort to provide for Mary and Jesus. For this reason, St. Joseph is also revered as the patron saint of fathers and workers.
St. Joseph is celebrated on March 19. Catholics also celebrate the Feast of St. Joseph the Worker on May 1, which coincides with International Workers’ Day.
St. Mary the Virgin, the Mother of Jesus
St. Mary was chosen by God to carry and give birth to His Son, Jesus Christ. Catholics believe she is the only person besides Jesus to be born free of original sin. Her obedience and trust allowed God’s Son to enter the world and change the course of history forever.
In Luke 1:28, the angel Gabriel refers to Mary as “favored one” and tells her that the Lord is with her. She responded with faith and praise to God. Together, she and Jesus would have experienced many moments in life and shared the joy of being mother and son.
When Jesus is dying on the cross in John 19:26-27, he remembers his mother, Mary. Jesus tells the disciple whom he loved, St. John, to take care of his mother after his death. According to the Bible, John moved Mary into his own home after the crucifixion. Today, Catholics continue to give Mary the highest honor and seek her blessings in many moments of life.
Mary has the most feast days of any Catholic saint. Also known as Marian feast days, these celebrations mark different aspects of Mary’s character and life. Some of the most important feast days for Mary include:
Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God: Celebrated on January 1.
Assumption: Celebrated on August 15.
Our Lady of the Rosary: Celebrated on October 7.
Immaculate Conception: Celebrated on December 8.
The entire month of May is dedicated to Mary, and she is celebrated again in October, the Month of the Rosary. Three Marian feasts are also Holy Days of Obligation — the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God, the Assumption of Mary, and the Immaculate Conception. Mary is the most important Catholic saint because of her relationship with Jesus.
St. Francis of Assisi, Patron Saint of Animals
Born Giovanni in the 12th century, St. Francis of Assisi was wealthy and on his way to fight in a war when he had a vision from God. He changed his whole life, leading a life of poverty while teaching and preaching about God. He is responsible for a revival that led to three new Catholic religious orders:
The Third Order of Saint Francis
The Order of St. Clare
The Order of Friars Minor
One of St. Francis’s most well-known attributes is his love for animals. In fact, most artistic depictions of him include birds and mammals. Catholics invoke St. Francis of Assisi’s intercession for blessings toward animals and the environment and for protection against fires. St. Francis’ feast day is celebrated on October 4. In his honor, many churches bless animals on this day.
St. Thomas Aquinas, Patron Saint of Educators, Students and Learning
St. Thomas Aquinas is one of the most intellectually gifted individuals in this list of saints and their virtues. History remembers him for his literature and his exemplary virtuous life that Catholics around the world seek to emulate and learn from. St. Thomas was born into a wealthy family in Italy, but he chose to live a life of poverty instead. He felt God was calling him to follow in the footsteps of Jesus.
He was declared a Doctor of the Church, a title given to him for his many writings that continue to enrich and challenge theologians and philosophers alike to this day. St. Thomas of Aquinas serves as a model and inspiration for people who love learning, as well as those who are involved in formal education. St. Thomas Aquinas’ feast day falls on January 28.
St. Peter, Patron Saint of Popes and Rome
Known originally as Simon, St. Peter was one of Jesus’ 12 disciples during his public ministry and is one of the most important Catholic saints. We see Jesus calling Peter to follow him in Matthew 4:18-20. Peter and his brother Andrew were the first disciples Jesus called, and this saint would prove to be one of the most influential of the 12 during and after Christ’s time on Earth.
Peter was a common fisherman for most of his life until Jesus called him to be a disciple. He couldn’t have ever guessed how drastically his life would change as a result of saying yes to Jesus’ calling. He followed Our Lord throughout his ministry on Earth, witnessing his incredible signs, miracles and wonders. But most importantly, he heard Jesus’ teachings firsthand and would lead the Church after Christ’s Ascension into Heaven.
The Bible describes how Jesus set Peter apart from the other disciples in Matthew 16:17-18. Catholic Tradition emphasizes this moment as Jesus establishing Peter as the first pope of the Catholic Church. Peter would go on to write two influential epistles in the Bible, 1 and 2 Peter. St. Peter is also the patron saint of net–makers, shipbuilders and fishermen due to his status as a fisherman before following Jesus. The Feasts of Saints Peter and Paul is celebrated on June 29.
St. Joan of Arc, Patron Saint of France
One of the most recognizable saint names on this list, St. Joan of Arc was a French teenager who was instrumental in several of her country’s victories during the Hundred Years’ War. Her journey began when she had visions of St. Catherine of Alexandria, St. Margaret and St. Michael the Archangel. After receiving these visions, she approached King Charles VII with the idea of leading the French Army into battle with the English.
Despite proving her loyalty to her country and her faith in God on the battlefield, her visions and boldness were controversial. People began believing that she was a witch or sorceress, and she was put on trial by a pro-English tribunal of clerics. They sentenced her to be burned at the stake.
Despite being tempted to renounce her faith to spare her life, St. Joan of Arc remained steadfast. She faced martyrdom as valiantly as she had faced the battlefield for her country and died at only 19 years old. Catholics celebrate St. Joan of Arc’s faith and courage on May 30.
How Catholics Celebrate Feast Days
Throughout the year, feast days remember the lives of Catholic saints. There are many ways to celebrate feast days, but many Catholics will:
Go to mass.
Say special prayers.
Fast and abstain from meat.
Celebrate with a party.
Visit a holy site.
Do works of charity.
Attend processions.
Some saints have specific traditions associated with their feast days. These traditions are often local to a country or region. For example, there’s a 10-day festival for Joan of Arc’s victory in Orléans, a city near where she grew up. Many people also make crème brûlée, a French dessert, to celebrate this feast day.
Spread Christ’s Love With Catholic World Mission
The many Catholic saints provide a source of help and encouragement to Catholics around the world. These men and women had a devout love for God that transcended their circumstances and drove their life missions. Their faith continues to inspire Catholics today.
If you’d like to get involved with making a difference in people’s lives globally, you can donate to our mission today. Our goal is to help underprivileged communities experience lasting physical and spiritual renewal.
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