Patron saints
Prayers to the patron saints
38 prayers, by what people ask the saints for, Catholic and Orthodox, in plain English.
Picture: Giovanni di Paolo, Paradise, 1445, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York
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Animals and pets
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Catholics Prayer to St Francis for pets The prayer people say to St Francis of Assisi for their pets, asking him to watch over the animals they love. Under a minute St Francis of Assisi -
Orthodox Prayer of St Modestos Asks Christ to heal sick animals, in the voice of St Modestos. About four minutes St Modestos of Jerusalem -
Catholics Blessing of animals through St Anthony The blessing priests give to animals on St Anthony’s feast, which asks his prayers that they be kept well. About a minute St Anthony the Great -
Catholics Prayer to St Roch for the sick The prayer to St Roch, who nursed the sick of the plague, for all who lie ill in bed. About a minute St Roch -
Catholics The Church’s prayer for St Gertrude The prayer said for St Gertrude on her feast day in the diocese of Meissen, asking a place to stay, now and to come. About a minute St Gertrude of Nivelles -
Orthodox Troparion of Sts Florus and Laurus The hymn the Russian Church sings to Sts Florus and Laurus, whom the Orthodox ask to protect horses. Under a minute Sts Florus and Laurus -
Orthodox Troparion of St Tryphon The hymn the Russian Church sings to St Tryphon on his feast, 1 February. Under a minute St Tryphon -
Orthodox Troparion of St Blaise The hymn the Orthodox sing to St Blaise of Sebaste, bishop and martyr, on his feast day. About a minute St Blaise - Catholics The blessing of throats through St Blaise The words said over each person’s throat on St Blaise’s feast, asking God to keep them from every illness of the throat. Under a minute St Blaise
Cancer
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Catholics Prayer to St Peregrine The prayer people with cancer say to St Peregrine, the friar his order tells was healed of cancer in his leg. About a minute St Peregrine -
Orthodox Troparion of St Nektarios The hymn to St Nektarios, often asked to pray for people with cancer. About 30 seconds St Nektarios of Aegina -
Orthodox Prayer before the icon “Queen of All” The prayer the Russian Church approved in 2019 for its service before the Pantanassa icon. About 2 minutes The Pantanassa -
Catholics and Orthodox Prayer to St Agatha for breast cancer The prayer people say to St Agatha for healing from breast cancer, asking her prayers to God. About a minute St Agatha -
Orthodox Troparion of St Parthenios The hymn Greeks sing to St Parthenios on his feast day, 7 February. About a minute St Parthenios
Finding a job
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Catholics Prayer to St Joseph the Worker The prayer to St Joseph, the carpenter of Nazareth, that Pope St Pius X blessed in 1906, for all who work or look for work. About a minute St Joseph -
Catholics Prayer to St Cajetan (San Cayetano) The prayer to St Cajetan, whom Catholics call the Father of Providence, asking his help in time of need. Under a minute St Cajetan -
Orthodox Troparion of St Xenia The hymns of St Xenia, who gave everything away to wander for Christ. About a minute St Xenia of Petersburg -
Orthodox Troparion of St Spyridon The hymn to St Spyridon, the shepherd bishop who lent freely. About 30 seconds St Spyridon -
Orthodox Troparion of St Nicholas The hymn to St Nicholas, who gained riches by poverty. About 20 seconds St Nicholas - Orthodox Troparion of St Tryphon The hymn the Russian Church sings to St Tryphon on his feast, 1 February. Under a minute St Tryphon
Healing
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Catholics and Orthodox Prayer to St Raphael for healing The prayer to St Raphael, whose name means “God has healed”, asking his help in sickness of body and soul. About a minute St Raphael the Archangel -
Catholics and Orthodox Troparion of St Panteleimon The hymn to St Panteleimon, the doctor who healed without charge. About 15 seconds St Panteleimon -
Catholics Prayer to Our Lady of Lourdes The prayer the sick and those who care for them say to the Virgin Mary as she appeared at Lourdes. About a minute Our Lady of Lourdes -
Catholics and Orthodox Troparion of Sts Cosmas and Damian The hymn to the brothers who were doctors and took no payment. About 10 seconds Sts Cosmas and Damian -
Orthodox Troparion of St Luke the Surgeon The hymns to St Luke of Crimea, a surgeon who became an archbishop. About a minute St Luke of Crimea -
Orthodox Kontakion of Sts Cyrus and John The hymn to two martyr doctors who heal by “unseen surgery”. About 20 seconds Sts Cyrus and John -
Catholics Prayer to St John of God for heart patients The prayer Catholics say to St John of God for those with heart disease, asking healing or the strength to bear it. About a minute St John of God - Catholics The Church’s prayer for St John of God The prayer the Church said for St John of God on his feast, 8 March, before 1970. Under a minute St John of God
Lost things
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Catholics Prayer to St Anthony for lost things The prayer Catholics say to St Anthony of Padua when something is lost, which asks to find it and never to lose God. About a minute St Anthony of Padua - Catholics St Anthony’s Responsory (Si quaeris) The hymn to St Anthony that Franciscans have sung since the 1200s, which says that through his prayers lost things are found. About a minute St Anthony of Padua
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Orthodox Troparion of St Phanourios Hymns of St Phanourios, whom people ask to help find lost things. About a minute St Phanourios -
Orthodox Troparion of St John the Warrior The hymn of St John the Warrior, a Roman soldier who saved Christians. About 40 seconds St John the Warrior -
Orthodox Troparion of St Menas The hymn Greek and Russian Orthodox sing to St Menas on his feast day, 11 November. Under a minute St Menas
Students and exams
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Catholics St Thomas’s prayer before study The prayer before study that Catholics credit to St Thomas Aquinas, said before reading, writing or an exam. About a minute St Thomas Aquinas -
Catholics Prayer to St Joseph of Cupertino for exams The prayer students say to St Joseph of Cupertino, the friar who struggled with his studies, before an exam. About a minute St Joseph of Cupertino -
Orthodox Troparion of the Three Holy Hierarchs The hymn Greek schools and churches sing to Sts Basil the Great, Gregory the Theologian and John Chrysostom. About a minute The Three Holy Hierarchs -
Orthodox Troparion of St Sergius Asks St Sergius to remember the flock he gathered. About 30 seconds St Sergius of Radonezh -
Orthodox Troparion of St Tatiana The hymn the Russian Church sings to St Tatiana on her feast, 25 January, the day of Russia’s students. Under a minute St Tatiana -
Catholics Prayer to St Catherine for students The prayer students say to St Catherine of Alexandria, the learned martyr, for their studies. Under a minute St Catherine of Alexandria - Catholics Prayer to St John of God for heart patients The prayer Catholics say to St John of God for those with heart disease, asking healing or the strength to bear it. About a minute St John of God
- Catholics The Church’s prayer for St John of God The prayer the Church said for St John of God on his feast, 8 March, before 1970. Under a minute St John of God