Product Description
Pendants depict various well-known Saints. Descriptions follow:
Our Lady of Guadelupe
Patron of the America’s
In 1531, Juan Diego was hurrying to mass in Mexico City when the Blessed Virgin, calling herself “Our Lady of Guadalupe”, appeared to him. She instructed him to build a temple where she stood. The Bishop, not believing Juan, told him that he needed a sign. The Blessed Virgin instructed Juan to gather roses and take them to the Bishop. Juan did, and upon opening his cloak to release the roses, the image of Our Lady appeared inside the cloak just and Juan had described her. The shrine built there has been a pilgrimage sight ever since.
Saint Brigid
Patron of Ireland & babies
St. Brigid was born to an Irish Chieftain. She always had a charitable nature and so became the first Irish nun, starting convents throughout Ireland. Her wish was to relieve the hardships of the poor. She is known for the simple cross she is believed to have woven for a dying pagan chieftain to illus- trate the Christian faith. St. Brigid’s cross is commonly hung in Irish homes to bless them.
Saint Francis
Patron of animals, the environment & Italy
St. Francis was born in Italy. He was a wealthy man but was always sympathetic to the poor. St Francis believed that he was told by God to rebuild the Catholic Church. He did this by founding the order of the Franciscan brothers and nuns based on a foundation of merciful works, helping the poor and respect and love for all of God’s creations. Legend says that Francis was able to speak to the animals, thus his patronage of animals.
Saint Joseph
Patron of fathers, carpenters, those who fight for social justice & of those who battle with doubt
Everything we know about St. Joseph comes from scripture. He was a descendant of King David of Israel. He was a hard working carpenter. Joseph was a compassionate and caring man who was often visited by angels. Angles told him the truth about the child that Mary was carrying and Joseph married her without question. He was a loving and devoted foster father to Jesus. He is noted for his unquestioning willingness to always do whatever God asked of him.
Saint Jude
Patron of lost or impossible causes and hospitals
Saint Jude (a.k.a. Thaddaeus) was one of the Twelve Apostles of Jesus. He was the brother of St. James and St. Simon and the cousin of Jesus. He is usually pictured with a flame above his head to represent his presence at Penecost. He preached the gospel in Africa, the Middle East and into Asia, where he was martyred. His patronage of lost or impossible causes is due to a letter he wrote in the New Testament which stresses that the faithful should persevere, even under desperate circumstances.
Saint Michael
Patron of police, soldiers & all protectors
St. Michael is one of three archangels who is believed to be closest to God. Devotion to Michael is common to Christians, Muslims and Jews. He is traditionally pictured with the Latin, “Quis ut Deus”, meaning “who is like God” on his chest. As a warrior, Michael led the battle against the angels who rejected God to follow the fallen Lucifer. The knights of the Middle Ages invoked St. Michael as their patron.
Saint Patrick
Patron of Ireland
St. Patrick was the son of a prominent Roman family in Scotland. At the age of 16 he was kidnapped and taken to Ireland. After years as a slave, Patrick escaped only to return to Ireland. He traveled across the country for the next 30 years preaching and baptizing the Irish people. St. Patrick used the three leaves and single stem of Ireland’s shamrock flower to explain the Holy Trinity. Legend is that St. Patrick drove the snakes from Ireland!
Saint John the Apostle
Patron of writers and editors
John was one of Jesus’ original disciples. He traveled every- where with Jesus and was known as the beloved disciple. He is the only one of the twelve not to forsake Jesus during his death on the cross. He stood at the foot of the cross and was made guardian of Mary, Mother of God. He wrote the fourth Gospel, three Epistles and the Book of the Apocalypse. Many miracles surround John. For instance, once he was thrown into a cauldron of boiling oil but stepped out unharmed. He survived all of the other disciples.
Saint Luke
Patron of artists, physicians, and surgeons
Luke was born to a pagan family in Greece and was possibly a slave. He was one of the earliest converts to Christianity. He became a physician and probably traveled as a ship’s doctor. Legend has it that he was also a painter and painted portraits of Jesus and Mary, but none have ever been found. He befriended Saint Paul and evangelized Greece and Rome with him. He wrote the Gospel According to Luke and a history of the early church in the Acts of the Apostles.
Saint Mary Mother of God
Queen of saints
Mary was born the only child of Saint Anne and Saint Joachim. As a young girl, she entered the Temple and took a vow of virginity. Mary was visited by the angel Gabriel who told her that she would become the Mother of Jesus. She trusted God, married Joseph and gave birth to Jesus in a stable in Bethlehem. She was a loving mother and was with Jesus at the foot of the cross. Mary has appeared to thousands of people all over the world. The feast of her Assumption into heaven is celebrated on August 15th.
Saint Gabriel
Patron of communication workers, broadcasters, postal workers, and diplomats
Gabriel, whose name means “man of God,” is one of the three Archangels, the messengers of God. In the Old Testament, St. Gabriel appeared to the prophet Daniel and explained the prophet’s visions of the coming Messiah. He appeared to Zachariah to announce the birth of John the Baptist. He also announced to Mary that she would have a son, and that her son would be the savior of the world.
Saint Juan Diego
First Evangelist of the Americas
Juan Diego lived a simple life near what is now Mexico City. As he walked to church one day, he had a vision of the Virgin Mary. She asked him to tell the Bishop to build a church on that site. The bishop asked Juan for proof. At the site of his vision, Juan found a eld a owers growing in the frozen soil. He gathered them in his cloak to bring to the bishop. When he opened his cloak, there was a glowing image of Our Lady of Guadalupe on the fabric inside. St. Juan Diego became the rst evangelist of the Americas.
Saint Matthew
Patron of accountants, bookkeepers, guards, and stockbrokers
Matthew was originally named Levi and was a Jewish tax collector in Galilee. Because of his profession, he was distrusted and held in contempt by all. Jesus called Levi to follow Him, renaming him Matthew, meaning “gift of God.” Matthew gave up his accounting and all his worldly goods to follow Jesus. St. Matthew is one of the Four Evangelists and author of the rst Gospel.
Saint Peter
Patron of shermen, butchers, bakers, stone masons, and watch makers
Peter is often described as the spokesman of the disciples of Jesus. His original name was Simon, but Jesus renamed him Peter, or Petros, meaning “rock.” He was called by Jesus for a special role and became the rst Pope of the Roman Catholic Church and the bearer of the keys to the kingdom of heaven. In honor of St. Peter’s occupation before becoming a disciple, all Popes wear a “Fisherman’s Ring” which depicts Peter casting his nets.
