Patron Saint Finder

Find the saint traditionally linked to your work, why the Church connects them, and when their feast day falls.

Popular: NursesLawyersTeachersChefsAccountantsPoliceFarmersMusicians

Find the saint for your work

Choose one of 52 professions from the list, or search above. Each entry explains who the saint was, why they are linked to the work and when their feast day falls.

How a saint becomes a patron

  • Declared by a pope. A pope formally named this saint a patron.
  • By tradition. The patronage grew up over time through popular devotion.
  • Based on legend. The link rests on a legend about the saint's life.

How patron saints of professions came about

Patron saints of

Doctors and physicians

St. Luke

Feast day: October 18 By tradition

St. Paul calls Luke "the beloved physician" (Colossians 4:14). Franciscan Media lists the Gospel writer as patron of physicians and surgeons.

Sts. Cosmas and Damian

Feast day: September 26 By tradition

Early Christian physicians and martyrs who took no payment for their care. The Catholic Encyclopedia says they are regarded as patrons of physicians and surgeons.

St. Gianna Beretta Molla

By tradition

An Italian pediatrician who studied medicine and surgery at Pavia and died in 1962; John Paul II canonized her in 2004. Franciscan Media lists her as a patron of doctors.

Find Catholic DoctorsFind Catholic Healthcare Providers
Sources (6)

Patron saints of

Nurses and home health care

St. Camillus de Lellis

Feast day: July 14 (U.S.: July 18) Declared by a pope

A former soldier who founded a religious order to care for the sick. In 1930 Pope Pius XI named him, with St. John of God, co-patron of nurses and nursing associations.

St. John of God

Feast day: March 8 Declared by a pope

In Granada he rented a house to care for the sick and poor, and his first companions formed the nucleus of a religious congregation. In 1930 Pope Pius XI named him, with St. Camillus, co-patron of nurses and nursing associations.

Find Catholic Home Health Agencies
Sources (4)

Patron saints of

Hospitals and rehabilitation centers

St. John of God

Feast day: March 8 Declared by a pope

Pope Leo XIII made him patron of hospitals and the dying; the Hospitaller Order's official site dates the brief Dives in misericordia to June 22, 1886, naming him and St. Camillus universal patrons of hospitals and the sick.

St. Camillus de Lellis

Feast day: July 14 (U.S.: July 18) Declared by a pope

He devoted his life to the sick and founded an order to serve them. Leo XIII's 1886 brief Dives in misericordia named him and St. John of God universal patrons of hospitals and the sick.

Find Catholic Hospital BusinessesFind Catholic Rehabilitation Centers
Sources (4)

Saints for

Eye doctors and optometrists

No traditional patron

We found no well-established patron saint of optometrists or eye doctors specifically. St. Lucy is the traditional patron of eyesight and of people with eye trouble, so she is listed here as a general choice.

St. Lucy

Feast day: December 13 General patron

Franciscan Media lists her as patron of the blind and of eye disorders and calls her the patroness of eyesight. It also notes there is little basis in history for most traditions about her life.

Find Catholic Optometrists
Sources (1)

Patron saint of

Pharmacists

Sts. Cosmas and Damian

Feast day: September 26 By tradition

Twin physicians martyred around the late third century who treated the sick without pay. The journal of the Catholic Medical Association (UK) describes them as the patrons of pharmacists, and the Catholic Encyclopedia calls them patrons of physicians and surgeons.

Find Catholic Pharmacies
Sources (2)

Patron saints of

Veterinarians and animal care

St. Francis of Assisi

Feast day: October 4 By tradition

Franciscan Media lists him as patron of animals and of ecology; in 1979 John Paul II named him patron of those who promote ecology.

St. Blaise

Feast day: February 3 Based on legend

Aleteia explains that he is invoked as patron of veterinarians because of stories of his kindness to animals and his healing of their wounds. Franciscan Media notes that his Acts are legendary and were written about 400 years after his death.

Find Catholic VeterinariansFind Catholic Animal Hospitals
Sources (3)

Saints for

Senior living and elder care

No traditional patron

We found no well-established patron saint of senior living communities or elder care workers. Sts. Joachim and Anne, patrons of grandparents, are listed as a general choice; their names come from a legendary source written more than a century after Jesus' death, as Franciscan Media notes.

Sts. Joachim and Anne

Feast day: July 26 General patron

The parents of Mary and grandparents of Jesus, whom Franciscan Media lists as patrons of grandparents. Pope Francis set the annual World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly on the fourth Sunday of July, close to their memorial.

Find Catholic Senior Living CommunitiesFind Catholic Assisted Living Communities
Sources (2)

Patron saints of

Lawyers and attorneys

St. Thomas More

Feast day: June 22 By tradition

An English lawyer who rose to Lord Chancellor, More was beheaded in 1535 after refusing to accept Henry VIII's claims over the Church. Franciscan Media lists him as patron of attorneys, lawyers and court clerks; his formally declared patronage, from John Paul II in 2000, is of statesmen and politicians.

St. Ivo of Kermartin (St. Yves)

By tradition

A 13th-century Breton trained in civil and canon law who served as a church judge and became known as the advocate of the poor. The Catholic Encyclopedia names him patron of lawyers.

Find Catholic AttorneysFind Catholic Lawyers
Sources (3)

Patron saint of

Politicians and public officials

St. Thomas More

Feast day: June 22 Declared by a pope

In an apostolic letter of October 31, 2000, John Paul II declared him the heavenly patron of statesmen and politicians. More served in Parliament, as Speaker and as Lord Chancellor before his execution in 1535.

Sources (2)

Patron saint of

Firefighters

St. Florian

Based on legend

Aleteia says firefighters have invoked St. Florian for many centuries. It ties the patronage to a miracle story of his putting out a fire with a pitcher of water and notes that the claim he led firefighting soldiers is difficult to trace.

Sources (1)

Patron saints of

Soldiers and military

St. Martin of Tours

Feast day: November 11 By tradition

Martin was forced to serve in the Roman army at 15 and later asked to leave it to serve Christ. Franciscan Media lists him as patron of soldiers.

St. Joan of Arc

By tradition

The French peasant girl who led troops in the Hundred Years' War and was burned at the stake in 1431. Franciscan Media lists her as patron of military members.

Sources (2)

Saints for

Insurance agents

No traditional patron

We found no well-established patron saint of insurance agents. St. Joseph the Worker, patron of workers, is listed as a general choice.

St. Joseph the Worker

Feast day: May 1 General patron

Vatican News presents St. Joseph the Worker as patron of workers; he was a carpenter, and Pope Pius XII instituted this feast in 1955 so that workers would keep a Christian understanding of work.

Find Catholic Insurance Agencies
Sources (2)

Saints for

Real estate agents

No traditional patron

We found no well-established patron saint of real estate agents. St. Joseph the Worker, patron of workers, is listed as a general choice.

St. Joseph the Worker

Feast day: May 1 General patron

Vatican News presents St. Joseph the Worker as patron of workers; he was a carpenter, and Pope Pius XII instituted this feast in 1955 so that workers would keep a Christian understanding of work.

Find Catholic Real Estate Agents
Sources (2)

Patron saints of

Business owners and merchants

St. Homobonus

By tradition

A cloth merchant of Cremona, Italy, who died in 1197 and was canonized in 1199; John Paul II called him the "heavenly merchant." The Catholic Weekly of Sydney calls him the patron saint of businesspeople, tailors and shoemakers.

St. Francis of Assisi

Feast day: October 4 By tradition

Franciscan Media lists merchants among his patronages.

Find Catholic Retail StoresFind Catholic Supplies Businesses
Sources (3)

Patron saints of

Cooks, chefs and restaurant workers

St. Lawrence

Feast day: August 10 Based on legend

A deacon of Rome martyred in 258, he is the traditional patron of cooks because of the story that he was roasted on a gridiron. The Catholic Encyclopedia says that account "gives rise to grave doubts," though his martyrdom is certain.

St. Martha

Feast day: July 29 By tradition

In the Gospels Martha welcomes Jesus into her home and serves the meal (Luke 10:38-42; John 12:2). Franciscan Media lists her as patron of cooks, homemakers and restaurant servers.

Find Catholic Restaurants
Sources (4)

Patron saint of

Hotels and innkeepers

St. Julian the Hospitaller

Based on legend

Angelus News says he is considered the patron of ferrymen and innkeepers, and it presents his story, in which he does penance by caring for travelers, as legend.

Find Catholic Hotels
Sources (1)

Saints for

Cleaning services and housekeepers

No traditional patron

St. Zita fits house cleaning and domestic work. We found no well-established patron saint of dry cleaners or laundries specifically.

St. Zita

By tradition

A household servant in Lucca, Italy, from age 12 who was eventually put in charge of the whole household; she died in 1271. The Catholic Encyclopedia calls her the model and heavenly patroness of domestic servants.

Find Catholic Cleaning ServicesFind Catholic Cleaners Businesses
Sources (1)

Saints for

Pest control

No traditional patron

We found no well-established patron saint of pest control workers. St. Joseph the Worker, patron of workers, is listed as a general choice.

St. Joseph the Worker

Feast day: May 1 General patron

Vatican News presents St. Joseph the Worker as patron of workers; he was a carpenter, and Pope Pius XII instituted this feast in 1955 so that workers would keep a Christian understanding of work.

Find Catholic Pest Control Companies
Sources (2)

Saints for

Waste management and hauling

No traditional patron

We found no well-established patron saint of waste haulers or sanitation workers. St. Joseph the Worker, patron of workers, is listed as a general choice.

St. Joseph the Worker

Feast day: May 1 General patron

Vatican News presents St. Joseph the Worker as patron of workers; he was a carpenter, and Pope Pius XII instituted this feast in 1955 so that workers would keep a Christian understanding of work.

Find Catholic Waste Businesses
Sources (2)

Patron saints of

Construction and building trades

St. Thomas the Apostle

Feast day: July 3 By tradition

Franciscan Media lists him as patron of architects, builders, construction workers and surveyors. The apocryphal Acts of Thomas, which the Catholic Encyclopedia treats as largely legendary, describe him agreeing to build a palace for an Indian king.

St. Joseph

Feast day: March 19; May 1 (St. Joseph the Worker) By tradition

Joseph, the husband of Mary and foster father of Jesus, was a carpenter. Franciscan Media lists him as patron of carpenters, and Vatican News presents him as patron of workers.

Find Catholic Construction CompaniesFind Catholic General Contracting Businesses
Sources (4)

Saints for

Plumbers and septic services

No traditional patron

We found no well-established patron saint of plumbers. St. Joseph the Worker (patron of workers) and St. Thomas the Apostle (patron of construction workers) are listed as general choices.

St. Joseph the Worker

Feast day: May 1 General patron

Vatican News presents St. Joseph the Worker as patron of workers; he was a carpenter, and Pope Pius XII instituted this feast in 1955 so that workers would keep a Christian understanding of work.

St. Thomas the Apostle

Feast day: July 3 General patron

Franciscan Media lists him as patron of architects, builders, construction workers and surveyors. This is a general patronage for the building trades, not one specific to this trade.

Find Catholic PlumbersFind Catholic Septic Services
Sources (3)

Saints for

HVAC and heating contractors

No traditional patron

We found no well-established patron saint of HVAC or heating technicians. St. Joseph the Worker (patron of workers) and St. Thomas the Apostle (patron of construction workers) are listed as general choices.

St. Joseph the Worker

Feast day: May 1 General patron

Vatican News presents St. Joseph the Worker as patron of workers; he was a carpenter, and Pope Pius XII instituted this feast in 1955 so that workers would keep a Christian understanding of work.

St. Thomas the Apostle

Feast day: July 3 General patron

Franciscan Media lists him as patron of architects, builders, construction workers and surveyors. This is a general patronage for the building trades, not one specific to this trade.

Find Catholic HVAC CompaniesFind Catholic Heating Businesses
Sources (3)

Saints for

Electricians

No traditional patron

We found no well-established patron saint of electricians. St. Joseph the Worker (patron of workers) and St. Thomas the Apostle (patron of construction workers) are listed as general choices.

St. Joseph the Worker

Feast day: May 1 General patron

Vatican News presents St. Joseph the Worker as patron of workers; he was a carpenter, and Pope Pius XII instituted this feast in 1955 so that workers would keep a Christian understanding of work.

St. Thomas the Apostle

Feast day: July 3 General patron

Franciscan Media lists him as patron of architects, builders, construction workers and surveyors. This is a general patronage for the building trades, not one specific to this trade.

Find Catholic ElectriciansFind Catholic Electric Companies
Sources (3)

Saints for

Roofers

No traditional patron

We found no well-established patron saint of roofers. St. Joseph the Worker (patron of workers) and St. Thomas the Apostle (patron of construction workers) are listed as general choices.

St. Joseph the Worker

Feast day: May 1 General patron

Vatican News presents St. Joseph the Worker as patron of workers; he was a carpenter, and Pope Pius XII instituted this feast in 1955 so that workers would keep a Christian understanding of work.

St. Thomas the Apostle

Feast day: July 3 General patron

Franciscan Media lists him as patron of architects, builders, construction workers and surveyors. This is a general patronage for the building trades, not one specific to this trade.

Find Catholic Roofers
Sources (3)

Saints for

Engineers

No traditional patron

We found no well-established patron saint of engineers. Some popular lists name other saints, but we could not confirm any in a reliable Catholic source. St. Joseph the Worker, patron of workers, is listed as a general choice.

St. Joseph the Worker

Feast day: May 1 General patron

Vatican News presents St. Joseph the Worker as patron of workers; he was a carpenter, and Pope Pius XII instituted this feast in 1955 so that workers would keep a Christian understanding of work.

Sources (2)

Patron saints of

Gardeners and landscapers

St. Fiacre

By tradition

An Irish-born hermit who settled near Meaux, France, died in 670, and lived by prayer, fasting and the manual labor of his garden. The Catholic Encyclopedia says he is the patron of gardeners.

St. Dorothy (Dorothea)

Based on legend

An early martyr whose legend tells of roses sent from heaven. The Catholic Encyclopedia says she is regarded as the patroness of gardeners.

Find Catholic LandscapersFind Catholic Garden Centers
Sources (2)

Patron saints of

Florists

St. Rose of Lima

Feast day: August 23 By tradition

A young woman of Lima, Peru, she worked in the family garden by day and sewed at night to support her parents. Franciscan Media lists her as patron of florists.

St. Therese of Lisieux

Feast day: October 1 By tradition

The Carmelite nun known as the "Little Flower." Franciscan Media lists her as patron of florists.

Find Catholic Florists
Sources (2)

Patron saints of

Jewelers and goldsmiths

St. Eligius

By tradition

A seventh-century goldsmith who trained under the master of the mint at Limoges and later became a bishop. The Catholic Encyclopedia calls him the patron of goldsmiths, blacksmiths and all workers in metal.

St. Dunstan

By tradition

An archbishop of Canterbury known for his skill in many crafts, including making bells and organs. The Catholic Encyclopedia says he was the patron of the goldsmiths' guild throughout the Middle Ages.

Find Catholic Jewelers
Sources (2)

Patron saints of

Artists and painters

Bl. Fra Angelico (John of Fiesole)

Declared by a pope

A Dominican friar and painter of the Italian Renaissance. On February 18, 1984, John Paul II proclaimed him patron of artists, especially painters.

St. Luke

Feast day: October 18 By tradition

Franciscan Media lists the Gospel writer as patron of artists as well as of physicians and surgeons.

Sources (3)

Patron saint of

Writers and journalists

St. Francis de Sales

Feast day: January 24 Declared by a pope

In the 1923 encyclical Rerum Omnium Perturbationem, Pope Pius XI declared the bishop of Geneva the heavenly patron of all writers, with special mention of Catholics who write as journalists. Franciscan Media also lists him as patron of journalists.

Sources (2)

Saints for

Computer and internet users

No traditional patron

The Church has not officially named a patron saint of computers or the internet. St. Isidore of Seville is the most commonly suggested choice.

St. Isidore of Seville

Feast day: April 4 By tradition

A bishop of Seville who died in 636 and wrote an encyclopedia that was used as a textbook for nine centuries. Franciscan Media says he "has been suggested" as patron of the Internet, alongside other saints, so this is a popular proposal rather than an official patronage.

Sources (1)

Patron saints of

Travelers, drivers and truckers

St. Christopher

Based on legend

Vatican News says the legend of his carrying a child across a river made him patron of boatmen, pilgrims and travelers. The Catholic Encyclopedia holds that a martyr named Christopher existed but that almost nothing certain is known about his life.

St. Frances of Rome

Feast day: March 9 By tradition

Franciscan Media lists her as patron of motorists. She was a Roman wife, mother and widow who died in 1440.

St. Raphael the Archangel

Feast day: September 29 By tradition

In the Book of Tobit, Raphael guides Tobit's son Tobiah. Franciscan Media lists him as patron of travelers.

Find Catholic Trucking Businesses
Sources (4)

Saints for

Auto repair and car dealers

No traditional patron

We found no well-established patron saint of auto mechanics or car dealers specifically. St. Eligius (metalworkers) and St. Frances of Rome (motorists) are listed as general choices.

St. Eligius

General patron

A seventh-century goldsmith and bishop whom the Catholic Encyclopedia calls patron of goldsmiths, blacksmiths and all workers in metal. This is a general patronage for metalworkers, not one specific to auto mechanics.

St. Frances of Rome

Feast day: March 9 General patron

Franciscan Media lists her as patron of motorists. She was a Roman wife, mother and widow who died in 1440.

Find Catholic Auto ServicesFind Catholic Auto Repair Shops
Sources (2)

Saints for

Fuel dealers and gas stations

No traditional patron

We found no well-established patron saint of fuel dealers or gas station owners. St. Joseph the Worker, patron of workers, is listed as a general choice.

St. Joseph the Worker

Feast day: May 1 General patron

Vatican News presents St. Joseph the Worker as patron of workers; he was a carpenter, and Pope Pius XII instituted this feast in 1955 so that workers would keep a Christian understanding of work.

Find Catholic Fuel CompaniesFind Catholic Oil Businesses
Sources (2)

Patron saints of

Teachers and schools

St. John Baptist de La Salle

Feast day: April 7 Declared by a pope

He founded the Brothers of the Christian Schools, who prepared teachers in what Franciscan Media calls the first training college for teachers. Pope Pius XII proclaimed him heavenly patron of all educators in the 1950 apostolic letter Quod ait.

St. Thomas Aquinas

Feast day: January 28 Declared by a pope

In the brief Cum hoc sit of August 4, 1880, Pope Leo XIII declared the Dominican theologian patron of all Catholic universities, academies, colleges and schools.

Find Catholic Schools
Sources (4)

Saints for

Golf courses and athletes

No traditional patron

We found no well-established patron saint of golfers or golf courses. St. Sebastian, patron of athletes, is listed as a general choice.

St. Sebastian

Feast day: January 20 General patron

Franciscan Media lists this early Roman martyr as patron of athletes and notes that almost nothing about him is historically certain.

Find Catholic Golf Courses
Sources (1)

Patron saint of

Stonemasons and monument makers

The Four Crowned Martyrs

By tradition

The Catholic Encyclopedia describes them as stone sculptors from the quarries of Pannonia who were martyred under Diocletian, an account it calls substantially authentic. The Italian Catholic daily La Nuova Bussola Quotidiana lists them as patrons of stonecutters, sculptors and masons.

Find Catholic Monument Companies
Sources (2)

More free Catholic tools