As the COVID-19 pandemic spreads across the globe and individuals practice “social distancing,” isolating themselves physically from friends and family, one can find themselves lonely, depressed, and unsure of what is to come.
It is a great thing, then, that we have the saints to look up to in these difficult times. As Pope Francis called them, they are “people who loved God in their hearts, and shared this joy with others.”
Here are five saints we can pray to and draw comfort from, in these coming days and weeks.
Saint Anthony of the Desert (January 17), Patron Saint of Infectious Diseases.
Also known as Anthony the Great, he is considered to be the founder of organized Christian monasticism.
Inspired by the Apostles, who left everything to follow the Lord, Anthony did the same, and the 3rd Century Man from Egypt sold his possessions and sought solitude.
In the wilderness, wearing only sackcloth and sheepskin, with bread and water his sole physical nourishment, he prayed from sunset to sunrise. Beset by demons and temptations, his spiritual practices and discipline helped him overcome them.
His following grew, and Anthony founded two monasteries and established rules for monastic living.
Saint Edmund the Martyr (November 20), patron saint of victims of pandemics
Not much is certain about Saint Edmund of East Anglia, but it is believed this 9th Century King of Suffolk, England was captured by the Danes and, before his execution, praised Jesus. His intercession is said to have saved the French city of Toulouse from a plague in the 17th Century.
Saint Luke (October 18), patron saint of physicians
Luke, Gospel scribe, was a Greek Physician and Disciple to Saint Paul. Loyal to his friend, Luke stayed with Paul during his imprisonment and trials. In his reasoning for writing what he witnessed, in the Gospel of Luke and the Acts of the Apostles, he claimed that “Since many have undertaken to set down an orderly account of the events that have been fulfilled among us, just as they were handed on to us by those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and servants of the word, I too decided, after investigating everything carefully from the very first, to write an orderly account for you (Luke 1:1-3).”
Saint Marianne Cope (January 23), patron saint of lepers and outcasts
“At a time when little could be done for those suffering from leprosy, Marianne Cope showed the highest love, courage and enthusiasm. She is a shining and energetic example of the best of the tradition of Catholic nursing sisters.” These were the words of Pope Benedict XVI, during Saint Marianne Cope’s 2012 canonization.
This 19th and 20th century Sister of Saint Francis was a trailblazer in the fight for equal treatment and dignity for all throughout a lifetime of caring for the sick. She was instrumental in opening the first two Catholic hospitals in New York, and later took her order to Hawaii to help those suffering from leprosy, after several other religious institutions rejected King Kalakaua’s plea.
Saint Rita of Cascia (May 22), Patron Saint of Impossible Causes
From a young age, this 14th century saint from Cascia, Italy desired to be a nun. However, after an arranged marriage and the birth of her two sons, Rita still sought to live a holy life. Following the death of her husband and sons, this widow then attempted to enter an Augustinian convent. After three unsuccessful attempts, her persistence gained her entrance, and she soon became an example for her congregation, of charity, faith, and peace.
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