The Saint’s Name Generator
Check it out! I used some of my holiday free time to create a little program that will choose a saint’s name at random. (Yes, writing code is how I relax. Yes, I am a hopeless nerd.)
Why would you want to choose a saint’s name at random?
I got the idea from the “saint for the year” devotion, where people have a patron saint for the new year chosen for them at random (usually by a priest or religious, who prays over each choice). I’ve had saints chosen for me this way before, and it’s always been a great experience. E.g. In 2007 St. Maximilian Kolbe was picked as my patron for the year. I wasn’t familiar with him before that, but his life ended up inspiring me tremendously all throughout the year, and I still ask him for prayers for all sorts of matters. He’s become one of my favorite saints.
I thought this might be a fun little tool for anyone else looking to select a saint at random to be a patron for a particular cause or time period. If nothing else, you might get to “meet” some new holy men and women. I had so much fun working on this, I hope you enjoy it as much as I do!
You can check it out here. I’d love to hear which saint you got — leave a comment and let me know!
[UPDATE: I just had the program choose my patron for 2011, and I got Francis de Sales. He has been a huge influence in my life, so I'm excited!]
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St. Jude Thaddaeus was chosen for me.
Well, I got St. Jude too. I’d prayed to him in the past, and always loved him. I really need the prayers of this saint, the patron of lost causes. This was amazing! Thank you.
my saint was St. Adelaide of Burgundy. I wont expand but I want to mention that she could not have been a better match as her patronage is that of In-law problems!!
Wow, I got St. John the Apostle, on his feast day! Pretty cool. I’m going through a transition right now, so I’ll be praying to him a lot the next few weeks. That way, if things don’t work out well, I can just blame Jennifer for giving me the wrong saint!
I got St. Teresa of Avila!!! I LOVE HER!!! YAY!!!!!
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St. Dominic was chosen for me. A Spanish saint for a Spanish little lost lamb, isn’t it sweet? Also I love the work the monks do at St. Dominic’s abbey in Silos. I never thought I could get such a cool patron saint of the year. Thanks Jen!
I got it wrong earlier. After a little searching on his feast day I noticed St. Dominic Guzman OP and not St. Dominic of Silos was the one chosen for me. But… I love him anyway! yay
St. Pius V. What a great idea! Thank you for doing this and sharing it.
St. Anthony the Abbot! That’s awesome! This is a great gadget . I’d like to share it on my blog if that’s ok .
I got Our Lady of Guadalupe! How interesting!
Thanks Jen! And a blessed Christmas to you and your family! 
Thanks Jennifer, this is the coolest thing ever, I am soooo impressed! I got St. Bernadette and now I will ask for her intercessions in my prayers. Thank you for doing this, everyone is going to love it.
Andie
Andie recently posted..Where Will You Find Him
I got St. Raymond of Penyafort, whom I had never heard of before. He sounds pretty wonderful. I am looking forward to getting to know him over the next year. Thanks Jen for this wonderful little tool!
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Awesome! I got St Henry II, whom I had never heard of, but apparently he was married to St. Cunegunda and was a just ruler (reminds me of the pius rex idea I ran across yesterday about St. Wenceslaus). Very neat. I will try to learn more about him and ask for his help.
Jen, don’t worry about being nerdy — doing what you love is cool to all the people whose good opinion is worth having.
I got St. Frances of Rome
But the ‘read more’ link took me to a page about St. Juan Diego… crossed wires somewhere?
Happy Christmas!
I got St Agnes of Rome. Loved her from when I was a little girl. I took Agatha as my confirmation saint but Agnes was a very close second. Thanks very much.
I got St. Andrew the Apostle, who happens to be the patron saint of “women who wish to become mothers.” God thing? Just so happens, my husband and I have been thinking (and praying) about starting our family when he returns from his tour in Afghanistan. I’ll just go ahead and take that as God’s “Right on!”
I got St Thomas Aquinas.. I have read a little about him, but have given up finding some of his writing too evolved for my simple brain… I’ll take this as God telling me to try again!
Thankyou so much for taking the time to create this tool.. many will be guided to a holy start to the new year through your thoughtfulness
I got Blessed Bernard Scammacca. Pretty cool since he was “A gifted preacher, he preferred to spend his time in the confessional and working as a spiritual director. Had the gift of prophecy, and used it to warn people to change their lives…” I’ve been praying for a conversion to Christ for someone and this is the guy I need to help!!! Thanks Jen, this is terrific!
So pleased – I got St. Dominic, founder of the Dominicans. The order was phenomenally successful in conversion work as it applied Dominic’s concept of “harmonizing the intellectual life with popular needs.” This is truly an area on which I need to focus. Thank you for this program – I’ll be passing it on
Merry Christmas!
and p.s. a saint for dysfunctional families?! I MUST check that out!
WOW! That is awesome! I just chose a Saint who would get me through my last semester of Nursing School. I have 6 children and am expecting my 7th in August. The Saint I received is St. Isidore the Farmer. My graduation day is May 14. His feast day is May 15!!!!
Thank you!!!!
I was confirmed 3 years ago last Easter and while I still LOVE my Catholic faith (I feel “at home” with Catholicism) it’s lost a little of it’s luster. I’ve sent my myself on a bit of a prayer journey and prayer to a few saints were on the list. (I’m even planning to make a journal or scrapbook describing the saints and the ways they helped me. I’d use it to teach my children). I just get overwhelmed when it comes to choosing a saint. You’re fantastic gadget is wonderful and I’m so excited to use it! Starting today, and through January, if not longer, I’ll be praying to St. Helena. I could not be more thrilled and I know God chose her just for me. Thank you!!
What a great gadget, Jennifer! Can you design a button so people can link to it from their blogs?
I got St. Roque Gonzales (Uh, who?)…never heard of him, but he was martyred on November 15th, which is my birthday…
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Joyeux Noël! St. Peter Ou, pray for us! My friends usually come to me for “life” info on the saints, so to receive the name of a saint that I did not already know was a great and special gift. I can’t wait to spend time learning more about St. Peter Ou. Thanks a million!
I can’t believe that the saint generated for me was St. Thomas Aquinas, since I’m making a career switch and will be starting a new job teaching college humanities in January. How perfect.
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I got St Luke, whose day is, by happenstance, the following day (Oct. 18) of my birthday.
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I got Josemaria Escriva – Founder of Opus Dei, and who says God doesnt have a sense of humour!
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I got St Albert the Great, a saint I have hardly ever heard of, but when I read about him, I was really inspired. Thanks for this. Happy Chritmastide!
I got St. Christopher which was perfect for me! First of all, I have been dealing with flare ups with my anxiety while driving, so now I know who to pray for when that happens. Also, my husband drives a truck for a living, so now I can pray that St. Christopher helps keep him safe! Thanks for this!
Oh WOW, Jennifer! I have chill bumps!
As you know, I’m not Catholic, but I am experiencing a time in my life of discovering the wonder and beauty of church liturgy and the traditional calendar and all this incredible stuff I’ve been deprived of all my evangelical life.
So I followed your suggestion and whispered a prayer as your (totally incredible amazing WOW) Saint Generator searched for me and was blown away by the choice for me:
St. Brigid of Ireland who is the patron saint for Babies; Children Whose Parents are Not Married; Dairy Workers; Fugitives; Mariners; Midwives; Nuns; Poets; Printing Presses; Scholars; Travellers
I’ve built my entire blog around BABIES (the feeding and care of), and I’m feeling particularly drawn towards advocating for children in desperate life situations (many of whom have unmarried parents), midwives – well, the new year just might bring us a new baby and a new approach to birth, and POETS?! Hello. This is incredible.
Thank you for constructing this, Jennifer. I’m delighted and encouraged and thrilled.
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I got St. Robert Bellarmine – patron saint of canon lawyers….quite fitting since I’m a lawyer! Thanks Jennifer!
I got St. Joseph, which is SO amazing and MUST be from God. Did you pray over this code so that God would use it to give each of us what we need?!!
I said a prayer before hitting the button that I would receive a saint who would pray for me and my marriage, pray that my marriage would become more of a team over the next year. My husband works a LOT and is often out of town.
I received St. Joseph, patron of families, and working men. And not only that, but St. Joseph is my husband’s confirmation saint, chosen two years ago when he went through RCIA. My husband received a book of novenas for Christmas from my parents, and he has already started a novena to St. Joseph. The only religious statue we have in our home is a statue of St. Joseph. I will be moving that statue front and center and joining my husband in his devotion to this wonderful saint!!!
THANK YOU for such a wonderful, wonderful idea!!!!!!!
I got St. Michael the Archangel. I prayed for a saint that could help our family this year. Looks like we’ve got a tough guy.
Hi, Jen!
A Big HELLO from………. BRASIL!!
A perfect way to be “familiar with” a specific saint is to know and follow the Liturgic Year of the catholic church. The Roman Calendar has a saint for almost every day of the year. So that is my preferred way to get familiar with them.
There is a book, whose title in English I translated for “The saints of the Roman calendar – To pray with the saints in the liturgy” (Enzo Lodi, 2007), which helps me a lot in it.
Another way to get familiar with the saints is when one of my family gets sick. So I have this specific book: “List of Saints and Blesseds of the Church – (…) Including the patron saints and patrons of professions” (Prof. Felipe Aquino, 2007).
When someone close to me develope a disease, I look the saint for who I must pray. For example: in a case of fever, I pray to St. Benedict, etc. And the most important: in doing that, I always get knowing about the saint’s Life.
All of this, Dear Jen, to tell you that I decline of your offer in your Post! (Sorry.)
BUT, I wish lots of fun for who take the risk of the joke or game!
A hug for you, your family and all your friends and readers!!
Stay in the Peace of God!!
~~~
~Ana Paula~A Católica recently posted..Notícias da nossa Noite de NATAL
Ana Paula, With all due respect, I’m not sure how it’s a “risk” to become more familiar with any given saint. The nice thing about having a saint for an entire year is that you are given the opportunity of really focusing on one saint in particular which gives a more in-depth understanding of the person. I continually look for quotes from that saint, I study about them and read their writings. I still read about the daily saints but, personally, I don’t feel like I get to “know” them as well as when I “live” with one through the year. Peace and Christmas blessings to you and yours!
Debbie,
A Big HELLO from………. BRASIL!!
“With all due respect”, you obviously misunderstood what I wrote.
My whole comment – from its beggining till its end – was about the IMPORTANCE of knowing and getting familiar with a saint. So that is not a “risk” for me as you wrote. OK?
The risk I meant in the final of my comment was about the joke or the game that Jen has offered to their readers. It is a risk – of course, a Good Risk – and that is why I wished lots of fun for everybody who participate of the joke or game. Luck to you too. And to yours.
HEY: I invite you to read my comment one more time and you will see your misunderstanding.
Stay in the Peace of God!!
~~~
~Ana Paula~A Católica recently posted..Notícias da nossa Noite de NATAL
Anna Paula,
I read your message in the same way Debbie did, as a “I won’t participate in this because it’s dangerous – here are some ‘safe’ ways to learn about the saints.” Perhaps it’s a mistranslation of the word risk. For us, to call something a risk means that there is a potential danger involved in the act.
The confusion is in how this could be dangerous. The most danger I see here is the saint might be someone that doesn’t connect with you.
St. Albert the Great. I’m intrigued!
St. Brigid of Ireland was chosen for me – thank you for doing this for us. Happy New Year!
St Clare of Assisi. So will that make her my confirmation saint? (I’m in RCIA and still an unbaptised heathen until April).
Anyway, neat idea!
I was given St. Adelaide of Burgundy whom I know nothing about…yet. Thank you for your thoughtfulness and creativity! I would also like to share this on my blog.
Merry Christmas!
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I got St. Eugene de Mazenod, patron of dysfunctional familes! This is fitting because I speak all over on the Theology of the Body and I will definitely pray to him over this coming year. He is also fitting for me personally because he reminds me that I must always be a source of charity and not heartache for my husband and children. A favorite quote I came across from him will stay with me all year, “Among yourselves charity, charity, charity, and in the world – a zeal for souls.”
I am not Catholic… but I recognize and honor the beauty and wisdom of the saints. I got St. Catherine of Sweden, patron against abortions and miscarriages. I hope to conceive in 2011, and so this is perfect! Also, my sister (named Katherine) is hoping to conceive soon also. God can even work through code-writing, isn’t He awesome?!? Thanks for the smile on my face.
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I got St. Eugene de Mazenod, patron of dysfunctional families. Now, I have a sense of humor, but I sure hope this isn’t a foreshadowing of what this year will bring…
St. Thomas Aquinas — Perfect for this time in which I’m learning more about apologetics!
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St. Helena, patron of empresses.
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I got St Brigid of Ireland. I know very little about her but will do some research in the coming year. The first thing listed under her was babies which is interesting since I spent all Christmas day reminding myself that I could not steal either of my brand new nieces so apparently she has already been helping the babies! Thanks for the neat idea. Geeks rule!
Bl. Angela of Foligno – wow, never heard of her before. A Franciscan mystic famous for her visions and the “mistress of theologians.” Ok, she has her work cut out her, I think!
Thanks, Jennifer. The only other time I took on a patron like this, was two new-year’s eves ago when I did an overnight retreat, and the saint name on my dorm door was Our Lady of Czestochowa, who I was delighted to get to know and pray to all that year. What a beautiful icon. Thanks again!
You wrote the code for a random saint generator with your vacation time? You are the most awesomenest nerd I know
I was given St John the Baptist — it’ll be fun to get to know him more throughout this year
St. Therese Liseux! Very cool… her Little Way could prove a lesson for me this year!
Thank you so much for doing this. I got St. Louis-Marie Grignion de Montfort, which without going into detail is perfect. God’s Providence is working.
Thank you.
This is neat! I was hoping it was a baby name generator for saint names. I guess it could work like that too, though. Hehe! Thanks for sharing!
Our Lady of Guadalupe! Boo-yeah!
I got Bl. Miguel Agustin Pro. I have never heard of him before, but I am excited to learn more about him. I currently belong to Christ the King parish, and those were his last words…pretty cool! Thanks for doing this, I am definitely going to share it!
I chose a “posse” to help St. Peregrine as I go through treatment for cancer this year, and YES, I WAS chosen by St. Peregrine, but in my posse, Blessed Miguel Agustin Pro came up three times. I really have to get to know him well. God bless you
Hey Conversion Diary! I tried your saint finder said a prayer and i ended up with St. Damien of Molokai who is one of my favorite saints! thank you so much for this!
I am not a Catholic. But I have great respect for the Catholic Church. As for Saints, I’ve read what you’ve written about venerating them. I get it. We are surrounded by a cloud of witnesses.
I saw your tweet over Christmas and never in a million years would I have guessed you were programming a Saint Generator. That was an outstanding use of nerd-dom.
I was selected St. Clare of Assisi. I was hoping for St. Jeanne of Arc, or St. Catherine, or St. Margaret, two of her heavenly “voix” (voices).
A short story: when was a teen, and unsure spiritually. Sensing something more, something deeper. I attended mass of my own volition occasionally because the parents didn’t care. The church was – yes this is true – St. Clare of Assisi. I will do my homework now, find out all I can about her, and happily figure out a way to work my generated Saint into my Protestant way. Thank you and God Bless.
Craig recently posted..In which we encounter “the word of truth”
St. Rita – AWESOME! One of her patronages is “against infertility”. Since that is something I have been most definitely struggling with for the past 2 1/2 years, this hit close to home. I love the Saints – thank you so much for doing this!!!!!!
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Okay, the Holy Spirit sometimes cracks me up.
I got St. Hyacinth, and his memorial is on my birthday. Very interesting! Not a whole lot of info on him, so I may have to do some more research.
Very cool site!
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St. Elizabeth of Hungary…hmmmm, just read about her in Wikipedia looking for the significance. I’ll have to give this more thought.
Thanks for making this!
Just discovered/realized why she was given to me. Cool!
Thanks! That’s so cool!
I got St. Lutgardis and my younger sister got St. Charles Borromeo.
Booyah – St Michael the Archangel!
St Michael, protect us!
Saint Louis-Marie Grignion de Montfort, about whom I knew absolutely nothing before reading his bio today. I’m looking forward to learning about and with him this year. His cause for declaration as a Doctor of the Church is being pursued, and I am very partial to all the others!
Thank you for this gift to the community, and Merry Christmas.
Thank you for doing this, I got St. Hyacinth (of Poland), he’s the patron saint of those in danger of drowning. I guess that’s good, I have a newborn baby girl, and I’m a little concerned about bathing her, I seem to need 4 to 6 hands to do that.
Kim
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I have to agree with Christina who said, “You wrote the code for a random saint generator with your vacation time? You are the most awesomenest nerd I know!”
I got St. Frances of Rome who is one of my confirmation saints. I was just thinking a few months ago that I have never really taken the time to learn much about her and even went so far as to search for an image of her that I liked to inspire me to think of her and call on her help more often.
As a slightly nerdy girl (most of it rubbed off from my Husband) I have two questions… what did you use as your criteria for saints (pre-congregation, historical, etc…) and how many saints are in the database for the program to choose from?
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St. Monica, whose feast day happens to be my birthday as well…
I got St Francis of Paola. His feast day is my little brother’s birthday as well as the day that Pope John Paul II died (April 2), s date that already has meaning for me. He is also the patron of travelers and there will be lots of traveling in my family this coming year. Thanks SO much for the wonderful toy
!
Willa recently posted..Saint for 2011
I got St Dominic! I love science and the stars and he is patron of scientist and Astronomers… also patron of those falsely accused. Definfitely the saint I need right now!!! Praise God! I too will be sharing this link!
I got St. Martin of Tours. I am not Catholic, but I look forward to finding out more about this Saint and the practice of having a patron Saint for the year.
I got St. Nicholas, patron saint of boys, of which I have two (teens). An “inspired” pick!
Janet in Toronto recently posted..The Saint’s Name Generator
Jen, This is way cool! I got a creepy chill when it picked my saint. We’ve just about decided to name the new baby Anthony. It’s the clear front runner and Dom really likes it. So who should it pick for my patron saint for the year but St Anthony of Padua. I think that’s a pretty clear sign that I should stop being wishy-washy and we should just go for it.
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I got the perfect one for me- http://suz-missionpossible.blogspot.com/2010/12/choosing-saints.html
Jennifer,
I got St. John Houghton. Never heard of him but will learn!
http://saints.sqpn.com/saint-john-houghton/
Fun program, Jen!
Thanks!
Jennifer – I was pondering yesterday how to make this choice… I’m so glad you were led to do this. Let us see where St Bernard of Clairvaux will lead me in my pursuit of holiness. Thankyou for doing this. Every blessing to you, and a bright New Year.
I received St François de Sales! I don’t know him, I prayed for a saint to help me discern whether to look for a job or stay at home with my baby…
we’ll see..
Your Saint’s Name Generator is great!
I read this blog post, and really liked the idea of choosing a “saint of 2011″ for myself. I hit the button, and said a little prayer that the saint chosen for me would be guided by the Holy Spirit. At this time, St. Anne came to mind (she is my confirmation saint, and even though she is the patron saint of mothers, etc. I don’t venerate or ask for her intercession as often as I should).
Of course, St. Anne was the saint chosen for me.
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Okay that was cool and wierd at the same time. I got Blessed John Duns Scotus – here is the freaky thing. His feast day is my birthday. Looking forward to getting to know him!
Interesting… I clicked the button because we are looking for baby names. And I got St. Aloysius Gonzaga whose patronage is against sore eyes. Not something I would name my child, but appropriate for me and my family, because we all have pink eye right now!! Prayers are already said. I think I will bookmark the page!
FYI, the name Aloysius is related to the name Louis. I think it is the Latin form of Louis.
It’s possible that Aloysius is related to Louis, but probably not through the Latin for Louis, which is “Ludovicus.”
I got St. Bernadette, which is an amazing coincidence since I received a statuette of the Lady of Lourdes as a Christmas gift! Thanks so much.
Elizabeth Ann Seton! Which is amazingly perfect. I just came across a book about her my mom had given me as a little girl and with what I have on my plate this coming week I can really use her help. Thanks!
Elizaebeth@GoodnessAdded recently posted..Teaching Empathy
I got St. Bernadette! Just delivered our 8th child on Nov 15. Her name is Sandra Bernadette.
Cool!
St. Jane de Chantal was chosen for me. Her patronage includes in-law relationships. While I have a good relationship with my husband’s family and he with mine we can always use some help.
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