I want to share with you the time that I received Saints Marcus and Marcellianus as my patron saints for the year ... I really don't remember if it was the first year that I started this devotion or when it was ... I smile when I read this because I can remember how excited I was with these two saints and how "young" this devotion was and how "naive" I was and then I started to experience all the stories, miracles and intercessions from all those that also received saints for the year. I still get excited when I receive my saints but now, nothing in the way of connections surprises me anymore with this devotion. *smile* This may give you a little look into how to look at your saints in case you don't have an immediate connection ...

 

 

'I have picked mine. Well, I should say that they picked me ... I have Saints Marcus and Marcellianus ... they are twin brothers who were sent to prison before their death. St. Sebastian visited them continually in prison and helped keep their faith alive. They are buried near St. Felix and are specifically honored in Spain.

OK now ... here are a couple of immediate ironies in regard to these saints ...

 

- I have a SPECIAL place in my heart for twins!

- As a child, I LOVED reading the story about St. Sebastian. I had a children's book of saints and I think I wore out the pages on St. Sebastian!

- Felix is my grandfather's name!

- Silvia, our exchange student, is from Spain!

 

I am so excited to have these two saints to walk through the year with me! I'm looking forward as to where and how they will intercede for me.'

 

And intercede for me they did! And still are! I add a new saint every year, yet hang on to the saints that I had the year(s) before. I figure the more saints, the merrier! And the more blessings that I receive!

 

And now, while re-reading what I wrote about the twin saints from several years ago, I see where they were sent to prison before their death. Wham! There's another strike up the side of my head that I didn't see before! I have always felt that I am open to just about anything that Our Lord asks of me ... except a prison ministry. Never wanted to do that. In fact, it gives me the heebie jeebies just thinking about it. No, I don't think that I am being asked to get involved in a prison ministry in a physical way, but I think I am being asked in a spiritual way to pray for those that are in prison, their families, their victims and for those who lovingly visit them.

 

See? Sometimes there aren't "instant" connections but sometime, somewhere and somehow, you will get a little tap on your shoulder from your patron saint too ... Pray that you are open enough to feel it, see it or hear it! God bless you!! This last connection took me how long? Maybe 6 - 7 years? I am amazed! Thank you for the nudge, Sts. Marcus and Marcellianus!

Also ...

A reader asked me to post this when they couldn't find a specific prayer or litany to their saint,  so here is a prayer to venerate any saint.

ETERNAL Father, I wish to honor St. (Name), and I give You thanks for all the graces You have bestowed upon him (her). I ask You to please increase grace in my soul through the merits of this saint, and I commit the end of my life to him (her) by this special prayer, so that by virtue of Your goodness and promise, St. (Name) might be my advocate and provide whatever is needed at that hour. Amen.

PROMISE: "When you wish to honor any particular saint and give Me thanks for all the graces I have bestowed on that saint, I increase grace in your soul through the merits of that saint. When you commit the end of your life to any of the saints by special prayers, I appoint those saints to be your advocates and to provide whatever you need at that hour."- Our Lord to St. Gertrude
From the book: Prayers and Heavenly Promises, Compiled from Approved Sources, by Joan Carroll Cruz