Thunderstorms, sunburn, travel … What are the saints to pray this summer?
Need help against hot weather: pray saint Jacques the major
When it is too hot, especially in July, the popular tradition invites you to turn to the apostle Saint Jacques, son of Zebédée and brother of Saint John, the one who is venerated in Saint-Jacques-de-Compostela (Spain). Sinaning on Lake Tiberias, he followed Christ, witnessed the transfiguration and left to evangelize the Roman Empire, in particular the current Spain.
Beheaded in Jerusalem in 44 on the order of King Herod Agrippa, he is the first of the apostles to die in martyr. If there is no specific devotion linking Saint Jacques to protection against heat, the old uses locate the heat waves between July 22 and August 23. His party, celebrated on July 25, therefore falls in the heart of this period. A good reason, perhaps, to include it in your summer prayers.
To have good weather: Pray saint Claire d’Assise
To get good weather throughout the summer, it is possible to invoke Saint Claire d’Assise. Daughter of noble merchants, Saint Claire is seduced by Franciscan spirituality of poverty given to God of François d’Assise. She thus founded, a few years later, the Clarisses, a female incarnation of this spirituality. But the tradition has mainly retained its powerful intercession to have good weather on any occasion: marriage, baptism, or why not … for your vacation!
The custom dates back to the Middle Ages, to the 14th century, and to the Franciscan Barthélémy de Pisa. He says that sailors, in the middle of a storm off Italy, prayed to the famous saint – whose first name evokes brightness and clarity. They were saved. Hence the expression: “Sainte Claire retains the rain in the air!” ». Thus, a ritual was born: that of sending eggs – associated with fertility – with a Clarisse convent, to obtain a postcard time, especially during weddings. Given as an act of devotion, often associated with a prayer. So, to your eggs!
To combat drought and fires: pray saint angadrême
Holy Patroness of the commune of Beauvais (Oise), Saint Angadrême is traditionally invoked during droughts and fires. Coming from the nobility of Pas-de-Calais and cousin of Saint Lambert de Lyon, she devoted herself to God in a monastery, very close to an oratory dedicated to Saint Évroult, in Beauvais. History is mainly remembered by a fire touching Beauvais, where the city in the grip of the flames, angadrism opposes the relics of Saint Évroult – its saint of devotion – and puts an end to the loss. Since then, this commune of the Oise invokes it for droughts, fires and all other calamities. And we can do our protection this summer!
To protect yourself from thunderstorms: Pray Saint Barbe
This illustrious martyrdom, whose legend dates back to the beginning of the 4th century in Nicomedia (current Türkiye), has been invoked against lightning and thunder for centuries. Of great beauty, her father locked her in a tower, where she became Christian. Refusing to get married, his father cut her head. He fell in love. In memory of this event, it became that to invoke to obtain from God protection against violent weather elements, including thunderstorms. So this summer, if you are afraid of lightning, think of it!
To avoid burns and sunburns: Pray Saint Laurent of Rome
In the event of a burn or sunburn, some turn to Saint Laurent de Rome. This deacon in Rome, with Pope Saint Sixte II, was the guardian of the goods of the Church. During the persecution of the Valerian emperor against Christian worship, he was arrested with the Holy Father. Summoned to deliver the ecclesial goods, he refuses and is condemned to be toasted. This martyrdom took place in the year 258. Faced with this terrible death, many Christians invoke it to cure burns, sunburns and even skin diseases.
Fear of the plane? : Pray Saint Joseph Cupertino
Born in Cupertino, Italy, Joseph de Cupertino enters the Franciscans despite great personal and intellectual difficulties. This minor brother becomes famous for his levitations, which amaze the crowds and arouse the distrust of the church. Humbly accepting isolation, he embodies a spirituality made of grace and simplicity.
It is this ability to rise in the air that naturally designated it as the patron saint of the airmen … and even cosmonauts. Even today, it can be invoked before a flight by plane – or, why not, before a space trip.
Want to travel in peace? : Pray Saint Christophe
Designated as the protector of all those who take the roads, the tunes or the seas, Saint Christophe is invoked to travel safely. He is famous for a legendary episode: having helped a child to cross a torrent in flood, he discovers that the child, of a supernatural heaviness, is none other than Jesus Christ, carrying the world.
In memory of this story, Saint Christophe has become the patron saint of motorists, travelers and tourists. Its role as protector of travelers is symbolic and popular, but very rooted in the Christian tradition.
