Archbishop’s Weekly Word: Saints on my ‘spiritual speed-dial’

Together on the Journey: A Weekly Word from Archbishop Hebda

Each year when we celebrate the Solemnity of All Saints on Nov. 1, I’m reminded of the great gift we have in the intercession of our heavenly friends. We all have our favorites. Jeff Cavins, during his School of Discipleship presentations, memorably refers to them as our “saint posse.” These are the holy women and men to whom we consistently turn for their prayers. In honor of this upcoming feast, today I’d like to share with you a few saints in my own “posse,” to whom I’ve often turned when in need of guidance and prayers.

After the Blessed Mother and St. Joseph, my “go to” big three are: St. Philip Neri, St. Anthony and St. Bernard (with St. John Paul II, St. Teresa of Calcutta, St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, St. John Henry Newman and St. Thomas More close behind).

St. Philip Neri has been a friend on my journey ever since my time in seminary. I was first introduced to him when I was a pre-theology student in Pittsburgh and was really taken by his joy and apostolic zeal. I was thrilled when I moved to Rome to study theology and discovered that his relics were on my walking route to the university. I stopped to see him just about every day and poured out my heart to him as I grappled with learning theology in a different language (Italian—St. Philip’s language!). I’ve always been impressed with his appreciation of the importance of young adult ministry and the holiness of the laity. He certainly anticipated what would be the teaching in these areas of the Second Vatican Council.

St. Anthony of Padua has always been a favorite as well. My parents were married for almost seven years without being blessed with children. I came along after they made a St. Anthony Novena and so was given “Anthony” as my middle name. The fact that I so often lose things and that he’s the patron saint of “lost objects” probably sealed the deal for me as well. I admire his Franciscan simplicity and humility, and often seek his intercession before preaching. One of my favorite pilgrimages was to Padua for the “Feast of the Tongue”—when the tomb of St. Anthony was opened, they discovered that his tongue and voice-box were incorrupt (which many have interpreted as divine recognition of the excellence of his teaching and preaching). Every year, there is a procession through the streets of Padua to celebrate that discovery and St. Anthony’s commitment to spreading the Gospel.

St. Bernard of Clairvaux makes the list as well—certainly because I share his name but also because of his powerful writing and his love for the Blessed Mother. The Memorare is popularly attributed to him, as are the invocations at the end of the Salve Regina: O Clement, O Loving, O Sweet Virgin Mary. He’s a deep theologian but almost poetic in his treatises. In the years that I lived in Italy, St. Bernard’s Day (August 20) was always a big day for me. The tradition there is that you have to show your appreciation to your name’s-day saint by treating all of your co-workers and friends. (I was always grateful that so many of my friends were away on vacation in August.)

As for the other members of my “posse” on my “spiritual speed-dial,” St. John Paul II has pride of place because I worked for him for many years and found him so inspiring. He’s the only canonized saint who invited me to lunch…and I love that he ate more than I did. Mother Teresa is up there as well. I only met her once, but I worked so closely with her sisters, the Missionaries of Charity, in my time in Rome that I really felt like I knew her. For similar reasons, St. Elizabeth Ann Seton is a favorite as well. I was educated by her Sisters of Charity for eight years, and they taught me to go to her often with my needs. I’m a little embarrassed that I lost the Scripps Howard Spelling Bee in Pittsburgh even though I had gone into battle with her relic pinned to my clothing. She was only a blessed at the time. I’m pretty sure that I would have won if she had already been canonized—surely a saint would have been able to help me spell “dithyramb.”

Rounding out my posse would be St. John Henry Newman (who providentially is being named a Doctor of the Church later this week on All Saints Day) and St. Thomas More. Newman’s homilies and essays consistently strike me right to the heart, and I love that he shared my love for St. Philip Neri. (He would go on to start the first Oratory of St. Philip Neri in England.) St. Thomas More is a favorite because he helped get me through law school, was a powerful intercessor for me when I was practicing law and continues to inspire me for his steadfastness and commitment to conscience.

If I could broaden the posse to include Blesseds and Venerables, I’d certainly include Solanus Casey, Frederic Baraga, and the Redemptorist, Francis Xavier Seelos…but I’ll save them for another week.

As All Saints approaches later this week, don’t forget to call upon your own “saint posse” for prayers. If you don’t yet have a special friendship with a saint, the month of November would be a perfect time to read about the lives of the saints and see which stories resonate the most with you. If you do better with audios, I highly recommend Relevant Radio’s “The Saints” podcast.   I’m pretty sure that it is aimed at youth, but I’m never disappointed.

All holy men and women of God, pray for us!