Patron Saints of World Youth Day

These are holy men and women identified as special patrons for pilgrims from the on to World Youth Day. We ask their intercession for stateside and internationally-bound youth and young adults in preparation for World Youth Day events.

Saint James the Greater, Hendrik Golt- Francis holds up a medallion of A mosaic of St. Kateri Tekakwitha is seen zius, LACMA St. Therese of Lisieux in January 2015. in the Trinity Dome at the Basilica of the CNS/Paul Haring National Shrine of the Immaculate Con- ception in Washington. CNS/Tyler Osburn Saint James the Apostle Saint Therese of Lisieux first century 1873–1897 Saint Kateri Tekakwitha Feast Day—July 25 Feast Day—October 1 1656–1680 Feast Day—July 14 Patron of pilgrim travelers, James Patroness of missionaries and walked with Jesus after being advocate for youth, she is also Young faithful witness from our called by the Lord to become one known as “The Little Flower.” native land and declared the “Lily of the Twelve Apostles. James St. John Paul II declared her a of the Mohawks,” St. Kateri lost had a special place among the Doctor of the Universal Church her family at the age of four due to disciples: with Simon Peter and on World Mission Sunday, 19 a smallpox epidemic and suffered his brother John, James traveled October 1997. St. Therese was greatly from the disease herself. up Mount Tabor to witness the unable to travel to the missions She learned about the Transfiguration of Christ and during her lifetime, but prayed from a group of Jesuits and, after joined Jesus in prayer in the Gar- fervently for their success. Even converting, was disrespected and den of Gethsemane. Acts 12:1 though she was only a youth, persecuted by her own communi- tells us that James was one of St. Therese possessed a matu- ty for being a Christian. She con- the first martyrs of the Church. rity of spirit and understanding, secrated herself as a virgin and Over the centuries, pilgrims have becoming a model for all young was known for spending most of followed in the Apostle’s foot- people. In a special way, for pil- her youth and young adult years steps to his final resting place in grims who will participate in the in adoration with the Lord. She is in north- World Youth Day events in their a model of purity, chastity, and ern . The road to his tomb, home countries (including young the New Evangelization. She em- called the Camino de Compostela, people from the United States bodied both the Gospel and her has been a model for pilgrims who will celebrate stateside or native culture. St. Kateri is an for generations–and continues via social media), St. Therese is inspiration to all World Youth Day to be an inspiration for all those an inspiration of engagement with pilgrims who come on pilgrimage on pilgrimage, including those en and prayerfulness for the mission carrying the weight of suffering, route to World Youth Day. no matter where we may be. anxiety, and persecution.

St. James the Apostle, patron of St. Therese of Lisieux, patroness of St. Kateri Tekakwitha, young faithful pilgrim travelers, pray for us. missionaries, advocate for youth, witness from our native land, pray pray for us. for us. 1 World Youth Day pilgrims from Wash- Photo Credit: CNS photo/Chris Nieden- Mosaic tiles depicting Mary are seen ington venerate the relics of Bl. Pier thal in the Trinity Dome at the Basilica of Giorgio Frassati in Krakow, in the National Shrine of the Immaculate 2016. CNS photo/Jaclyn Lippelmann Conception in Washington, DC. CNS/ Tyler Osburn Saint John Paul II Blessed Pier 1920–2005 Feast Day—October 22 Mary the Immaculate Giorgio Frassati Conception 1901–1925 Son of Poland and patron of World Patroness of the United Feast Day—July 4 Youth Day, Saint John Paul II was States of America Pope for 26 years. Born Karol Man of the beatitudes and pa- Wojtyla in the town of Wadowice, The Blessed Mother, under the tron of young adults, Pier Giorgio not far from Krakow, he came of title of the Immaculate Concep- was extraordinary in his “ordi- age during the Nazi occupation tion, has been a patroness of the naryness.” He was a well-bal- of Poland, eventually becoming a United States since 1846. She anced young person who lived priest (and ordained in secret in was chosen as such because of in northern during the early the palace of the of the common devotions to Mary 20th Century, dedicated to his Krakow). After WWII, Fr. Wojtyla (especially as the Immaculate faith and loyal to his family and became known for his work with Conception) that many eth- friends. He gave freely to the poor young adults, despite Communist nic groups brought when they and sick, even using his bus fare oppression, and soon became a came to the United States, an for charity and then running home , then archbishop, and car- immigrant country. She serves, to be on time for meals. He was dinal in the 1950s and 1960s. He then, as a uniting patroness to the a third order (lay) Dominican and was an active participant in the diversity of cultures, traditions, studied to become an engineer for and was and perspectives of people in this the sole purpose that he might elected pope in October 1978. country. She is the spiritual em- “serve Christ better among the As pope, he traveled more and bodiment of the nation’s vision miners.” He spent his free time met more people than any of his statement: “E pluribus unum” running between Eucharistic ado- predecessors in the Chair of Pe- (out of many, one). As pilgrims ration and , serving the poor, ter. In 1984, he inaugurated an to World Youth Day, Mary the being a social and political activist annual gathering of youth and can once against the growing fascist re- young adults–which would be- more be a uniting force bringing gime in Italy, and enjoying time come World Youth Day. He died together all the young people with friends in the mountains. in April 2005 and was canonized from such a diverse country as St. John Paul II took note of his (alongside Pope John XXIII) in ours (with its beautiful collage of life, beatifying him in 1990 and in April 2014. He is the language groups and cultural fam- declaring him a major patron of father and patron saint of World ilies; those from cities and small World Youth Day and of all young Youth Day. towns, suburbs and farmland; adults around the world. His body the rich, the poor, and the middle was brought to Krakow for World St. John Paul II, founder and patron class; those working and those Youth Day in 2016. of World Youth Day, pray for us. studying; from the West Coast to the East Coast, from the North Bl. , patron of to the South, from the Midwest young adults, man of the beatitudes, to the mountains). The Blessed pray for us. Mother, with her maternal love for us, brings all people together to point them towards God–Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

Catholic Copyright © 2018, United States Conference of Catholic , Washington, DC. All rights reserved. Current Images: Saint James the Greater, Hendrik Goltzius, LACMA; CNS/Paul Haring, Tyler Osburn, Jaclyn Lippelmann, Chris Niedenthal. 2