Category: Countries & Regions
In Catholic tradition, patron saints are holy men and women whose lives and intercession are considered especially suited to particular needs, groups, or situations. The Church's practice of invoking saints reflects the doctrine of the Communion of Saints — the belief that the faithful departed remain united with the living in the one Body of Christ and can intercede before God on our behalf.
The designation of a patron saint for "Europe (co-patroness)" reflects centuries of Catholic popular devotion and, in many cases, formal proclamations by popes or bishops recognizing a saint's particular connection to this intention through the circumstances of their life, death, or documented miracles.
Formally proclaimed patronage — sourced from canonized saints in the Roman Calendar.
Saint Bridget of Sweden is invoked as patron of Europe (co-patroness). Saint Bridget (Birgitta) of Sweden was born in 1303 at Finsta in Uppland, Sweden, of a noble family related to the royal house. Married at thirteen to Ulf Gudmarsson, a Swedish lawman, she bore him eight children, including Saint Catherine of Sweden. Sources: https://www.vatican.va/content/john-paul-ii/en/apost_letters/1999/documents/hf_jp-ii_apl_01101999_co-patronesses-europe.html.
Saint Teresa Benedicta of the Cross (Edith Stein) is invoked as patron of Europe (co-patroness). Saint Teresa Benedicta of the Cross was born Edith Stein at Breslau in Silesia on October 12, 1891, the youngest of eleven children of an observant Jewish family of timber merchants. Her father died when she was two, and she was raised by her devout mother. Sources: https://www.vatican.va/content/john-paul-ii/en/homilies/1998/documents/hf_jp-ii_hom_11101998_stein.html.
Read full biography of Saint Teresa Benedicta of the Cross (Edith Stein) →
Saint Bridget of Sweden is the primary patron saint of europe (co-patroness). Their feast day is July 23.
A patron saint is a holy man or woman canonized by the Church whose life and heavenly intercession are considered especially powerful for particular needs, groups, or situations. Catholics ask patron saints to intercede — to pray to God on their behalf — drawing on the doctrine of the Communion of Saints.
To ask for a patron saint's intercession, Catholics typically pray directly to the saint, saying something like: "Bridget of Sweden, pray for us." You may also light a candle, attend Mass on their feast day, or make a novena — nine days of consecutive prayer — asking for their help before a particular need.