Patron Saint of Persecuted Church

Category: Other

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 "Persecuted Church" 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.

Patron Saint of Persecuted Church

Formally proclaimed patronage — sourced from canonized saints in the Roman Calendar.

Primary Patron
Saint Christopher Magallanes and Companions

Feast Day
May 21

Saint Christopher Magallanes and Companions is invoked as patron of the persecuted Church. Saint Cristobal Magallanes Jara was born at Totatiche, Jalisco, Mexico, on July 30, 1869. Ordained a priest in 1899, he served as parish priest of his native town and founded an auxiliary seminary there in 1915 after the closure of the seminary of Guadalajara during the Mexican Revolution.The 1917 Mexican Constitution and subsequent legislation, especially the 1926 Calles Law, imposed severe restrictions on the Church: closure of religious schools, expulsion of foreign clergy, registration of priests with the civil government, and prohibition of public worship outside churches. Sources: https://www.vatican.va/content/john-paul-ii/en/homilies/2000/documents/hf_jp-ii_hom_20000521_canonization.html.

Read full biography of Saint Christopher Magallanes and Companions →

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is the patron saint of persecuted church?

Saint Christopher Magallanes and Companions is the primary patron saint of persecuted church. Their feast day is May 21.

What is a patron saint?

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.

How do I ask for Christopher Magallanes and Companions's intercession?

To ask for a patron saint's intercession, Catholics typically pray directly to the saint, saying something like: "Christopher Magallanes and Companions, 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.