We know it’s common for saints to come in clusters: friends among friends, spiritual director to directee, brothers and sisters, etc.
What’s less widely known is to whom the saints had special devotions.
Whose saintly stories were told that inspired them? Whom did they ask for special intercession in times of need?
To celebrate All Saints’ Day, here are 9 saints and some of their favorite saints:
1. Pope St. John Paul II – St. John of the Cross
JPII’s writings and teaching were deeply rooted in those of St. John of the Cross, especially in his emphasis on “personalism,” the lived experience of the person.
2. St. Teresa of Calcutta – St. Therese of Lisieux
St. Teresa of Calcutta, whose baptismal name was Agnes, took the Teresa after St. Therese of Lisieux because she was the patroness of missionaries.
3. St. John Vianney – St. Philomena
St. John Vianney took a special vow to St. Philomena and kept her relic on his altar. He considered her his celestial patroness. She would appear to him in visions, where they would talk together, and she would grant him the answers to his prayers.
There’s a patron saint for nearly everything—check out our article on 25 Patron Saints of Really Random Things for some unexpected examples.
4. Bl. Pier Giorgio Frassati – St. Catherine of Siena
Among Pier Giorgio’s deepest devotions was the Holy Eucharist. He received special permission to take Communion daily (which was uncommon at that time). He would often go to Adoration during the late hours of the night, where he would meditate on 1 Corinthians 13 and the writings of St. Catherine of Siena.
5. St. Maximilian Kolbe – the Blessed Mother
When approached by his Nazi executioner, St. Maximilian Kolbe’s last words are reported to have been, “Ave Maria” (“Hail Mary”). His devotion to Mary was one of the largest parts of his identity throughout his life.
6. St. Philip Neri – St. Francis Xavier
St. Philip Neri was so inspired by the heroism of St. Francis Xavier’s evangelization (just like FOCUS) in India that he considered serving the Church as a foreign missionary. He sought counsel from a wise monk who told him: “Rome is to be your Indies.”
7. St. Ignatius of Loyola – St. Ignatius of Antioch
St. Ignatius of Loyola’s baptismal name was Inigo, but he changed it to “Ignatius” in honor of St. Ignatius of Antioch. It’s also worth noting that St. Ignatius of Loyola had his conversion while reading The Lives of the Saints.
8. St. John Bosco – St. Francis de Sales
Bosco admired Francis de Sales for his gentle approach to guiding souls and his emphasis on love, patience, and kindness, which influenced Bosco’s own method of educating and working with young people. This admiration led Bosco to name the religious order he founded “The Salesians of Don Bosco” in honor of St. Francis de Sales.
9. St. Therese of Lisieux – St. Joan of Arc and St. John of the Cross
She had a special love for St. Joan of Arc because she admired her bravery and warrior spirit.
As we celebrate All Saints’ Day, it’s a wonderful reminder that saints do not journey alone. Even the most extraordinary saints leaned on the examples of others in their own quest for holiness.
So, as you reflect on your favorite saints today, take a moment to think about who inspired them—and who might inspire you.
See how we celebrate All Saints’ Day at the FOCUS headquarters!
Additional Resources
There’s a patron saint for nearly everything—check out our article on 25 Patron Saints of Really Random Things for some unexpected examples.
Watch Logan Burda’s talk on becoming a saint, and enjoy other talks from SEEK on SEEK Replay.
Looking to be surrounded by everyday examples of holiness? Come join us at SEEK this January in Salt Lake City, and Washington D.C. Registration is now open!
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