Saint Rebecca
Patron Saint of The Sick, Those Who have Lost Parents

Saint Rebecca was born June 29, 1832 at Himlaya, Lebanon as Boutrossieh Ar-Rayes. She was an only child. Her mother died when Rebecca was six and when her father remarried she and her step-mother did not get along. Rebecca announced at age 14 that she felt a call to religious life. Her father objected, but at 21 she became a nun in the Marian Order of the Immaculate Conception at Bikfaya; making her final vows in 1856.

In 1871, her order merged with the order of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. The sisters were given the choice of joining the new combined order, joining other orders, or being released from their vows. Following dreams in which Saint Anthony the Great appeared to her, she joined the Lebanese Order of Saint Anthony of the Maronites (Baladiya Order) on 12 July 1871, a novice at age 39, taking the new religious name of Rafqa (= Rebecca).

On the feast of the Holy Rosary in 1885, Rebecca prayed that she might share Christ's sufferings. Her health began to deteriorate, and she was soon blind and crippled. She spent as much of her remaining thirty years in prayer as she could, but always insisted on working in the convent as well as she could with her disabilities, usually spinning wool and knitting.

Late in life her close friend and supporter, Mother Superior Ursula Doumit, ordered her to dictate her autobiography, and Rebecca complied. Near the time of her death, Rebecca asked that her sight be restored for a single hour so she could again see the face of Mother Ursula - the hour of sight was granted. She died March 23, 1914 at the Convent of Saint Joseph, Grabta, Lebanon.

Beginning four days after her death, miraculous cures were recorded at Rebecca's grave, the first being Mother Doumit whose throat was slowly closing so there was fear she would starve to death. Elizabeth En-Nakhel from Tourza, northern Lebanon, was cured from uterine cancer through Rebecca, in 1938. This was the miracle which permitted her beatification in November of 1985. Saint Rebecca was canonized June 10, 2001 by Pope John Paul II.

Feast Day: March 23

Saint Roch (Rocco)
Patron Saint of Invalids, Bachelors, Dogs, Knee Problems, Surgeons, Tile Makers

"St. Roch (Rocco) was a French noble who early developed a sympathy for the poor and sick. While on pilgrimage St. Roch encountered an area afflicted with plague. He stayed to minister to the sick, and affected several miraculous cures, but contracted the plague himself. He walked into a forest to die, but was befriended by a dog. The dog fed him with food stolen from his master's table, and Roch eventually recovered.

When Roch returned to France, he was charged with spying. He languished in jail for five years, never mentioning his noble connections, cared for by an angel until his death; when he was identified by a birthmark in the form of a cross on his chest.

He is known as St. Rocco in Italy and St. Roque in Spain."

Feast Day: August 16

Saint Stephen
Patron Saint of Headache Sufferers, Stonemasons, Coffin Makers, Horses

"Stephen's name means 'crown,' and he was the first disciple of Jesus to receive the martyr's crown. Stephen was a deacon in the early Christian Church. The apostles had found that they needed helpers to look after the care of the widows and the poor, so they ordained seven deacons, and Stephen is the most famous of these.

God worked many miracles through St. Stephen and he spoke with such wisdom and grace that many of his hearers became followers of Jesus. While preaching the Gospel in the streets, angry Jews who believed his message to be blasphemy dragged him outside the city and stoned him to death. The saint prayed, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit!" Then he fell to his knees and begged God not to punish his enemies for killing him. In the crowd was a man who would later be known as Saint Paul.

Feast Day: December 26

Prayer to Saint Stephen
"Dear Saint Stephen first deacon and martyr, you are the patron saint and model for all deacons. You gave your life unafraid, valiantly speaking the truth you forgave those who were you persecutors. With love we mold our lives after yours. May we gain courage and strength from the wisdom and faith that you possessed as gifted by the Holy Spirit. Intercede for us, oh powerful Saint Stephen, that we may quietly reach out to the poor and the lonely, not seeking recognition for ourselves, but to honor the name of our Lord Jesus, the Savior. You who had the face of an angel guide our path - we ask all of this through the prayer of our Lord Jesus, the Christ. Amen."

Prayer re Saint Stephen
"We give you thanks, O Lord of glory, for the example of the first martyr Stephen, who looked up to heaven and prayed for his persecutors to your Son Jesus Christ, who stands at your right hand: where he lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, in glory everlasting. Amen."

Saint Timothy
Patron Saint of Stomach Trouble

"Born at Lystra, Lycaenia St. Timothy was the son of a Greek father and Eunice. He joined St. Paul when Paul preached at Lystra replacing Barnabas, and became Paul's close friend and confidant.

When Paul was forced to flee Berea, Timothy remained. After a time he was sent to Thessalonica to report on the condition of the Christians there and to encourage them under persecution, a report that led to Paul's first letter to the Thessalonians when he joined Timothy at Corinth. Timothy and Erastus were sent to Macedonia in 58, went to Corinth to remind the Corinthians of Paul's teaching, and then accompanied Paul into Macedonia and Achaia.

Timothy was probably with Paul when the Apostle was imprisoned at Caesarea and then Rome, and was himself imprisoned but then freed. According to tradition, he went to Ephesus, became its first bishop, and was stoned to death there for opposing the worship of Dionysius . Paul wrote two letters to Timothy, one written about 65 from Macedonia and the second from Rome while he was in prison awaiting execution."

Feast Day: January 26

Prayer to Saint Timothy
"Dear Saint, well known for your gentleness, you were a most faithful disciple of Saint Paul, and like him traveled much to bring the Good News to all people. The Letters Paul wrote to you reveal your zeal and inspire us with confidence in you. You too were cast into prison and you too gave your life for Christ. So with confidence we dare to ask, please obtain relief for {name of sufferer}, if it be God's will."

Saint Therese (Theresa) of Lisieux
Patron Saint of AIDS Sufferers, Australia, Pilots, Florists, Missions, France

"Often called the 'Little Flower,' Therese was born in France in 1873, the pampered daughter of a middle-class family. Tragedy and loss came quickly when her mother died of breast cancer when Therese was four. At eight she became so ill with a fever that people thought she was dying. When Therese saw her sisters praying to statue of Mary in her room, she also prayed. She saw Mary smile at her and she was cured.

At fifteen Therese was admitted to the Carmelite convent her sisters Pauline and Marie had already joined. Her life was short however, and she died on September 30, 1897 at the age of 24. Pauline put together Therese's writings about her 'little way'of trusting in Jesus to make her holy, and relying on small daily sacrifices instead of great deeds, and sent them to other convents. These writings appealed to the thousands of Catholics and others who were trying to find holiness in ordinary lives. She was canonized in 1925.

Feast Day: October 1

St. Therese wrote: 'Love proves itself by deeds, so how am I to show my love? Great deeds are forbidden me. The only way I can prove my love is by scattering flowers and these flowers are every little sacrifice, every glance and word, and the doing of the least actions for love.'"

Prayer to St. Therese
"O Little Flower of Jesus, ever consoling troubled souls with heavenly graces, in your unfailing intercession I place my trust. From the Heart of Our Blessed Savior petition these blessing of which I stand in greatest need (mention here). Shower upon me your promised roses of virtue and grace, dear Saint Therese, so that swiftly advancing in sanctity and in perfect love of neighbor, I may someday receive the crown of eternal life. Amen.Ó

Prayer to St. Therese
ÒDear Little Flower of Lisieux, how wonderful was the short life you led. Though cloistered, you went far and wide through fervent prayers and great sufferings. You obtained from God untold helps and graces for his evangelists. Help all missionaries in their work and teach all of us to spread Christianity in our own neighborhoods and family circles. Amen.Ó

Novena to Saint Therese of the Child Jesus
O Little Therese of the Child Jesus, please pick for me a rose from the heavenly gardens and send it to me as a message of love. O Little Flower of Jesus, ask God today to grant the favors I now place with confidence in your hands... (mention specific request)

Saint Therese, help me to always believe as you did, in God's great love for me, so that I might imitate your "Little Way" each day. Amen.