Patron Saint Workers and Their Feast Days

Patron Saint Workers and Their Feast Days

Not only are there patron saints for countries but there are also surprisingly saints for occupations as well. Here in this article, I will list patron saint workers under their dedicated professions and also what day your ancestor celebrated these saints.

Patron Saint Workers and Their Feast Days

It seems to me that there is a saint for nearly every trade or profession in the past. And even modern ones as well.

What’s a feast day?

A feast day is a day to celebrate and recognize a saint and what he or she was known for. They are usually remembered with prayers, a special mention, and also possibly a scripture reading.

These days are mostly picked for the saint’s date of death, or they may be assigned one by the church.

This latter case occurs when the date of death is not known. The day in which the saint was canonized may be chosen instead.

There are however many saints, (which you will see in the following list), that share the same feast day.

As there are far more saints than days of the year then there is surely a day where there will be more than one saint celebrated.

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List of Patron Saint Workers and Their Feast Days

Here in this list, you will find some trades or professions will have the same patron saint as I have already mentioned. I have indicated each feast day according to the Catholic Church.

Old Occupations Their Meanings

Different days are celebrated by different divisions of the church. However, in this list, I have chosen to stick with the Catholic Church date.

What did my ancestors do for a living?

I have always been interested in the lives of my ancestors and what they did for a living. This has followed on to knowing everything that I can find out about their work.

I was particularly fascinated to learn that it seems that every trade or profession has a patron saint.

Due to this, I was interested to learn more.

Did they celebrate feast days?

My ancestors may or may not have celebrated their profession’s patron saint though. I bet that once they originally did but over time this tradition has been lost.

Today, we still celebrate patron saints for countries but I guess that not many people know about these particular saints for the worker.

Within the list, there are job titles both old and new.

There are jobs such as blacksmiths, gardeners, and shipbuilders, but also newer professions such as communications media, radio workers, and salespersons

If there is a trade or profession that you think that I may have missed out on or forgotten in this list then please comment below.

I will only be too glad to add it to the list.

A to D

  • Accountants – Saint Matthew – September 21
  • Actors – Saint Genesius – August 25
  • Advertising – Saint Bernadine – May 20
  • Advocates – Saint Ives – February 3
  • Alter servers – Saint John Berchman – August 13
  • Ammunition workers – Saint Barbara – December 4
  • Apothecaries – Saint Raphael – September 29
  • Archaeologists – Saint Helen – May 22
  • Architects – Saint Barbara – December 4
  • Armors – Saint Sebastian – January 20
  • Arrowsmiths – Saint Sebastian – January 20
  • Art dealers – Saint John the Evangelist – December 27
  • Artists – Saint Luke – October 18
  • Astronomers – Saint Dominic – August 24
  • Athletes – Saint Sebastian – January 20
  • Authors – Saint Paul – June 29/30
  • Aviators – Our Lady of Loretto – December 10
  • Bakers – Saint Nicholas – December 6
  • Bankers – Saint Matthew – September 21
  • Barbers – Saint Martin de Porres – November 3
  • Basketmakers – Saint Anthony – January 17
  • Blacksmiths – Saint James – July 25
  • Bookbinders – Saint Sebastian – January 20
  • Bookkeepers – Saint Matthew – September 21
  • Booksellers – Saint John the Evangelist – December 27
  • Brass workers – Saint Barbara – December 4
  • Brewers – Saint Nicholas – December 6
  • Bridge workers – Saint Peter – June 29
  • Brush makers – Saint Anthony – January 17
  • Builders – Saint Barbara – December 4
  • Bus drivers – Saint Christopher – July 25
  • Butchers – Saint Peter – June 29
  • Cabinet makers – Saint Anne – July 26
  • Carpenters – Saint Joseph – March 19
  • Casket makers – Saint Stephen – December 26
  • Cemetery workers – Saint Anthony – January 17
  • Civil servants – Saint Thomas More – June 22
  • Clergy – Saint Charles Borromeo – November 4
  • Clerics – Saint Gabriel – September 29
  • Clockmakers – Saint Peter – June 29
  • Comedians – Saint Genesius – August 25
  • Communications Media – Saint Gabriel – September 29
  • Composers – Saint Cecile – November 22
  • Confectioners – Saint Joseph – March 19
  • Cooks – Saint Lawrence – August 10
  • Coopers – Saint Nicholas – December 6
  • Court Workers – Saint Thomas More – June 22
  • Cutters – Saint Lucy – December 13
  • Dancers – Saint Genesius – August 25
  • Dentists – Saint Appolonia – February 9
  • Doctors – Saint Luke – October 18
  • Domestic servants – Saint Martha – July 29
  • Druggist – Saint Raphael – September 29

E to H

  • Editors – Saint John Bosco – January 31
  • Engineers – Saint Joseph – March 19
  • Engravers – Saint John the Evangelist – December 27
  • Farmers – Saint George – April 23
  • Firefighters – Saint Florian – May 4
  • Fisherman – Saint Peter – June 29
  • Florist – Saint Dorothy – February 6
  • Flyers – Our Lady of Loretto – December 10
  • Founders – Saint Barbara – December 4
  • Gardeners – Saint Sebastian – January 20
  • Glass industry – Saint Luke – December 18
  • Glaziers – Saint Mark – April 25
  • Goldsmiths – Saint Luke – October 18
  • Gravediggers – Saint Anthony – January 17
  • Grocers – Saint Michael – September 29
  • Gunners – Saint Barbara – December 4
  • Homebuilders – Our Lady of Loretto – December 10
  • Horse riders – Saint Anne – July 26
  • Hospital workers – Saint Vincent de Paul – September 27
  • Housekeepers – Saint Anne – July 26

Check Out Your Ancestors Jobs Here!

(Agricultural Laborer, Apprentice, The British Army, Coalminer, Leather Worker, Railway Worker, Royal Navy, In Service, Studio Photographer, Thames Waterman, Lawyer, Royal Marine, Woman at War, The Theatre

I to L

  • Infantrymen – Saint Maurice – September 22
  • Innkeepers – Saint Martin de Porres – November 3
  • Ironmongers – Saint Sebastian – January 20
  • Jewelers – Saint Luke/Saint Bernard – December 18
  • Journalists – Saint Francis De Sales – January 24
  • Judges – Saint Ives – February 3
  • Jurors – Saint Catherine – November 25
  • Laborers – Saint James – July 25
  • Lace makers – Saint Francis of Assisi – October 4
  • Lamp makers – Our Lady of Loretto – December 10<
  • Lawyers – Saint Genesius/Saint Thomas More – August 25/June 22
  • Lead workers – Saint Sebastian – January 20
  • Librarians – Saint Jerome – September 30
  • Locksmiths – Saint Dunstan – May 19

M to P

  • Mariners – Saint Michael – September 29
  • Masons – Saint Peter – June 29
  • Mathematicians – Saint Hubert – November 3
  • Medical social workers – Saint John Regis – September 10
  • Merchants – Saint Francis of Assisi – October 4
  • Messengers – Saint Gabriel – September 29
  • Millers – Saint Christina – July 24
  • Miners – Saint Barbara – December 4>
  • Missionaries – Saint Francis Xavier – December 3
  • Monastics – Saint Benedict – March 21
  • Monks – Saint Benedict – March 21
  • Morticians – Saint Joseph – March 19
  • Mothers – Saint Anne – July 26
  • Motorists – Saint Christopher – July 25
  • Musicians – Saint Cecile – November 22
  • Navigators – Saint Brendan – May 16
  • Needleworkers – Saint Francis of Assisi – October 4
  • Nuns – Saint Brigid – February 1
  • Nurses – Saint Camillus _ July 14
  • Obstetricians – Saint Raymond Nonnatus – August 31
  • Orators – Saint John – June 24
  • Organ makers – Saint Genesius – August 25
  • Painters – Saint Luke – October 18<
  • Papermakers – Saint John the Evangelist – December 27
  • Paratroopers – Saint Michael – September 29
  • Pawnbrokers – Saint John Vianney – August 4
  • Pharmacist – Saint Raphael – September 29
  • Philosophers – Saint Catherine – November 25<
  • Physicians – Saint Luke – October 18
  • Psychiatrists – Saint Christina – July 24
  • Pilots – Our Lady of Loretto – December 10
  • Plasterers – Saint Bartholomew – August 24<
  • Poets – Saint Cecelia – November 22
  • Police officers – Saint Michael – September 29
  • Porters – Saint Christopher – July 25
  • Postal workers – Saint Gabriel – September 29
  • Potters – Saint Sebastian – January 20
  • Press – Saint Paul – June 29/30
  • Priests – Saint John Vianney – August 4
  • Printers – Saint John the Evangelist – December 27
  • Public Health Workers – Saint Martin de Porres – November 3
  • Publishers – Saint Paul – June 29/30

Check Out Old Occupations and Their Meanings!

R to S

  • Radiologists – Saint Michael – September 29
  • Radio workers – Saint Gabriel – September 29
  • Saddlers – Saint Lucy – December 13
  • Sailors – Saint Brendan – May 16
  • Salespersons – Saint Lucy – December 13
  • Scientists – Saint Albert – November 15
  • Scribes – Saint Catherine – November 25
  • Sculptors – Saint Luke – October 18
  • Scholars – Saint Thomas Aquinas – January 28
  • Seafarers – Saint Michael – September 29
  • Secretaries – Saint Catherine – November 25
  • Servants – Saint Martha – July 29
  • Service Professions – Saint Joan of Arc – May 30
  • Sheep raisers – Saint Raphael – September 29
  • Shipbuilders – Saint Peter – June 29
  • Singers – Saint Cecelia – November 22
  • Skaters – Saint Lidwina – April 14
  • Skiers – Saint Bernard – August 20
  • Soldiers – Saint George – April 23
  • Stationers – Saint Peter – June 29
  • Stockbrokers – Saint Matthew – September 21
  • Stonemasons – Saint Sebastian – January 20

T to W

  • Students – Saint Thomas Aquinas – January 28
  • Surgeons – Saint Luke – October 18
  • Tailors – Saint John the Baptist – August 29
  • Tanners – Saint James – July 25
  • Tax collectors – Saint Matthew – September 21
  • Teachers – Saint Francis De Sales – January 24
  • Telephone workers – Saint Gabriel – September 29
  • Television – Saint Clare of Assisi – August 11
  • Theologians – Saint Thomas Aquinas – January 28
  • Toymakers – Saint Claude – February 15
  • Truck drivers – Saint Christopher – July 25
  • Undertakers – Saint Sebastian – January 20
  • Vets – Saint James – July 25
  • Vocalists – Saint Cecile – November 22
  • Winemakers – Saint Francis Xavier – December 3
  • Writers – Saint Paul – June 29/30

Credit: Catholic Saints Index and Wikipedia


Thank You and Please Leave A Comment

I hope you enjoyed this list of patron saint workers post. If you have any questions or comments then please leave a comment below.

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Summary
Article Name
Patron Saint Workers and Their Days
Description
Who is your patron saint for your job? This thorough listing of occupations together with their patron saints will show you. And discover their celebrated day.
Author
Publisher Name
The Genealogy Guide
Publisher Logo

12 thoughts on “Patron Saint Workers and Their Feast Days”

  1. This is great information about Patron Saint workers and their feast days. It’s not something I was aware of to be honest. I am from a Structural Engineering background so it was good to see Engineers in your list.
    You’ve really done great research here Owain and quite how you managed to find this information is impressive. Did you use one of your genealogy research tools or did you have to do a bit more digging? Is there any research tools to find out how each of the Patron Saint workers actually celebrate each day?

    1. Thanks very much Craig. It was quite a bit of work to piece together. There are many lists online put together that show patron saints that are associated with occupations. However, there are no feast days displayed for these saints as I have done. So it did take a while to piece together.

      Celebrating a patron saint is the same for all of them. This is with a prayer and also a feast, (meal).

  2. I live in a catholic country (Italy) and every day has its Saint and every village, too. So at the Saint’s day every year they have local celebrations, historical costumes and games etc. It is quite fun. I didn’t know about Saints for professions. I was curious to find if my birthday was on your list, Oct.17th, none. But for the 18th there are a bunch of professions for Sint Luke, painters, sculptors, artists- Well, this is near to my interests….
    You have done an interesting research here. Thanks for giving me new insights!

  3. Actually my country has also similar feast days for important people. People get together in public places and eat rice, meat etc… Actually my uncle sometimes joins these feasts and I will tell him about your article maybe he can even find out more similarities.

    1. Thanks for sharing Furkan. I also find it interesting to see the similarity in cultures. Even though we may live thousands of miles apart you can always find ways where we are quite similar.

    1. Yeah, I would say journalists as well, maybe if you’re a journalist with a blog. These Saints died for their beliefs and were known by their occupations. So these trades and professions then associated themselves with these saints.

      It is interesting though as to these connections. I wonder if there will be any new additions with time.

    1. May the fourth be with you Eric, lol. I am glad that I brought this to your attention. It’s always interesting when we discover these personal connections.

  4. Hi Owain,
    I found this article very interesting. I had no idea there were patron saints for professions.
    Wow, that is a long list. The Catholic church sure seems to have a bunch of saints. I haven’t been a Catholic for years and had no idea there were so many.
    It’s obvious you put in a lot of work and research. This must have taken you a lot of time.
    Thank you for the article it really is very informative.
    Keep up the good work!

    1. For me when I first learned about patron saints for professions a few years ago I was quite surprised. There are even patron saints for diseases as well. I am writing a post at the moment showing how you can choose your patron saint. So keep an eye out for that.

      It did take a while to piece this together, but I really wanted to add this guide to my site, so it was well worth the time and effort.

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