Turning to the saints in times of joy, confusion, and challenge is a great gift of the Catholic faith. There are many saints that mothers might think to ask for prayers of intercession – St. Monica, St. Anne, St. Anthony, and St. Jude (for seemingly impossible toddler tantrums, or am I the only one?) to name a few favorites.
However, there are some saints that might prove to be incredible comforts and intercessors to mothers that are not as well known. From children saints to cloistered nuns, here are six saints (or, almost saints) that Catholic mothers will want to have as intercessors and holy friends.
For attunement with the Holy Spirit amidst children and chores
St. Elizabeth of the Trinity
St. Elizabeth of the Trinity, born Elizabeth Catez in 1880, was a French Discalced Carmelite, mystic, and prolific writer. With her mother’s blessing, she joined the Carmelite order at twenty-one and fell ill shortly thereafter. Through intense physical suffering, she drew nearer to the crucified Christ and made her heart a dwelling for the Triune God until her death. She was canonized on October 16, 2016.
The collected works of St. Elizabeth are overflowing with beautiful truths and helpful insights into a life of loving the Lord.
One writing, a retreat entitled Heaven in Faith, is especially perfect for mothers. St. Elizabeth firmly believed that everyone could find a cloister and “unchanging dwelling place” within the Trinity who “dwells in the deepest center of your soul.” To encourage her biological sister to find this cloister while living in the world with two young children, she wrote a ten-day retreat and mailed it to her from Carmel.
She writes on Day 10, “‘In Heaven’ each soul is a praise of glory of the Father, the Word, and the Holy Spirit, for each soul is established in pure love…In the heaven of her soul, the praise of glory has already begun her work of eternity. Her song is uninterrupted, for she is under the action of the Holy Spirit who affects everything in her; and although she is not always aware of it, for the weakness of nature does not allow her to be established in God without distractions, she always sings, she always adores, for she has, so to speak, wholly passed into praise and love in her passion for the glory of her God. In the heaven of our soul let us be praises of glory of the Holy Trinity, praises of love of our Immaculate Mother.”
Mothers amid diaper changes, cleaning, and taking children on walks need only to offer each moment to God and be attuned to the workings of the Holy Spirit, and they will be praises of glory. A busy mother surrounded by the noise of the world can find God in the quiet of her heart. He is waiting for His beloved daughter there.
St. Elizabeth of the Trinity, pray for us.
For a deep love of the Eucharist and redemptive suffering
Blessed Conchita
Marie Concepción “Conchita” Cabrera de Armida was born in Mexico in 1862. She was a wife and mother of nine who had a great love for the Eucharist, the Blessed Mother, and prayer. She founded religious orders, apostolates, and had a deep and zealous love for priests and devoted much of her prayers for clergy.
Bl. Conchita is considered a great mystic of the twentieth century, who understood suffering and embraced its purpose in her life. She lost four of her children and became a widow at the age of 39. Rather than despair, she used her own suffering to unite herself more closely to Christ’s suffering on the Cross.
In one of her books, Message of the Cross, she wrote, “It is of vital urgency to have a clear awareness of what the Cross of Christ means, of what it accomplishes in the mystery of the person.” From deep suffering, such as the loss of a loved one, to the day-to-day challenges mothers face, Blessed Conchita is an inspiration to bring any struggles to the crucified Lord.
Blessed Conchita died in Mexico City on March 3, 1937, at the age of 74. She was declared Venerable in 1999 and was beatified in 2019.
Blessed Conchita, pray for us.
For our sons
St. José Sanchez del Rio
It can be incredibly fruitful for a mother to ask a young saint to intercede for her children. St. José Sanchez del Rio is a saint whose strength, courage, and warrior spirit makes him an ideal intercessor for boys.
José Luis Sanchez del Rio was born in Sahuayo, Mexico on March 28, 1913. He lived during a time of intense religious persecution in his country. Even as a young boy he felt called to fight with a civilian army, known as the Cristeros, to protest the enforcement of laws that took over churches and limited the number of priests.
After participating in multiple battles as a flagbearer and bugler for the Cristeros, he was captured and tortured, but refused to denounce his faith and love of the Lord. He was able to choose a last meal before his execution, and he asked for the Eucharist, knowing it would strengthen him and help him face his death with bravery. He was martyred on February 10, 1928.
St. José is an incredible witness to young men on the beauty of living a life of faith, courageously. Mothers can teach their sons about this wonderful saint and ask him to intercede for them each day.
St. José Sanchez del Rio, pray for us.
For our daughters
Venerable Antonietta Meo
Antonietta was only 6 years old when she died of bone cancer in 1937, but in that short time she lived an incredible life of faith and love for the Eucharist. Amidst intense physical suffering, she would dictate letters (with the help of her mother at first) to the Triune God and the Blessed Mother telling them about her day and her longing to receive her First Holy Communion.
She was able to receive the Blessed Sacrament early on Christmas Day and knelt in devotion for over an hour although it was surely painful due to her prosthetic leg. Pope Benedict XVI declared her venerable in 2007, and called her a “shining example” for all, especially in her devotion and love for the Bread of Heaven.
Antonietta is a beautiful example for young women to show how beautiful and simply a life devoted to Christ can be. From writing letters to Him to yearning to be near Him in the Eucharist, this young Italian girl is one that both mothers and daughters can turn to as they seek deeper relationship with their Heavenly Father.
Venerable Antonietta Meo, pray for us.
For family unity and mission
The Ulma Family
Józef and Wiktoria Ulma lived in Markowa, Poland on a farm with their six (and soon to be seven) children during the Nazi occupation of their homeland. Devoted to their faith and care of their neighbor, they chose to shelter eight Jewish men, women, and children in their home. As the Ulma family was preparing for Holy Week, German police entered their home in the early hours of March 24 and murdered the entire family, along with the individuals they were sheltering.
The entire family – Józef, Wiktoria, Stanisława (8); Barbara (7); Władysław (6); Francizek (4); Antoni (3); Maria (2); and baby Ulma – was beatified on September 10, 2023, making it the first time a family was beatified together.
The Ulma family truly lived out Christ’s commandment to love one another. In fact, the parable of the Good Samaritan and Christ’s commandment of love in the Gospel of John was underlined in their family Bible. This family of powerhouse saints is a great one to spend time getting to know and asking for the prayers of for a marriage open to God’s will, living a life of service as a family, and courage in difficult circumstances.
Ulma family, pray for us.
For a missionary heart and strength while helping sick children
Blessed Francis Xavier Seelos
Francis Xavier Seelos was born in Germany into a devout Catholic family and entered the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer (Redemptorists) at twenty-two. Called by God to minister to Germans in the United States, he received permission to study in America and was ordained in Baltimore in 1844.
He was a beloved priest, known for his kind smile, zeal for the Lord, and love for the poor and marginalized.While serving in a parish in New Orleans, yellow fever broke out in the city and Father Seelos tirelessly ministered to the sick. He eventually became ill and died on October 4, 1867 at the age of forty-eight.
Father Seelos lived an ordinary life as a shepherd of his flock. He was a holy priest who devoted his life to small daily duties, done with the great love of Christ. He is an incredible example for mothers, who have a similar call to minister to the sick and quietly serve those in front of them.
Blessed Francis Xavier Seelos, pray for us.