The following list is not an “official list” published by the Catholic Church but the Saints included in the list are approved. In certain cases it may be the Church who has designated a Saint as a patron over the area mentioned, but in other cases it may be the Vox Populi (the voice of the people) who have sought the intercession of particular saints in these matters. In either way, it is a great tradition and of great comfort to seek the prayers and counsel of the saints that have gone before us, particularly matters as serious as firearms and the use of force. I cannot think of a better advisory counsel! So take a look and find a Saint or two or three to add to your advisors and intercessors!
Patron Saints of Firearms Users
(Some people of faith of interest to shooters)
The ones that I currently know about include:
St. Barbara – Patron of artillerymen, explosives handlers, and engineers (December 4)
Saint Dunstan – Patron Saint of Armorers and Gunsmiths (May 19)
Saint Erasmus (Saint Elmo) – (Patron of ammunition makers, and explosives/ordnance workers (June 2)
Saint Eustachius – Patron of hunters, and trappers (September 20)
Saint George – Patron of armorers, cavalry/mounted warriors, and soldiers (April 23)
St. Hubert of Liege – Patron of hunters (November 11)
Saint Lawrence – Patron of armories and armorers (August 10)
St. Possenti – Patron of shooters and handgunners (February 27)
Saint Sebastian – Patron of archers, armorers, metal workers, and police (January 20)
In addition to the above the following my also be of interest.
Joseph of Cupertino (18 September), Our Lady of Loreto, Therese of Lisieux – aircraft pilots, aviators, flyers, air crews, aviation, Belgian air crews, Spanish air crews, aviation, flying
Joseph of Cupertino, Michael the Archangel – Paratroopers and airborne
Christopher and George – Archers
Sebastian – Fletchers
Maurice (22 September) – Alpine Troops/Alpinists and armies
Adrian of Nicomedia (8 September) - Arms Dealers
Michael the Archangel (29 September, 8 May) – Battles
Martin of Tours (11 November) and St. George – Calvary
John of Capistrano (23 October) – Military Chaplains
Our Lady of the Assumption (15 August?) – French Air Crews
St. Catherine of Alexandria (25 November) – Knife Grinders/Sharpeners
Zita (27 April) - Lost Keys/Against Losing keys (gun cabinet)
Francis of Paola (2 April) - Naval Officers
Hubert of Liege (3 November) – Precision Instrument Makers
Martin of Tours (11 November) – Quartermasters
Philip Romolo Neri (26 May) – Special Forces (United States)
Peter the Apostle (29 June, 18 November) - ship builders; shipwrights
Elizabeth of Portugal (4 July) – War (invoked in time of war)
Thanks to James Stiner for the additional listings.
