You've Got a Friend in Me

Welcome (back) to my blog dear reader! I am so glad to see you. 😄 I hope you enjoy your stay!

This week I am back to posting regularly and it feels pretty good. I took some time last week to plan out some topics for the upcoming weeks. I am excited about the ones I chose and the ones I was suggested on Instagram.

Speaking of Instagram, the “What ____ are you?” filters that took over a couple of weeks ago were the inspiration for the title of today's post. I did the Pixar one hoping for Buzz Lightyear and I got the food critic from Ratatouille.😄 Also on Instagram, I got some of the content for today's post. Last year I wrote about my saint of the year that I got using Jen Fulwiler’s saint’s name generator. So this year, when Jen posted about the site being updated I knew I had to try it again. You can try it yourself, dear reader, right here and you can follow Jen here.

So, who did I get for 2020? Well if you know me, you know I can never choose just one. I have two new saint friends for 2020.

First up is Saint Walter of Pontoise. He is the patron saint of vinters (winemakers if you didn't know. I had to Google it myself), prisoners and against job-related stress. His feast day is April 8th. So what's his story? He was born in Picardy, France, in the eleventh century. He was well educated and became a professor of philosophy and rhetoric. Later, he entered the Benedictine abbey of Rebais-en-Brie. King Philip I appointed Walter as the first abbot of a new monastery at Pontoise, but Walter reminded him God was the one who could give such honors, not the king. He actually fled Pontoise on two occasions, but both times was forced to return. Walter then went to Rome to ask Pope Gregory VII to be released from his position to live a life of solitude. However, the Pope told Walter to use the talents God had given him, and so Walter stayed at Pontoise. He is known for speaking out against simony and the evil lives of the secular clergy, which caused great outrage, and he was even beaten and thrown into prison. After his release, Walter continued to live a life of mortification, spending entire nights in prayer. After establishing the foundation of a convent in honor of Mary at Bertaucourt, Walter died on Good Friday in the year 1095. Wow, he is such a cool saint!

With praying to the Saints, not worshipping them, it is like having a conversation with a powerful friend. They are kind and they can make things happen. The Saints are not the ones doing the work that is still God. But they can bring your prayers to God. It is almost like when you are a kid if your friend is over for a sleepover and you have them or your younger cuter sibling to ask your mom or dad for permission to do something because you know they will say yes. It is not a perfect analogy but I hope that helps.

Since St. Walter is the patron saint against job-related stress we have already had a few chats this year. All I needed to do was say, “St. Walter pray for me,” and I started to feel a bit better. Sometimes though, the conversation was more involved. I talk to him about what is going on at work and any problems I might be having. Just being able to talk it out helps a ton, but then at the end, I do ask for his prayers. Another thing I know we will be talking about this year is job-hunting. The next couple of months will be stressful as I search for, apply to, and interview for a new teaching job. St. Walter, pray for us.

My second new friend for this year is Saint Ambrose of Milan. He is the patron saint of beekeepers, candlemakers, domestic animals, learning, and students. His feast day is December 7th. Dear reader, you can bet I am going to be celebrating these two men and their feast days this year. So what is the story of Saint Ambrose? He is one of the four original doctors of the Church. He was the Bishop of Milan and became one of the most important theological figures of the 4th century. Ambrose was born around 340 AD to a Roman Christian family. After Ambrose's father passed away, he was educated in Rome, where he studied law, literature, and rhetoric. Ambrose received a place on the council, became Governor of Liguria and Emilia around 372. Ambrose remained Governor until 374 when he became the Bishop of Milan. Ambrose did not intend to be elected but instead was attending the election to prevent any uproars between the Nicene Church and the Arians. A speech he gave to the people at the election caused them to elect St. Ambrose. Because of his theological training and extensive study he became a great preacher. His skill impressed a man from Hippo. You may have heard of him, St. Augustine. Ambrose eventually baptized Augustine and became beloved by Augustine’s mother St. Monica who had been praying for her son’s conversion. (Talk about #squadgoals)

Ambrose tried to put an end to Arianism in Milan. “He is quoted with stating: If you demand my person, I am ready to submit: carry me to prison or to death, I will not resist; but I will never betray the church of Christ. I will not call upon the people to succour me; I will die at the foot of the altar rather than desert it. The tumult of the people I will not encourage: but God alone can appease it.” He excommunicated many and worked tirelessly to defend the truth of the Catholic Faith. Ambrose passed away on April 4, 397.

This year I will be asking Saint Ambrose for prayers as well. He is also my go-to guy for two reasons. First of all, he is the patron saint of candlemakers. I love candles. (Basic white girl stereotype perpetuated.😄) Now that I know about St. Ambrose I could say a little prayer for the person who made the candle when I light it. I have also prayed for his patronage about something that is dear to my job. I am a teacher. I love learning and discovering new things in my job. Because he is also the patron saint of students I can ask for his help when my students are having trouble or are stressed or overwhelmed. St Ambrose, pray for us.

Dear reader, I encourage you to find a saint to become friends with this year. You truly do have a friend in them. You can either use the saint generator I linked earlier in this post or Google “the patron saint of” and insert a job, hobby, etcetera that relates to your life. I promise having a Heavenly friend will bring your life some beauty in the crazy.

☀️💙