Among all the questions we Catholics ask, one of the most frequent ones is: “Who is the patron saint of …?” We often have to “look it up,” but there are some memorable “patron saints”: St. Anthony is always at the ready to help us find lost objects; St. Blase offers us protection against illness, especially diseases of the throat; St. Luke is the patron saint of doctors and medical professionals; and St. Francis is the patron of animals. So, who is the patron saint of automobile drivers? St. Frances of Rome! Today, we celebrate her Feast.
Frances’ “job” of watching out for drivers is based on a legend that an angel used to light the road in front of her with a lantern when she travelled, keeping her safe from hazards. She lived long before automobiles, but even her travel by foot or by carriage was evidently protected by an angel of the Lord. Be sure to ask for her intercession – before you put the key in your car’s ignition!
For more on the rich spiritual life of St. Frances of Rome: https://www.sfrome.com/patron-saint/
