One of my favorite additions to our Wedding Mass was a sung Litany of Saints. Placed just before our exchange of vows, my husband and I, along with the entire congregation, kneeled before the cross begging the intercession of those who had gone before us.
It was the beginning of a new leg of the race of life for us, and as we embarked on the vocation of marriage together, we were well aware that we could use all the encouragement and support we could acquire to help us along the way.
The Catechism of the Catholic Church makes clear the role of the saints in our lives.
“The witnesses who have preceded us into the kingdom, especially those whom the Church recognizes as saints, share in the living tradition of prayer by the example of their lives, the transmission of their writings, and their prayer today. They contemplate God, praise him, and constantly care for those whom they have left on earth. When they entered into the joy of their Master, they were ‘put in charge of many things.’ Their intercession is their most exalted service to God’s plan. We can and should ask them to intercede for us and for the whole world.” (CCC, 2683)
Begging the intercession of the saints, and striving to model our lives after the holy men and women of God who have come before us, has become integral to the culture of my family.
My husband and I have intentionally prayed for guidance in choosing particular saints’ names for each of our children. We have even chosen saints’ names for those children who died within my womb, and I like to think that they are holding hands with their patrons, worshiping the face of God, and praying each day that we may join them (eventually). The saints are not indifferent to our current struggles in life, and we rely on their prayers to help us live out our daily call as the Church, knowing they too are eager for us to join them in Heaven.
I haven’t finished running the race. My husband and most of my children have also not yet completed this pilgrimage. The journey on earth, though filled with many joys, is quite difficult and so I am grateful that the Lord has given us the example of the saints to show us how we can live out the call to holiness in our daily lives.
I am thankful for our own little band of saints that surrounds our family. I know they watch over us and lead us to Jesus each and every day.
So how can you invite the saints into your daily life? Consider creating a family Litany of Saints and pray it together as a family. (I will include ours below, which includes our patron saints as well as family members who have completed the earthly journey). Celebrate the feast days of saints who have a personal connection to your family. Adopt a new saint to study and grow closer to each year and strive to incorporate parts of their life into your own.
The possibilities are endless. The saints are our biggest fans on this journey. Let them cheer for you along the way, and ask them to help lead you back to the heart of God. They are your friends. They are your encouragers. They are your helpers. And they want nothing more than to stand next to you at the end of this journey and worship the One whom you all love.
Pohlmeier Family Litany of Saints
St. Isaac Jogues, Pray for Us.
St. Maximilian Kolbe, Pray for Us.
St. Clare, Pray for Us.
St. Bernadette, Pray for Us.
St. Dominic Savio, Pray for Us.
St. John Vianney, Pray for Us.
St. Josephine Pray for Us.
St. Francis, Pray for Us.
St. William. Pray for Us.
St. Blaise, Pray for Us.
St. Vincent, Pray for Us.
St. John Paul II, Pray for Us.
St. Teresa Benedicta, Pray for Us.
St. Damien, Pray for Us.
Bl. Pier Giorgio Frassati, Pray for Us.
St. Faustina, Pray for Us.
St. Therese, Pray for Us.
St. Joseph, Pray for Us.
St. Thomas Aquinas, Pray for Us.
Papa saint, Pray for Us.
1 thought on “Heavenly Helpers”
Beautiful reflection Erin. I have done a litany of saints for my family for a long time. I include their name saints, and Confirmation saints in the litany. You are wise like your wonderful mom.