Prayers, Goddesses, & Patron Saints for Writers
I’m not convinced Pope Pius XI understood a writer’s business when he named St. Francis de Sales as the patron saint of writers.
St. Francis de Sales wrote some books, it’s true, but most novenas and prayers and intercessions concerning him involve greater faith, more constant faith, etc. This is one of his novenas:
O Blessed Francis de Sales, who in your mortal life did excel in all virtues, especially in love of God and of neighbor, I earnestly entreat you to take me under your immediate protection, to obtain from God my perfect conversion, and that of all sinners, especially of (the names of persons for whom you wish to pray should be mentioned here). Amen.
As I was shopping for my St. Jude candle, I came across a candle for St. Martin Caballero. St. Martin Caballero (aka St. Martin of Tours) is the patron saint of soldiers and France, but he also has a history of helping businesses and giving good luck. Consider his novena:
In the name of the most powerful God, Oh! Saint Martin. Remove the bad luck from my house. Give me good luck, work, and money. Oh Lord, tell your servant St. Martin, tireless and eager shepherd of souls, to raise his voice in this abyss where I find myself and protect me from all affliction and evil. I consecrate this day in memory of the pristine virtues of your holy priesthood (state your petition). Amen.
Is that not more appropriate to the writing business? Good luck? Work? Money?
I think so.
Do you have any lucky writing mugs? Good luck charms? Candles? Rabbit’s feet specifically for writing? Patron saints for your writing intercessions? Gods or Goddesses you pray to for help in your writing or your writing career?
I’m going to amend this post with some GREAT contributions by you guys.
Heather Dearly added A Student’s Prayer to St. Thomas Aquinas (note paragraphs 3-5):
Creator of all things
true source of light and wisdom,
origin of all being;
graciously let a ray of your light penetrate
the darkness of my understanding.
Take from me the double darkness
in which I have been born—
an obscurity of sin and ignorance.
Give me a keen understanding,
a retentive memory, and
the ability to grasp things
correctly and fundamentally.
Grant me the talent
of being exact in my explanations
and the ability to express myself
with thoroughness and charm.
Point out the beginning,
direct the progress,
and help in the completion.
I ask this through Christ our Lord.
Amen.
Bernita suggested “Ganesha, the elephant god, patron of arts, destroyer of obstacles, lord of success.”
Ottavina added: I think contemplative monk and writer Thomas Merton should be one of the go-to guys for writing. He’s not a saint, but he wrote this prayer that seems to fit the uncertainty of where one’s writing or one’s life may be going:
“MY LORD GOD, I have no idea where I am going. I do not see the road ahead of me. I cannot know for certain where it will end.Nor do I re ally know myself, and the fact that I think that I am following your will does not mean that I am actually doing so. But I believe that the desire to please you does in fact please you. And I hope I have that desire in all that I am doing. I hope that I will never do anything apart from that desire. And I know that if I do this you will lead me by the right road though I may know nothing about it. Therefore will I trust you always though I may seem to be lost and in the shadow of death.
I will not fear, for you are ever with me, and you will never leave me to face my perils alone.”
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Natasha Fondren is a writer traveling the U.S. in a camper with her four cats. She is currently enjoying the lizards and desert heat in Arizona.
I’m liking Saint Martin. I just said the prayer to him. I’ll let you know if that works.
I don’t have lucky anything for writing. I’m Jewish, so no saints — but I’m willing to let Saint Martin change my mind.
LOL, Edie! We can conduct a scientific experiment!
(I did write 700 words first thing this morning.)
I’m pretty kitchen sink about religion.
I don’t really have lucky writing materials, but I’m pretty ritualistic when I write. I curl up on a certain corner of the couch, with a cup of tea, and my breaks are always snacking something cheesy and salty. I’d say I gain a pound for every 4 pages I write.
Tea! I love tea! You got me addicted to tea. Specifically, Japanese Cherry. Yummy.
When I first discovered that St. Francis DeSales was the patron saint of writers it felt prophetically fitting. I was baptized in a small parish called St. Francis DeSales. Just seemed like it all made sense, so when the writing bug took hold I ordered a St. Fran of DeSales medal. Each and every time I wore it I felt completely blocked. It was as if the medal scared my muse away.
I rely on no tokens, myths or voodoo any more, and forget about praying (never works for me…most likely my hard times are punishment for past mistakes). Rather I rely on my mood swings. If in the write frame of mind I’ll write. Recently I’m in the frame of blank.
Wow! That is something! Wow! But really weird about the blockage. That sorta sucks.
I hear you about mood swings. My writing productivity seems determined by hormones more than anything else. It’s like freaking clockwork!
P.S. I’ll try the prayer to St. Martin. What the hell? I’ve got nothing to lose except bad luck.
Yeah, Kath! I’m willing to try anything, LOL!
I have a collection of religious icons and artifacts in my office. It grows in odd ways: the dollar candle of patron saint of a city in mexico, prayer flags made by my son in art class. And books. I consider those religious artifacts.
That sounds like a really cool room, Betsy!
I have just added a Buddah to my altar. I miss my radioactive green Ho Tai (laughing buddah) though. Next time I hit a chinatown…
How about this site for prayers/novenas: http://www.light-a-candle.org/addprayer.shtml
They had these really cool Buddhas at Borders last year. I meant to get one, but I just didn’t.
Hm. Somewhere, I have a creative something or other that’s from India, I think. It has four arms and it’s blue (and plastic). No idea where (or what) it is though.
I do have a Buddha on my nightstand that has “kindness” taped to its butt. And I have a rock that says “Play”.
If I were going for a Saint, I’d go for Christopher because I travel a lot in my head when I write. Or Frances of Assisi (sp?) because I just love animals and for no good creative reason.
Probably damning myself in several religions with this comment.
Oh! I know what that is! She’s Kali. I know this because my character in my WIP is named Kali.
I think she’s also the goddess of writers, or something. Creation
LOL, Sarah! Like I told Edie, I’m pretty kitchen sink about religion, myself.
I’m Catholic, but I don’t pray to saints about my writing. I write/blog under a pen name (because I’m Catholic and have a day job) and don’t want to offend other Catholics (mainly my family) by my non-Catholic writings. lol.
But I think I’ve made a mistake. I should be doing “something” ritual/spiritual/ in prep, but I have not, even though I do so with almost everything else in my life. I wonder why I haven’t…
I guess I’m not Catholic anymore, not completely, but I think it’s one of those things that once a Catholic, always a Catholic.
Found A Student’s Prayer written by St. Thomas Aquinas. Paragraphs 3-6 are fitting for the writer.
Creator of all things
true source of light and wisdom,
origin of all being;
graciously let a ray of your light penetrate
the darkness of my understanding.
Take from me the double darkness
in which I have been born—
an obscurity of sin and ignorance.
Give me a keen understanding,
a retentive memory, and
the ability to grasp things
correctly and fundamentally.
Grant me the talent
of being exact in my explanations
and the ability to express myself
with thoroughness and charm.
Point out the beginning,
direct the progress,
and help in the completion.
I ask this through Christ our Lord.
Amen.
I love it, Heather! Love it! It’s perfect!
That should read paragraphs 3-5 (especially for one not religious). lol. Woke up this morning realizing I can’t count.
Me either, LOL! If you hadn’t pointed it out, I wouldn’t have noticed!
Nope. I am so pedestrian in the craft. Rabbit’s feet come from unlucky rabbits, after all.
But if I did, I’d probably choose Ganesha, the elephant god, patron of arts, destroyer of obstacles, lord of success.
I love that, Bernita! Thanks for sharing.
“Rabbit’s feet come from unlucky rabbits, after all.”
HAH! HAHAHAH! You’re right!
I think contemplative monk and writer Thomas Merton should be one of the go-to guys for writing. He’s not a saint, but he wrote this prayer that seems to fit the uncertainty of where one’s writing or one’s life may be going:
“MY LORD GOD, I have no idea where I am going. I do not see the road ahead of me. I cannot know for certain where it will end.Nor do I re ally know myself, and the fact that I think that I am following your will does not mean that I am actually doing so. But I believe that the desire to please you does in fact please you. And I hope I have that desire in all that I am doing. I hope that I will never do anything apart from that desire. And I know that if I do this you will lead me by the right road though I may know nothing about it. Therefore will I trust you always though I may seem to be lost and in the shadow of death.
I will not fear, for you are ever with me, and you will never leave me to face my perils alone.”
Perfect, Ottavina! I love it. I’m going to go to this page every day.
Well, I don’t think we should be so quick to dismiss ole Francis here. I mean, one of the meanings of “de” is “of”, which would make his the patron saint of sales.
I don’t know about you, but I could use a saint blessing the sales of my books.:D
Ha!!! That is SO true, Kate! I feel so silly, but I didn’t notice that, LOL!
Yeah, I’m thinking I should sit down with all these saints and goddesses every day!
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