Every November 1, the Feast of All Saints, the Church celebrates all those who now live with God, whether or not they have a name on the calendar. It is a good time to ask why saints hold such an important place in the Catholic faith, and why so many people wear their medal close to their heart.
Feast of All Saints Altarpiece (Adoration of the Holy Trinity), Albrecht Dürer, 1511 (Wikimedia Commons, public domain)
What is a saint
For Catholics, a saint is a person who lived the Gospel exemplarily and is now in the presence of God. The Church officially recognizes some through canonization, a lengthy process in which their life and virtues are studied. But holiness is not just for a few: the Church reminds us that we are all called to it.
The communion of saints
In the Creed, Catholics pray, "I believe in the communion of saints." This means that believers, both living and deceased, form a single family united in Christ. That is why we ask saints to intercede for us, just as we ask a friend to pray for us. We do not worship them: worship is for God alone. We venerate them as examples and companions.
Patrons for every need
Over the centuries, many saints have become patrons of trades, places, or causes, often because of something in their lives. Saint Anthony is the patron saint of engaged couples and lost objects; Saint Jude Thaddeus, of difficult causes; Saint Benedict, patron of Europe. We write about them in our articles: Saint Anthony, Saint Jude Thaddeus, and Saint Benedict.
If you want to always carry one of them with you, here is our Saint Jude Thaddeus medal (his feast day is October 28) and our Saint Benedict medal, handmade in Spain.
Public domain works (Wikimedia Commons)
One Virgin, many devotions
Pilar, Carmen, Rocío, Fátima, Covadonga… They are not "different Virgins," but different devotions to the same Mary, the mother of Jesus. Each commemorates an apparition, a place, or an aspect of her figure, and that is why every region and every family has its own.
What does it mean to wear a medal
The Church calls objects such as medals, scapulars, or rosaries sacramentals. They are not amulets, nor do they work magically: they are signs that help us remember our faith and pray in our daily lives. A blessed medal is, above all, a reminder: of whom we ask for help, of the example we wish to follow, and, very often, of the person who gave it to us.
If you are looking for yours, explore our saint and Marian devotion medals, handmade in Spain, or read what a scapular is and how to wear it.