first week, has had some blister issues while training and asked,
perhaps because she has been spending a lot of time in Ireland
recently, if there are any saints for the footsore. After many seconds
of research, I came up with the following list of saints for whom, if
you are so inclined, you could light candles to help us along our way:
o Saint Christopher -- patron saint of travellers. A 2.3m tall
Canaanite, martyred in the 3rd Century, he provided a one-man river-
crossing service (he carried travellers across on his back). Also
patron saint of bachelors, transportation, gardeners, and storms, and
his name is invoked epilepsy and toothache.
o Saint Petronilla -- patron saint of mountain travellers. French,
1st Century, said to have been the daughter of the well-travelled
Saint Peter. Also patron saint of French dauphins, and the treaties
between Popes and Frankish emperors, and for good measure her name is
invoked against fever.
o Saint Bernard of Menthon -- patron saint of Alpinists, mountain
climbers, mountaineers, skiers, mountain travellers, and the Alps in
general. Born in Savoy in 923, died 1008 (long life no doubt due to
lots of mountain hiking). He established hospices at the passes that
later came to bear his name (the Great and Little St. Bernard) from
which monks accompanied by specially bred dogs sortied to find and aid
travellers caught in storms.
...or perhaps most appositely (given the proximity of Cavaillon to our
village of Eygalières in Provence):
o Saint Veran of Cavaillon, about whom it is written: "Ordained in
540. Hermit in Vaucluse, France. Pilgrim to Rome, Italy. Bishop of
Cavaillon, France in 568. Godfather of King Theodoric II. His
miracles, which included freeing a captive dragon and miraculously
healing the foot of a nobleman, which had withered after the nobleman
had kicked Verano for not delaying Mass as requested, are mentioned by
Saint Gregory of Tours."
