Patron saints are a sacred group in the Catholic church! Saints selected as a patron are believed to impart special protection for a certain place, group of people, cause, or event. St. Patrick’s Guild wants to honor the important histories and unique stories of patron saints by featuring one each month. Our second featured saint is St. Emily, the patron saint of single women.

St. Emily, also known as St. Emily de Vialar, was born in 1797 as Anne Marguerite Adelaide Emily de Vialar, in France. Her hometown was Gaillac in Languedoc; her family was well-known in the area with noble lineage. As a young adult, she refused suitors and dedicated herself to rebuilding the spirituality of her community after the ravages of the revolution. St. Emily was charged with caring for her widowed father, but she always found time to also care for the poor and orphans.

She inherited money from a wealthy relative and purchased a large home, which was a base for her many good deeds. Other young women who shared her concern for the sick and orphaned soon joined her and they lived together, addressing charitable causes. A local priest helped them seek permission from the archbishop to wear religious habit. When that happened, the group called themselves the Sisters of St. Joseph of the Apparition. Their mission was to help the hospitalized/sick, imprisoned, the poor, and children.

Soon after establishing her congregation, St. Emily founded a hospital in Algeria. That was the first of many international missions. Her keenness for charity towards those very far away meant that her congregation was established in many parts of the world. Over 40 houses of the Sisters of St. Joseph of the Apparition were established in her lifetime. Emilie de Vialar died in 1851.

St. Emily was beatified by Pope Pius XII on 18th June, 1939, and canonized by him on 24th June, 1951. She is the patron saint of single women and neglected children. Her feast day is June 17.

At St. Patrick’s Guild, we offer a selection of Christian church supplies to fit the needs of your church along with faith-based gifts and books. Check out our selection online today, which includes our St. Emily Medal Necklace, or reach out to us personally so we can better serve you.