6 Saints Who Help People Achieve Goals

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Henry David Thoreau once wrote, “If you have built castles in the air, your work need not be lost; that is where they should be. Now put the foundations under them.” For the most part, those foundations are built upon our goals. Whether our goals are small and simple, large and lofty or any size in between, achieving them can help us to have one or more of our dreams come true. And even if we don’t achieve them, the mere act of striving for them can have a positive impact on our lives. Pursuing goals can enhance self-discipline, build character and, sometimes, lead us to new dreams that we might never have even imagined. It can help us to become better people.

Establishing goals for ourselves can also nurture our faith by energizing us. If we have more energy, in general, we should be able to devote more time and energy to living our faith. We just need to be sure that the goals we have set for ourselves are healthy ones that are in line with God’s will for humanity.

Once we have set healthy goals, how do we know whether or not the steps we are taking to achieve them are the best ones? For all of life’s endeavors, we need guidance. The best source of that guidance is God. Thankfully, there are many amazing saints whose kind intercession we can seek, so that we can choose the best paths possible. Here are six saints who can intercede for people who are hoping to achieve some of our most common goals.

Saint Raphael: Love and Health

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Two goals that are at the top of many people’s lists are to get healthier and to find love. And while it’s obvious that achieving either of them could bring a tremendous amount of joy to the people striving to achieve them, getting healthier and finding love could enrich their spiritual lives as well. Getting healthier could give them more strength, energy and time to help others by putting their faith into action. Finding love with single people who share their faith could motivate them to explore their faith together in new ways.

One saint whom people can turn to for help in pursuing goals is Saint Raphael, the Archangel. One of the seven archangels who stand before the throne of the Lord, his name means “God heals.” But while many miraculous cures of physical and mental ills have taken place through the powerful archangel’s intercession, he is also the patron saint of love and happy meetings, among other things.

Saint Joseph: A Good Job

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Another goal that’s important to many people is the goal of finding a good job. Whether or not they’re currently employed, finding a good job can help people to provide for themselves and their families. It could also help them by giving them more time to spend with their families. Additionally, good jobs could help people to fulfill their callings.

Not surprisingly, one of the saints whom people can turn to in their goal of finding a good job is Saint Joseph. The patron saint of the Universal Church and the patron of fathers, the husband of Blessed Mother is also the patron of workers. His constant faithfulness to God’s will and the unconditional love and protection he gave to Blessed Mother and Jesus, Our Savior, has always provided men with an excellent example of what it means to be a good husband and father. But his dedicated, hard-working, humble disposition also makes him a great role model for all workers. And many seeking gainful employment have found it through his intercession.

Saint Benedict: Holiness of Mind

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For many Christians, growing in faith is important. We are all called to live holy lives that honor God. But in The Bible, we can find confirmation of what many of us feel in our souls; we live in this world, but we are not of it. What’s considered good in this world is not always considered good to God. As such, our minds are too often vulnerable to corruption, manipulation and other attacks. If our goal is to become more holy, we could use some help in avoiding the temptations and lies of modern life. Fortunately, there’s a saint we can call upon for help with this goal.

Saint Benedict is regarded as the father of Western monasticism and is renowned for his Rule – now known as the Rule of St. Benedict – that teaches monks and nuns how to serve God in monastic communities. He is known to offer spiritual protection to help people guard against corruption and stay strong in faith. He also protects people from being poisoned.

Saint Maximilian Kolbe: Freedom From Addiction

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Another vital goal that many people have is to break free from addiction. Whether it’s an addiction to tobacco, alcohol, drugs, gambling, the internet, love or another addictive substance or activity, the road to recovery is difficult, but the rewards for people suffering from addiction and their families and loved ones are worth every challenging step. And while this goal is one that requires participation in a treatment program, knowing that God’s blessing, guidance and care will be present throughout the treatment can give people the confidence, determination and courage they need to complete the program and stay substance free.

For help in achieving this goal, people can turn to Saint Maximilian Kolbe, the saint and martyr who is the patron saint of those suffering from addiction. Born in Poland and deeply devoted to Blessed Mother since he was a child, the devout Catholic priest has been referred to as the “martyr of Auschwitz.” In 1941, while he was a prisoner in a Nazi concentration camp, he volunteered to take the place of a husband and father who had been randomly chosen to be killed. Because of the saint’s extraordinary compassion, the family man survived the concentration camp, and Saint John Paul II proclaimed that the martyr was the “Patron Saint of our Difficult Age.”

Saint Matthew: Improved Finances

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In a world that is filled with debt, it’s no surprise that the goal of improving one’s finances is a common one. And this goal isn’t always about becoming wealthy. For many people, improving their finances will help them to maintain or to find safe shelter, and doing so will help them to provide life’s necessities for themselves and their families. Achieving this goal can also give many people the opportunity to give more generously to charity and to their churches.

One saint who can intercede for people who are experiencing financial difficulties is Saint Matthew. One of the twelve Apostles of Jesus, Saint Matthew was a tax collector for the Romans. The saint, who was the author of the first Gospel, was sitting at a tax booth when Jesus called him to become one of His Apostles. Without hesitation, St. Matthew followed Him, spread Christianity and was eventually martyred.

Saint Jude Thaddeus: Hopeless Goals

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Whether people have one of the most common goals – such as improving finances, becoming healthier or finding a good job – or a unique one, many people feel that achieving their goals is a hopeless cause. They feel limited by their circumstances, the obstacles standing in their way or by lack of skills or support. But having healthy goals that seem hopeless isn’t a waste of time and energy. It just means that God’s direction and blessings for those goals is tremendously needed.

For people who are in such situations, they might want to call upon Saint Jude. One of Jesus’ original twelve Apostles, the loving saint – who was so devoted to Jesus that he embraced the crowns of purity and martyrdom – has sometimes been confused with the Apostle Judas, who betrayed Jesus. His intercession for Danny Thomas inspired the actor to build St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in his honor. Because of his many intercessions, he is known as the “patron saint of hopeless causes.”