Today’s world can be exciting, daunting, and a little bit scary for young men and women. From suddenly having to make adult decisions, to trying to forge a future with pressures of a new career, it’s not always easy.
So to give any young graduates the ability to face these challenges with faith and courage in their hearts, encourage them to look to these inspirational saints for guidance.
St. Augustine — To resist temptations
One of the trickiest things to contend with as a graduate is being able to say “no” to all of the world’s temptations. From easy credit to having a glass of wine too many, look to the saint who completely turned his life around to serve God.
St. Cajetan — To find a job
Stepping out onto the job market can cause a lot of anxiety. Whether it’s trying to find the right job, or making sure you succeed in the application process, it can be disheartening if you face lots of rejection. So look to this patron saint of jobseekers and unemployment for a spiritual boost.
St. Joan of Arc — To fight for what’s right
Life is full of many battles, but it’s important to know which ones are really worth fighting. While the Church is full of holy men and women who have stood up for their faith, there’s something pretty mind-blowing about this young French saint who led an army to war for her country because God instructed her to do so.
St. Joseph — To have a good work ethic
Well, Christ’s earthly father is a go-to saint for everybody, but it’s important for graduates to consider all his virtues and how he used them to do good. As a carpenter, Joseph put his hands to good use in order to provide for his family. It’s important for youngsters to remember what an honor it is to have a job, and that it should be done properly and with consideration.
There are a number of other hard-working saints, such as St. Isidore the Farmer, who also make fine examples of working without complaint, and in the name of God the Father.
Bl. Pier Giorgio Frassati — To balance work and play
While of course it’s important to work hard, it’s also crucial that young people take time to appreciate everything in their lives. Pier Giorgio was particularly capable of devoting his life to his faith, his work, his family, enjoying the culture of his home country, and also playing pranks on his friends. He’s the perfect saint to teach youngsters how to truly have it all.
St. Matthew the Apostle — To make sound financial decisions
Trying to make wise financial decisions isn’t always easy, even for those with decades of experience. But who better to turn to than an apostle and former tax collector when it comes to being money-wise? Not only can you pray to him in times of financial hardship, he’s also be the logical saint to turn to when you’re pulling your hair out doing those tax returns!
St. Anne — To find love
Finding true love is one of life’s biggest challenges. So this is when we have to look to age and wisdom for a little helping hand. In real life we often turn to a loving grandparent to set us on the right path; in our spiritual life we can look to Christ’s maternal grandmother, Anne. She certainly did a great job finding the perfect match for her daughter, Mary, so no doubt she’d be a wonderful option for any young adults searching for “the one.”
St. Francis of Assisi — To do God’s work
With all the distractions life has to offer, it’s easy for young adults to lose focus on their faith. But if they look to the example of Francis who gave up his worldly goods to devote his life to rebuilding the Church, they’ll get their priorities right.
And today we celebrate...