My kids love adding decorations to their backpacks, and their most beloved backpack swag are their Tiny Saints, miniature rubber charms featuring their favorite saints.
These very cute saint charms are not just for kids, either. I love keeping Tiny Saints on key chains, especially telling people which key to use based on which Tiny Saints charm is on it: “It’s the key with St. Teresa of Avila on it! Yes, the nun!”
Tiny Saints just released their American Saints line, a collection of saints, venerable people, and servants of God who have contributed to making the United States a better and holier nation.
The list of American saints includes the following Tiny Saints charms:
- Our Lady the Immaculate Virgin, Patroness of America
- Servant of God Julia Greeley
- Servant of God Father Vincent Capodanno
- Saint Rose Philippine Duchesne
- Servant of God Nicholas Black Elk
- Venerable Pierre Toussaint
- Servant of God Mary Lange
- Saint Kateri Tekakwitha
- Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton
- Blessed Solanus Casey
- Saint Katharine Drexel
- Saint Damien Of Moloka'i
- Servant Of God Dorothy Day
- Blessed Michael McGivney
- Saint Frances Xavier Cabrini
- Venerable Fulton Sheen
We can think of so many great uses for these special little charms.
A few saintly suggestions
Your friend who works in Catholic education would get a kick out of a charm featuring St. Elizabeth Ann Seton or St. Frances Xavier Cabrini, your dad who’s a Knight of Columbus would love carrying around a Tiny Saints charm of their founder Blessed Michael McGivney, and your buddy who’s active in the Catholic Worker Movement would be delighted to have a charm of Servant of God Dorothy Day.
What about a charm featuring Servant of God Nicholas Black Elk or Saint Kateri Tekakwitha for your friend who loves the outdoors, or is of Native American heritage? How about a charm of Venerable Fulton Sheen for your friend who works in media or communications? There’s really a Tiny Saints charm for every person and every occasion.
I’ve also found these charms to be so helpful for children. My kids enjoy telling their friends about the saints on their backpacks, but even more than that, these charms help my kids to feel God’s presence.
I could see these charms being especially helpful for a child who struggles with anxiety: What a confidence boost to have this little reminder that they’re always in the presence of St. Michael the Archangel or Mama Mary or another beloved spiritual protector.
A Tiny Saints charm can calm nerves before a big day and be a reminder to pray and feel God’s presence always with us.