NEW ORLEANS (WGNO) – As New Orleanians head to cemeteries across town to pay respect to loved ones this All Saints’ Day, we are taking a look at five Catholic Saints associated with the New Orleans area.
Catholic traditions are deeply ingrained in the culture of New Orleans.
Here are the backstories of five Saints with connections to the Crescent City from catholic.org’s Saints & Angels section:
St. Joan of Arc – The “Maid of Orléans” holds a special place of honor in New Orleans, with a beautiful statue on Decatur Street in the French Quarter. Joan of Arc is the patron saint of soldiers and France. Her feast day is celebrated each year on May 30.
St. Louis King of France – From schools to the city’s historic landmark cathedral, St. Louis’ name graces many locations across New Orleans. St. Louis died in 1270 while on a crusade. His feast day is August 25.
St. Frances Xavier Cabrini – The patron of immigrants was born in Italy in 1850, eventually making her way to America in 1889 to work with Italian immigrants. The first American citizen to be canonized, St. Frances Xavier Cabrini’s feast day is celebrated on November 13.
St. Bernard – The patron saint of colonial Louisiana governor Bernardo de Galvez, St. Bernard was a highly educated abbot who is credited with many miracles. He died in 1153, and his feast day is August 20.
St. Pope John Paul II – The most popular pope of the 20th century, John Paul II visited New Orleans in 1987, celebrating mass near Lake Pontchartrain behind the UNO Lakefront Arena, holding a rally in the Superdome, and parading through the French Quarter. Many locals still fondly remember the visit. Canonized in 2014, St. Pope John Paul II’s feast day is October 22.
Who makes your list of literal New Orleans Saints?