Some time ago "Ask Liesl" received a query regarding St. Chrysogonus, an unfamiliar saint whose name was rattled off in a Christmas litany. Perhaps it is the fact that I have a new godson, but St. Chrysogonus raises the vital importance of names and how they can shape a child's destiny.

Exhibit A: By giving their child the very serious moniker of Chrysogonus, these parents set their son's feet upon an high and sober path. Yea, verily, verily. Upon this path little Chrysogonus toddled diligently. First, he founded a church in Rome, upon which site a basilica still stands. Then, if the passio of St. Anastasia is to be trusted, Chrysogonus had a flourishing epistolary career, writing letters of encouragement to up-and-coming saints.

Given this beginning, the sixth-century conflation of Chrysogonus of Rome with a Chrysogonus of Aquileia (martyred under Diocletian) makes perfect sense.

Little Chrysogonus of Rome was probably beaten to a pulp on a regular basis on Roman playgrounds to cries of "Cretanus Chrysogonus!" "Morologus Chrysogonus!" (Translation: "Chrysogonus is a Cretan!" "Chrysogonus is a dumb-dumb!")

On an entirely different note, a request came in for the patron saint of knitters. I'm afraid I'm going to have to offer this one up to the larger hagiographic community. For, although I can find patron saints of embroiderers, lace makers, weavers, and clothmakers I can find nothing specific to knitters. As there are patron saints for everyone from anglers to alpinists, and from paratroopers to pawn brokers, the lack of representation for knitters shocks me. (If it makes you feel any better, quilters do not have patronage either.) So, for all the knitters out there, I'm going to give information on the other "thread" related saints and let you choose your own saintly representation.

Embroiderers:

Clare of Assisi, late 12th -13th centuries
August 11

If memory serves me correctly, there was a movie made several years ago upon the relationship between Clare and Francis of Assisi, staring Helena Bonham Carter as Clare and Mickey Rourke (yes, the Mickey Rourke of 9½ Weeks) as St. Francis. Perhaps the less said the better. As regards the real saint, moved by Francis' preaching and his burden for the poor, the noble-born Clare sought to follow in his footsteps. According to legend, Francis himself cut Clare's hair and bestowed upon her the Franciscan habit.

Unfortunately, rather than being able to follow her vocation and serve the poor actively, Clare was forced (because she was a woman) to pursue her vocation as best she could within the confines of the cloister. She founded the Franciscan order of the Poor Clares and led the community until ill health forced her to resign. Like their founder, the Poor Clares observed a rule of absolute poverty.

Aside from the fact that Clare was a remarkable woman, as patron saint she offers an added bonus: she is also the patron saint of the blind, so if you suffer from eyestrain because of your knitting, you're covered.

Louis IX - 13th century (also the patron saint of haberdashers, and the archdiocese of St. Louis Missouri.)
August 25

For the life of me, I cannot figure out how Louis Capet is related to embroiderers. The connection seems tenuous, if not backwards, as Louis at one point avoided garbing himself royally, wore simple clothing, and even became a Franciscan tertiary. Such actions would seem to put embroiderers and needleworkers out of business rather than patronizing them. However, as the attribution of holiness to kings and rulers is generally lost upon me, I cannot say that I have worked terribly hard to figure out the connection.

Rose of Lima - late 16th - early17th century (also, quite appropriately, the patron saint of florists)
August 23

The Peruvian St. Rose (a very RC saint) has two claims to fame. First of all, she was the first American to the canonized, and secondly, she was the recipient of "invisible stigmata." Very tricky. It may well be that her purportedly extraordinary beauty is the reason for her association with beautiful arts like embroidery. Alternately, it could be that the stigmata Rose endured- an experience with which all needleworkers can relate on some level - establishes her kinship with embroiderers.

Lace makers:

Anne, the mother of Mary (also the patron of seamstresses)
July 26

There are two sources for the life of St. Anne. The first is the apocryphal Protoevangelium Jacobi (or the apocryphal Book of James), and the second is the good old Legenda aurea compiled by Jacobus de Voragine. Despite extremely scatty evidence, highly creative departures from Judaic law, and bad theology, the cult arising from these works gained increasing popularity over the course of the Middle Ages, until Anne was officially canonized by Pope Gregory XIII.

Frances of Assisi - he, of the backyard statuaries, second only to pink flamingos and the BVM.
October 4

Actually, plastic St. Francises may outnumber plastic Marys, but I don't know the precise statistics on this. That would make an interesting ethno-religio-sociological study for some reader out there with way too much time on hand. The aforementioned indolent reader could go about the country, producing a map that divides the U.S. up by Francises, Marys, and pink flamingos. I'd buy one. A map that is, not a Francis, Mary, or flamingo.

Frivolity aside, all the Franciscan orders claim Francis of Assisi as their founder. Though a remarkable man himself, within a mere two generations of Francis' life and death, these orders were in large part corrupt, and the saint's passionate concern for the poor debased by those who bore his name. (A strangely familiar story.) As regards his patronage of lacemakers, the most applicable aspect of Francis' life may well be his experience of stigmata. Unlike Rose of Lima, Francis' stigmata were very visible.

More about his life can be found online.

Luke, the Evangelist
October 18

Although a variety of (unsubstantiated) extracurricular activities have been attributed to Luke, lacemaking is not, to the best of my knowledge, among them. Luke's iconography usually includes a winged ox (signifying his gospel's emphasis on the Atonement), doctors' garb, books and scrolls, and sometimes painting accoutrements, but no stuff for lacemaking. The learned physician/writer of Luke-Acts was not a closet thread man. Perhaps his patronage comes in the healing of frayed tempers and stuck fingers.

Weavers:

Anastasia, 3rd -early 4th centuries (also patron of widows)
December 25

This is the same Anastasia to whom Chrysogonus, according to legend, wrote letters of encouragement. Her death is the only thing that we know for certain. She is variously celebrated for her liberal use of her parent's wealth, her scorn for her pagan husband's patrimony, her care for other imprisoned Christians, and finally her own imprisonment and martyrdom. It's all pretty dicey, though. I'd look elsewhere for patronage.

Paul, the hermit, 3rd - 4th centuries
January 15

Here, the connection between saint and patronage is easy to figure out. The uppercrust and well learned Paul sought the eremitic life and eschewed not only meat and bread, but clothing as well. He went naked or wore leaves. The man needed weavers. Desperately. His life was written up by St. Jerome, if you want details of how lions dug Paul's grave when he died and St. Anthony buried him.

Here is more information about Paul

Maurice, 3rd century (also the patron of alpine troops, Austria, swordsmiths, and Sardinia, among other things - busy, busy saint)
September 22

There are at least three different versions of the legend of St. Maurice, or Mauritius. He was one of the officers of the Theban legion which was martyred, in its entirety, under Maximian. Legend relates that Maximian, eager for a victory against some uppity Gauls, required the army to sacrifice to the gods and thereby canvas divine support for the attack. When the Christian Theban legion refused, "fluxerunt pretiosi sanguinis rivi" ("there flowed rivers of precious blood"). Maurice certainly makes a dramatic choice for patron saint, but I don't know whether knitters want a patron so associated with profuse blood flow.

For more on Maurice look here.

That will at least get you started. Next time, patron saints for worn-out new parents and for victory-challenged sports teams like, oh say, the Red Sox.