HEAVENLY
BRICKS

Anastasia is considered the deliverer from poisons because she miraculously cured many from such afflictions. During her life, she also ministered to imprisoned Christians until she became imprisoned herself. Anastasia refused to deny her faith, even in the face of a particularly vile pagan priest, who was blinded when he tried to lay hands on her. She miraculously survived multiple attempts to execute her, including starvation and drowning, until she was finally martyred by being staked to the ground and burned alive. Lifetime:  281 to 304 Region:  Rome; Modern Serbia Patronages:  Weavers; Widows; Poisoned people Iconograpy:  Medicine bottle; Martyr's palm Feast Day:  December 22 (Eastern); December 25 (Western)

St. Juan Diego Cuāuhtlahtoātzin was an average Aztec man until he saw the Apparition of Mary that changed two continents forever. Not much is known about his life before the vision. He was married, but his wife died. He may or may not have had a son with her. He was very devout and especially fond of the Blessed Virgin even before he saw the famous vision of her, and the Apparition itself, and especially Her miraculous image on his tilma led to the rapid conversion of a huge number of indigenous people in Central America. Lifetime:  1474 to 1578 Region:  Modern Mexico Patronages:  Indigenous people of the Americas Iconograpy:  Roses; Tilma of Our Lady of Guadalupe Feast Day:  December 9

St. James the Mutilated, also called St. James Intercisius (which is just Latin for "cut into pieces") was, as his name suggests, cut into 28 pieces as part of his martyrdom. He didn't die until his head was finally removed, and never denied his faith. His followers absconded with his relics after the king wouldn't let them have them, and eventually ended up in Portugal.   Lifetime:  ?? to 421 Region:  Persia Patronages:  Lost vocations; Torture victims Iconograpy:  Man cut into pieces; Persian attire Feast Day:  November 27

"If you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move." - Jesus to the Apostles, Matthew 17:20.  St. Gregory of Neocaesarea (also called St. Gregory the Wonder-Worker or St. Gregory Thaumaturgus) took this passage very literally. Through his prayers, and entire mountain was moved to make way for a church to be built!   Lifetime:  ~213 to ~270 Region:  Modern Turkey Patronages:  Earthquakes; Floods; Forgotten causes Iconograpy:  Bishop's attire; White hair/beard; Holding a book Feast Day:  November 17

St. Jude, one of the 12 apostles, is well-known today as the patron saint of lost causes or desperate situations. While his role in scripture is minimal and not much is known for certain about his life, tradition adds a lot of story to his life. He is the author of one of the Epistles in addition to being named in the Gospel of Luke as well as the book of Acts.   Lifetime:  1st century Region:  Galilee; Armenia Patronages:  Lost causes; Hospitals; Armenia Iconograpy:  Oar; Club; Axe; Pentecost flame Feast Day:  October 28 (Western); June 19 & 30 (Eastern)

There is some debate about whether St. Pelagia the Penitent (also known as Pelagia of Antioch or Pelagia the Harlot) was a historical person, as well as how many Pelagias there really were. At one point, she shared her October 8 feast day with two other saints also named Pelagia!   Lifetime:  ~3-400s Region:  Antioch Patronages:  Actresses; Dancers; Performers Iconograpy:  Red cloak Feast Day:  October 8

Along with Michael and Raphael , Gabriel is one of the three archangels mentioned by name in Holy Scripture. He is the only one featured in the Gospel stories, as it is Gabriel who shares the news with Mary that she will give birth to the Christ.  In the Eastern church, Gabriel gets two feast days dedicated solely to him (plus a third shared with the other angels). One of those is the day after the feast of the Annunciation.   Lifetime:  Eternity Region:  Heaven & Earth Patronages:  Communications; Messengers; Clerics; Diplomats Iconograpy:  Angel wings; Mirror reflecting X; Lilies; Trumpet Feast Day:  September 29 (with other Archangels) (Western); November 8 (with other Archangels) (Eastern); March 24 (Eastern); July 13 (Eastern) Since everything we know about Gabriel comes from the Gospel of Luke, I thought the best way to introduce him is to simply share those passages. Here Gabriel tells Zechariah that his wife is pregnant with John the Bapt...