catholic saint medals

My grandmother gave me several medals from her time. Most of them have a flower on them. At first I thought it was for pretty decoration, but I wonder if there is a spiritual symbol to it? I don't know what kind of flower, not a rose, they have a circle center and petals.

Also can you help me identify the name on one medal? It's a pin pendant. It has the flower on the back then the picture is of a female saint who looks like she's wearing a nun veil. The writing on it is hard to read but this is what I can make out:
"S. Franc XAV Cabin"

Thanks for help with these questions.

I think that the flowers are purely ornamental. I haven't been able to find anywhere where it explains why there is a flower on the back of some of them.
SAINT FRANCES XAVIER CABRINI VIRGIN, FOUNDRESS—1850-1917
Feast: November 13
As saint of our own time and as the first United States citizen to be elevated to sainthood, Mother Cabrini has a double claim on our interest. Foundress of the Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart and pioneer worker for the welfare of dispersed Italian nationals, this diminutive nun was responsible for the establishment of nearly seventy orphanages, schools, and hospitals, scattered over eight countries in Europe, North, South, and Central America. Still living are pupils, colleagues, and friends who remember Mother Cabrini vividly; her spirit continues to inspire the nuns who received their training at her hands. Since the record remains fresh in memory, and since the saint's letters and diaries have been carefully preserved, we have more authentic information about her, especially of the formative years, than we have concerning any other saint.

2008-09-08 11:29:39 by ♥shelter puppies rule♥

www.rosaryparts.com offers these Patron Saint Medals for Catholics. There are over 100 different medals to chose from including St. Christopher ...

Any Catholics here? My mom is Catholic, and gave me a couple of her saint medals (St. Christopher and St. Anthony) after my apartment was robbed and all my jewelry was taken. I have worn them a couple of times, but wear them for looks mostly because I'm not Catholic and don't pray to saints. I'm Presbyterian, though lately when I go to church, I go with my mom (to a Catholic church). I'm trying to decide if Catholicism is right for me.

So is it ok to wear saint medals, or pray to the saints? I went to Catholic school and remember learning a prayer to St. Anthony, but forget how it goes. My mom says you don't need to say a specific prayer, and swears by her St. Anthony medal to find lost stuff. I wouldn't say I don't believe in saints; Catholicism is so different than what the Presbyterian Church teaches, that I'm still trying to sort out how I feel about the various beliefs. I like my medals, but don't want to do anything sac-religious. Is there a rule on this?

Wearing a medal of a saint is okay as long as you do not worship the saint and, of course, Catholics do not worship saints.

Catholics share the belief in the Communion of Saints with many other Christians, including the Eastern Orthodox, Anglican, Episcopal, and Methodist Churches.

The Communion of Saints is the belief where all saints are intimately related in the Body of Christ, a family. When you die and go to heaven, you do not leave this family.

Everyone in heaven or on their way to heaven are saints, you, me, my deceased grandmother, Mary the mother of Jesus, Mother Teresa and Pope John Paul II.

As part of this family, you may ask your family and friends living here on earth to pray for you. Or, you may also ask the Blessed Virgin Mary, Saint Andrew, or your deceased grandmother living in heaven to pray for you.

Prayer to saints in heaven is simple communication, not worship.

And prayer to the saints is optional not required.

With love in Christ.

2007-06-21 18:34:23 by partlysunny

Many popular saints available
You may choose from our list of available saints upon ordering
Set contains full color holy card with matching medal in case

I often wear mine to work without thinking about it. My mom gave me two of her's. I don't have much jewelry because I lost it in an apartment robbery, and I haven't had much money to spend on jewelry. I like my medals; they're inspirational to me, even not being Catholic (she's Catholic, I'm thinking of becoming Catholic).

I thought that since I work for a state business, and have some interaction with the public, it would be a bad idea to wear them. You can't even really tell what they are, though. My boss gave me a compliment on my St. Jude medal the other day. I just said thank you because I didn't want to tell anything about it at work. My other boss, the department head, wears cross necklaces, so I assume it's ok. I also don't wear them on a routine basis. Most of the time, I don't wear a necklace. If you're Catholic, do you wear your medals to work?
I know it seems silly to even have to worry about it, but I heard about a teacher being sent home because she wouldn't remove her cross. I guess an atheist complained. So silly. We should be able to express our religion, within reason.

Yes, I am a Catholic and I wear St Medals. My grandmother gave me a St Mary when I was little and I still wear it (from Italy). My husband wears his St Christopher when he travels (patron St of travelers) and I even gave my brother-in-law (a Non-Catholic) a St Michael (he is a police officier) and he wears that to work too. Nothing wrong with having Saints look after you and ask for their prayers. I also work for a state agency. I don't wear them to offend anyone, but you know, if they are, that's their problem. People understand, and if your boss wears a cross, he may understand more than you think! Proud to be Catholic.

2008-02-11 17:52:53 by Lia

Price: $1.99

want to buy my niece a saint medal for her birthday cant find the saints name!

Usually, the patron is the saint of the same name, and there are thousands in the Canon. But I don't know of a St. Aubriel ...

What I might suggest is that you tell her that since you couldn't find a St. Aubriel, she'll have to be the first one :)

Also, for my classes, when a student who's name isn't "Saintly" yet graduates, I get that person a Trinity Cross. There are lots of styles, but they all have a symbol of the Father in the upper arm, Son and Spirit symbols in the side arms, and usually a Eucharistic symbol in the lower arm. You could have the name "Aubriel" engraved on the back of something like that ...

Secondly, rather than a patron of her NAME, you might find a patron of her INTERESTS. For example, Christopher is the saint of sportsmen(women) and travelers, Thomas is the patron of writers, Francis of animal lovers, and so on.

2006-02-16 16:43:47 by beattitudes2004

You know, some of them give statues of their saints, medals with their saints´ pictures and such things to other people.

I just reject it. For 2 reasons:

a) I´m not catholic. Then, I don´t need catholic things near me. It´s only rational.

b) Catholic people don´t like LGBT things at all. Then, I´m not obliged to get catholic things either. It´s only fair.

What do you think about that?

well i understand were your coming from, but i have to disagree with you on b). im catholic and so is my mom but we aren't against the LGBT. only the book of lies, the bible, does. the bible says many things that even the priest disagree with. its all been rewritten by people who ''think'' there with god. if they didn't like something they changed it.

2008-12-07 19:56:46 by Leo Carioca