Heaven Help Us: The Worrier's Guide to the Patron Saints

by Clare La Plante

Dear St. Antony
Come around
Something's lost and can't be found

It's three A.M. and you're wide awake. Worrying. You may seek solace in snacking, or in a late-night call to your best friend. The problem is, even your closest friends need to sleep, and, let's face it, the snacking only adds to the worries.

Where's a worrier to turn? To the patron saints, that's who. According to centuries-old tradition, a host of heavenly helpers is standing by, ready and eager to take a personal interest in you. Heaven Help Us shows you how to take your petitions straight to the top--to the martyrs and holy men and women who can intercede according to their particular areas of

--Is true love eluding you? Light a candle to St. Anne on a Tuesday night
--Are you suffering from a sore throat? Bake bread for St. Blaise
--Is your wallet feeling light? Donate coins to St. Expiditus

Categorized by anxiety for easy reference, and filled with lively biographies of dozens of saints as well as step-by-step instructions for performing the long-established rituals to enlist their aid, Heaven Help Us has the remedies to cure all your modern-day woes.

Genres: Religion, Reference

224 pages, Paperback

First published November 9, 1999

Reviews

[Min · Rating 4 out of 5]

I find this a charming introduction to saint adoration. It offers a balance of information, and entertainment for a topic that can be daunting to the unfamiliar. The introduction succinctly covers the Church's official position regarding saints, and a brief explanation of how saints were added into the Church's calendar.
The whimsical illustrations add a layer of joy into these brief entries, often only two pages, for each saint: their biography, prayers and common, simple, folk practices to enjoy.

Humor keeps a light mood in the book, particularly regarding the aspects of practice, and the stories of saints' lives that causes modern people to raise an eyebrow of doubt. For example, the excessive methods of martyrdom, or a common theme in stories such as virgins killed for refusal to marry.

The choice of saints for the situations of daily life elevates this book to a practical level. A bit of something for everyone to take, and find useful.
An excellent section on common Roman Catholic prayers, the Rosary, a truncated list of saint patronages-not all of whom are given their own entries in the book, and a bibliography for deeper reading, particularly the folk customs that developed around individual saints-most especially those whose stories may be fabrications, or amalgamations of several stories.
I

[Kattie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book for its informative yet light-hearted story telling. I wish it was longer and gave more categories to more saints! This book tells you who to pray to for whatever is bothering you, categorized the saints by their aid, and gives a modern telling of their stories with a touch of humor and provides how to ask for help. I turn to this book again and again and would like to thank the following for their assistance:
St. Antony (many times over)
St. James
St. Joseph
and a few more I am sure I am forgetting.
I'm really the LaPlantes wrote this book for people like me.

[Anne Marie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an interesting book about saints, with a twist. We learned a bit about certain saints, what they are known for, how to pray to them, and certain prayers you can say to them. It was like learning about the saints, how they lived long ago, but what we can do today to help with our ailments, finding a spouse, or even help with stage fright. Wish there was another book like this with different saints!

[Melissa Goetz · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not my cup of tea.

Not my personal favor of "tea" as I'm not religious in this way. But it was an interesting read to learn about the different saints and their history. Also really brought home that every religious group was at one point the group who was being persecuted by the people of other religions.

[J. · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've heard this book called "witchcraft". Big deal. It's comforting and fun. Practical advice on how to get help a little faster from the saints. My only complaint is that this book doesn't cover more saints.

[Nancy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very cute.