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Anxiety is not always a bad thing. We all feel it at some point, and it can help us to be alert in situations of danger or stress. However, when we experience anxiety excessively, it can become a disorder.
Here we present four saints who, in addition to facing this type of crisis, show us that with the help of God (and a therapist), it’s possible to deal with and hopefully overcome anxiety.
1
ST. DYMPHNA
This wonderful saint is considered the “patron saint of anxiety.” She had to run away from her father, who went insane after losing his wife. He was seeking to marry his own daughter because of the likeness she bore to her mother. She anxiously fled from him, but he eventually caught up with her and, enraged by her resistance, murdered her.
It is said that mentally ill people who visited her tomb were miraculously healed; since then, the church with her relics has been a destination of pilgrimages by people asking for her intercession. A 2022 Los Angeles Times article even indicated that she has experienced a surge in popularity among those suffering from anxiety in our post-pandemic world.
2
ST. THÉRÈSE OF THE CHILD JESUS
This great saint suffered throughout her life with scruples, which led her to suffer anxiety and depression. In addition, she was very sensitive and experienced fear and doubts about her salvation and her relationship with God.
Beyond social anxiety and anxiety about work and life choices, many of us experience the same fear as St. Thérèse of not earning heaven and not being good enough in the eyes of God.
Ask this beautiful saint to bring you a shower of roses to give you calm. She found peace through her “Little Way,” allowing her to trust in God and reach holiness.
3
ST. JOHN OF THE CROSS
This saint, named “mystical doctor” of the Catholic Church, spent long and deep “dark nights” of spiritual and emotional desolation, which he wrote about in his poem The Dark Night of the Soul. However, it was his experience of anguish which led him to have a strong union with God.
If you are facing anxiety or frustration due to a suffering in your life, St. John of the Cross can help you. He can help you understand that suffering is part of our spiritual life, which purifies our soul and deepens our relationship with God.
Thanks to his patience, St. John found a safe refuge in Christ. He can also teach us that anxiety is not magically removed magically. Instead, overcoming anxiety is a process that requires much patience and a firm trust in God.
4
ST. faustina kowalska
This saint and mystic knew very well that we should never worry about those things that lie outside of our control. We cannot control the future, nor can we change the past. Sr. Faustina wrote in her diary the following:
When I look into the future, I am frightened. But why plunge into the future? Only the present moment is precious to me, since the future may never enter my soul at all. It is no longer in my power to change, correct or add to the past, for neither sages nor prophets could do that. And so, what the past has embraced, I must entrust to God.
O, present moment, you belong to me, whole and entire. I desire to use you as best I can. And although I am weak and small, You grant me the grace of Your omnipotence. And so, trusting in Your mercy, I walk through life like a little child, offering You each day this heart burning with love for Your greater Glory.
These incredible saints can help us in our distress. Instead of despairing, we should look to their example, ask for their intercession, and — if the situation persists or seems unmanageable — seek professional medical help.
And today we celebrate...