Patron saint of procrastinators, and one who generally hurries things along.
The story of Expeditus is extraordinarily confused, and ends with the Catholic church basically admitting that this guy never lived. He starts showing up in martyrologies–big lists of martyrs–in the eighteenth century in Italy, well before 1781. Unfortunately what the martyrology said was that he was a martyr who died in Turkey a Long Time Ago. He’s represented in pictures as a young Roman soldier, though.
Add to that, his entry in the martyr list was probably some sort of scribal mistake. It’s been suggested that he was confused with St. Elpidius.
Then, in 1781 as the story goes, a group of nuns in Paris received a big box with the word “Spedito”–”Expeditus” in Latin–with the statue and relics of a saint in it. In a hilarious misunderstanding, the nuns thought that “Expeditus” was the name of the martyr within (rather than a shipping instruction), and started praying to him.
Since their prayers were answered super quickly and efficiently, he was made the patron saint of Getting Shit Done; this is more or less the Scientific Method of the Catholic church. Perhaps next week’s saint will be an example of the research process in the Catholic church. Hint: it involves visions, but no footnotes.
In any case, the cult of St. Expeditus survives until today. Wired claims him as the patron saint of hackers. He’s particularly revered in New Orleans, where a slightly different version of the same story was told: same idea, but with the relics and state being shipped to a church in New Orleans amongst a batch of other Church paraphenalia; since the state wasn’t labeled they decided “Expedite,” written on the outside, was his name.
Even better, he’s the patron saint of the Replubic of Molossia, a micronation in Nevadan desert (with a “colony” in the Mojave, near Twentynine Palms. Having been there, I am not at all surprised).
Finally, on the French island of Réunion (near Madagascar), there are red shrines devoted to the saint all over the place, as well as beheaded statues of the guy. This is what happens when you don’t answer prayers fast enough, Mister Speedy!
In the picture up top, he’s holding a cross with the word “hodie” (Latin for “today”) and stepping on a crow saying “cras” (tomorrow). Maybe this should go above my desk.
His feast day is April 19th, but you can wait until the 20th.
I am an admirer of St. Expiditus. I have a financial frustration. and I want to experience his blessing in order not to suffer needs and want. Especially for the education of my son who is right now graduating for the Nursing course at Fatima School at Valenzuela, Philippines.
Thank you St. Expiditus. and I am waiting your help to support me in my financial problems.
Amen, amen and amen.
I have the 9day novena to St. Expiditus but I haven’t started it yet. I will start tonight to experience his blessing esp now that I need financial blessings so I can buy a house and lot.
May St. Expiditus guide me to clients that are willing to have life insurance.
I thank you St. Expiditus for your intercession.
I have the 9day novena to St. Expiditus but I haven’t started it yet. I will start tonight to experience his blessing esp now that I need financial blessings so I can buy a house and lot.
May St. Expiditus guide me to clients that are willing to have life insurance.
I thank you St. Expiditus for your intercession.
note: this is my first time to write a petition letter to St. Expiditus
St Expeditus please help me. I have big financial trouble
because I have been out of work for several months. I
have a wife and 3 kids to take care of. If my wishes are
granted I promise to make a donation to the local chaarity
in your name. Amen.
St. Expiditus please help me. I beg you. I’m in financial need, my house is in foreclosure and in mayor need of remodeling. Two of my three children are in college. Help me save my home fix to live comfortable and help my kids finish college with no worries financially. I’m not looking for greedy wealth, just enough to not worry and sleep at night. AMEN. AMEN. AMEN
St. Expeditus
Thank you for discovering You. I pray for your financial blessings. Our business went down and we are not making enough money to cover our expenses. We are in urgent financial help. Please pour on us your blessings in Jesus name. I donated in your name to your shrine. I will glorify Your name if you help me now. AMEN
St. Expeditus
I’m here to ask help in my financial problem. I’m in a big trouble right now. I have several loans that I really need to pay right away. I’m worrying because they started to go to my house and asked for the payment. I’m worrying for the conditions of my parents. There both old and I don’t want them to get trouble because of me. I want to change for my parents. Please St. Expeditus help me and I promise not to borrow money again. I’ll do everything that you want me to do and I will honor and glorify you as long as I leave. please help me…please…please…
St. Expeditus
I’m here to ask help in my financial problem. I’m in a big trouble right now. I have several loans that I really need to pay right away. I’m worrying because they started to go to my house and asked for the payment. I’m worrying for the conditions of my parents. There both old and I don’t want them to get trouble because of me. I want to change for my parents. Please St. Expeditus help me and I promise not to borrow money again. I’ll do everything that you want me to do and I will honor and glorify you as long as I live. please help me…please…please…
St. Expeditus. I have to ask for your help. I have an immediate problem. I will lose my home in nine days without your help. I am sick of the entire matter. We are a family of seven and my husband works from the home. We are desperate. Please help us to be able to keep our home. It is not a house to us, but a home. I pray that you can help me as well as others in this situation. Please guide me to whatever steps are necessary to stop from losing my home. Amen.
Thank you oh wonderful St. Expedite, you have granted our needs for $15,000. I praise you and bless your name. I honor your image with Pound cake and fresh flowers, thank you for your help and blessings. I am so grateful.
Stick with us dear Expedite, our time of need is not quite at an end. If you can see fit we beg further blessings to keep our business afloat and 30 people employed.
God bless you and praise you forever.
Amen
Thank you so much St. Expeditus – you helped my son through his first hurdle in his battle for legal custody. I placed a fresh bouquet of flowers and an entire pound cake in honor of you and my gratefulness. I’m lighting another candle to you for your most gracious help in my dire financial situation. Praise be to God, thank you so much St. Expeditus.
Dear st. Expeditus, I have discovered about you few years ago when I went to an adoration chapel and was asking for a help. and I want to thank you for that. But dear st, as of now im asking for your help again, I and my family are suffering from financial problems.. We are not asking you to make us rich but we just want you to help us in order for us to pay all our debts. My parents are already old and as much as possible i want them also to enjoy life. but with the financial problems that we are experiencing right now, my mother begun to be too emotional.. thinking that we are the poorest in the family so no one would want to help us. Im worried about her and my father so please dearest st help us.
St. Expeditus,
This is the first time i know about you and when i know you , i already started praying my own petitions. help me to find a better job abroad to earn money, so that all our financial worries and obligations will be settle and also to help my family and others who are in need. I also pray for my mother’s recovery… Thank you very much St. Expeditus…. I Trust you….. I place and offer you fresh flowers….pls. help and grant us.
St.Expeditus pls help me with my petition.pls help me in my prayers.my husband was ongoin with the bar examination continuing until the end of november 2011, may he passed the bar exam & help him find a good job that will give him good salary for his family.im also praying for a good result of my exam taken last oct. 2011.pls answer my prayers st.expeditus.pls grant my prayers. thank u, i trust in you..pls help us with our financial problem.pls guide us everyday.pls protect us from dangers.pls answer my prayers.im praying that my husband with become a full pledge lawyer. a bar passer & me a civil service passer too.thank u, godbless
St. Expeditus,
Im in great financial need. please help me to pay all my obligations in order for me to start a new life, to have a new beginning. Im not asking for too much, I’m asking for enough money to pay all my obligations, please ask Jesus and Mama Mary to help me in my financial trouble. Thank you very much and I promise to let other people know you through your novena. thank you so much I trust in you. In Jesus name . Amen