Can Saints Stalk Us?

Jane Korvemaker contemplates the ways the saints in heaven reach out in friendship to us.

It seems weird, right? And yet when symbols or words that echo a particular saint keep showing up out of nowhere, one has to wonder why there’s a sudden downpour of signs.

This happened to my husband and me several years ago. Sometime in September, we were inundated with a flurry of experiences with what has become known as the Prayer of St. Francis. Now, I’m not saying St. Francis wrote this prayer, or making any real claims about it, but what I am saying is that there is in our modern times an association between the two. Now, this prayer kept popping up EVERYWHERE unexpectedly and we had to start asking, both to each other and in prayer, "Why is St. Francis (or at least a prayer named after him) stalking me?” It was so prevalent that my husband and I expected something either terribly tragic or euphoric to happen on or around his feast day, October 4.

Let me tell you, friends, that we were rather disappointed when nothing happened. Not on that day, not the week after, nor that month. But still, it kept showing up and haunting our steps. In truth, we became more and more cynical of it over the months: “Haha, yeah, there it is again. Too bad there wasn’t anything meaningful about it.”

Well, wasn’t it a surprise the following February to discover that we were expecting a baby! And when the dating was done via ultrasound, wouldn’t you know it, the expected due date was none other than St. Francis’ feast day, October 4.

20221004 JKorvemaker francis due date

It could be said, perhaps, that we read into these things what we want to see. Most especially because the Prayer of St. Francis was not actually written by him. To that, I’d offer that perhaps the saints in heaven can turn even such things to bring glory to God, in their name. It was, of course, Francis’ feast day that the expected due date would be. The saints are companions for us on our journey here, to offer guidance and intercession as they are able. If events such as these bring glory to God, they must have great freedom to offer their friendships to us here below!

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When symbols or words that echo a particular saint keep showing up out of nowhere, one has to wonder why there’s a sudden downpour of signs. #catholicmom

Last year Pam Spano wrote of Our Lady of Guadalupe stalking her, offering a way toward healing. It would seem I am not the only one to whom this has happened.

I have no doubt in my mind that there are some saints who are excited to be our friends and offer opportunities for friendship overtly until our eyes are opened. The question of stalking comes from our ability to make that connection; until that time, there are just a bunch of weird coincidences that incline us to think that something is up. And if we call it saints stalking us, then may we always be so blessed by them.

Have you had a saint stalk you? What happened?

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