In 2016, I wrote a blog post about saints to invoke when you’re tired of Trump. I’m overdue for another post on the same theme. Here are my favorite saints to invoke in light of today’s headlines.

St. Gertrude of Nivelles, pray for us

Gertrude was born to a noble and politically connected family in Belgium in the 7th century. Legends about her explain that she rejected a politically advantageous marriage. When her father died, Gertrude’s mother founded a monastery so that she and her daughter could live safely without the requirements of (re)marriage. When Gertrude’s mother died, Gertrude assumed the leadership of the monastery. Hagiographers describe her as intelligent and devoted to the marginalized, especially orphans, widows, and migrants. Later hagiographers describe Gertrude as a holy cat lady. Some scholars attribute this symbolism to veneration of Gertrude during the Black Plague centuries after her death, when cats had an important public health function by protecting against rats and mice. Recent commentators explain that cats are “known for being resolutely independent, constantly contrary, frequently lonerish, and prone to mysterious habits,” all of which also describe St. Gertrude in her day. It is these same character traits, however, that make childless cat ladies today threatening to the patriarchy and its defenders, including JD Vance and the architects of Project 2025.

St. Mary Magdalene, pray for us

Mary Magdalene was an early follower of Jesus and is revered as apostle to the apostles because she is the first in the gospels to report that the tomb is empty (John 20:18). The history of artistic renderings of Mary Magdalene tell a different story, however, as artists through the centuries have often depicted her in overly sexualized positions. Homilists centuries after her life described her as a repentant prostitute and her legacy became less about her public witness than about her (supposed) sexualized past. This tendency to see strong women as a threat to men’s power remains in contemporary politics, and is already shaping the way that Trump and his supporters describe Kamala Harris as a “DEI hire.” Mary Magdalene’s true story is one of fidelity to the mission of Jesus, a mission that depended on the support of strong women who were unafraid to testify about what they had seen and heard. Her legacy today can shape the way that Catholics talk about women’s preaching and public leadership. When political talking points invoke racist and sexist tropes, countering with a prayer to Mary Magdalene can give us courage to resist such dehumanizing rhetoric.

St. Phoebe, pray for us

Another saint that models public leadership is Phoebe, the diakonos (16:1), whom Paul described as sister, deacon/minister, and benefactor. Florence Gillman, Christine Schenk, and Karen Jo Torjesen explain that leadership roles for women in the early church included wide-ranging tasks (direct ministry to orphans and widows, prayers and blessings, hosting prayer gatherings, organizing missions, and more). In the ministries of Jesus and Paul, a radical egalitarianism was present. Women held important positions and collaborated with male leaders. Gradually, church leaders began to reject this radical egalitarianism so they could align with the gender roles widely accepted in Roman society. Phoebe’s legacy is a reminder that gender equity and collaboration are indeed part of Christian history and tradition, even when we fail to live up to those values in church and society today.

St. Denis of Paris, pray for us

If following the news these days leaves you prone to headaches, perhaps prayers to Saint Denis are in order. According to legends, Denis was sent from Rome to present day Paris in about 250 with the goal of expanding the influence of Christianity. Denis was martyred during the persecutions ordered by Roman emperor Decius because he refused to comply with the emperor’s order to recant. Hagiographies explain that Denis was decapitated, picked up his head, and continued to deliver a sermon about repentance while walking several miles until he arrived at his preferred burial plot. This explains why artists have rendered St. Denis holding his head. In our own context, the legacy of St. Denis invites reflection on the distinction between the law and morality, much like the sermons of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King before his assassination in 1968. St. Denis is invoked against diabolical possession and headaches, so if you feel like your head is exploding when you watch a Trump rally, consider invoking St. Denis.