Steve Williamson
wrote:
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Hi guys,
- Who is the Patron Saint of Miners?
- Do you know of a Miner's Prayer for Miners?
As you might have guessed, I am a miner. I'm also Safety Representative
for my crew and I am trying a different approach to safety
in November.
Looking forward to here from you.
Thanks!
Steve
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Who is the Patron Saint of Miners and do you know of a Miner's Prayer for Miners? }
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Richard replied:
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Hi, Steve —
There are several patrons of mining, listed at CatholicSaints.Info
St. Barbara is perhaps the most prominent patron of miners, but some particular
types of miners have additional saints, too:
— Richard Chonak
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Mike replied:
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Hi Steve!
Thanks for the question.
I did a brief search and, to my surprise, did find a miner's prayer.
You can probably modify it and give it more of a Catholic
twist if you wish.
O Lord after I have worked my last day and come out of
the earth and have placed my feet on Thy footstool; let me use the tools
of prudence, faith, hope, and charity.
From now until the day I sign my
last pay roll, make all the cables in the machinery strong with Thy love.
Supply all the gangways, slopes, and chambers with the pure air of Thy
grace and let the light of hope be my guidance, and when my last picking
and shoveling is done, may my last car be full of Thy grace and give
me thy Holy Bible for my last shift, so that Thou, the General Superintendent
of all the collieries can say:
"Well done, thou good, faithful miner
come and sign the pay roll and receive the check of eternal happiness."
Amen.
Copyright, 1904, C. ERB, York, PA |
Hope this helps,
Mike
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Terry replied:
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Hi Steve,
There are two Patron Saints of Miners.
St. Anne — biography
As the Mother of Blessed Virgin Mary, the devotion to St
Anne as the patron of miners arises from the mediaeval comparison between
the Virgin Mary and Christ and precious metals - silver and gold. Anne's
womb was considered the source from which these precious metals were
mined.
St. Barbara — biography
Again a mediaeval background was confirmed by Pope Pius X11
in 1951 when he wrote that St Barbara was the patron of:
- Italian Marines,
- Military Engineers and
- Fireman
He went on to comment Barbara had
been the patron of gunners since 16th century following a tradition
of her father being struck down by fire descending from heaven. it
was the suddenness of this event which caused Barbara to be invoked
against disasters such as sudden disasters in mining.
Kind regards,
Terry
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