Patron saints announced for WYD 2011 in Madrid

Madrid, Spain, May 4, 2010 (EWTN News/CNA)

The organizers for World Youth Day 2011 have released the list of the patron saints for the event, which “encompasses the history of the Church in Spain, from the first saints of Madrid.”

According to a press release, “The Holy See has confirmed the proposal of the patron saints for World Youth Day (WYD):
St. Isidore,
St. John of the Cross,
St. Maria de la Cabeza,
St. John of Avila,
St. Teresa of Avila,
St. Rose of Lima,
St. Ignatius of Loyola,
St. Rafael Arnaiz and
St. Francis Xavier.”

“The list of the patrons encompasses the history of the Church in Spain,
from the first saints of Madrid (St. Isidore and St. Maria),
through the founders of the Discalced Carmelites and the Society of Jesus (St. Teresa and St. Ignatius),
a great missionary to the East (St. Francis Xavier),
the summit of mystic literature (St. John of the Cross),
the force behind diocesan priestly spirituality (St. John of Avila),
the first saint of Hispanic America (St. Rose of Lima),
and a young person from our times (St. Rafael Arnaiz), who was recently canonized,” the statement said.