This morning's front-page Wall St. Journal story brings us news of St. Expeditus, revered by working-class Brazilians but almost unknown to the rest of the world.
From Matt Moffett's sparkling article:
When her husband's business got hammered in a brutal economic downturn last year, Maria Aparecida Ferreira Pichirilo took desperate action: She prayed to St. Expeditus, considered by many to be the patron saint of urgent causes.In no time, she got a phone call. An import shop needed a salesperson to start right away. "Getting a job in Brazil these days almost qualifies as a miracle," Mrs. Pichirilo says.
Typically, these days, worshipers at the St. Expeditus Chapel's Sunday mass overflow onto the street of the working-class Jacana neighborhood.
St. Expeditus, a previously obscure figure in Roman Catholic tradition, has emerged as the object of cult-like devotion for a growing number of Brazilians.
All over Brazil - which has 125 million Catholics, more than any other country in the world - holy cards, billboards, makeshift altars and internet sites display depictions of the saint: a soldier holding a cross with the Latin word hodie, which means "today," while stepping on a raven, inscribed with the word cras, which means "tomorrow."
Church officials expect 200,000 people to attend ceremonies in Sao Paulo marking his April 19 feast day, more than 10 times the turnout from eight years ago.
A life of Expeditus is the best-seller among saints' biographies offered by religious publishers in Brazil.
Two radio call-in programs are devoted to petitions by Expeditus's adherents. The saint's army of professed followers includes a veejay for Brazilian MTV, a professional soccer player, a supermodel, and several politicians.
The dozens of petitions deposited daily in a wicker basket on the altar of the St. Expeditus Chapel offer a litany of economic distress.
The Rev. Luis Andrade Meirelles says of the pleas for financial relief directed at St. Expeditus, "I think some people are confusing the saint with an automatic teller machine."
Sidinei Camarelli, a 45-year-old handyman, says he'll never miss another Mass if St. Expeditus helps him get financing for a new pick-up truck.
"I need that truck for work," he says. "May the saint guide the bank's decision."
Article comments
1 - Nyx
I thought St. Expeditus was a joke, a mistake. He was revered in New Orleans at one time. There was a statue sent to a church of a saint. No one recoginzed the saint, there was no name.
But on the outside of the box it said "expedite". So that's how he became a saint.
St. Expedite. And here.
2 - Bill O
Weeks prior to the WSJ article my wife and I were in Lisbon. In a church there we found a statue to Saint Expedito, (note the spelling variation). He is extremely popular with the parishioners there, and the candles and prayers being offered were extraordinary.
We obtain some prayer cards and a few statues in Lisbon. We also realized the need for people to go to a place and hear more about this marvelous Saint. Thus, I obtained the rights to www.stexpedito.com and saintexpedito.com and once the WSJ article noted the Saint as Expeditus, we added those spelling variations. So once I can finish some research, and obtain a supply of card, statues and medallions, I'll get the Saint Expedio web site up and running.
3 - anna
SAINT EXPEDITE,
NOBLE ROMAN YOUTH, MARTYR,
YOU WHO QUICKLY BRINGS TO PASS
YOU WHO NEVER DELAYS
I COME TO YOU IN NEED--
(STATE YOUR PETITION)
DO THIS FOR ME, SAINT EXPEDITE,
AND WHEN IT IS ACCOMPLISHED,
I WILL AS RAPIDLY REPLY FOR MY PART
WITH AN OFFERING TO YOU.
STATE YOUR VOW
BE QUICK, SAINT EXPEDITE!
4 - Ben Ruber
Heilige Expeditus, het is nooit gehoord dat u mensen die een beroep op u deden in de steek hebt gelaten.U hebt ongelooflijk veel krediet bij Onze Lieve Heer. groetjes Ben Ruber
5 - diana
If anyone has a praying card with a picture of st expeditus please kind and mail me one or e-mail it to me
6 - nana olivas
Thank you so much St. Expedite, I have been blessed with 2 tiny jobs of 3 hours a day. I'm letting the world know that when you answered this prayer for me i place inside the cathloic church beside the virgen lupe in a white vase with fresh flowers with your kind picture of yourself.
7 - OV
St. Expedite, I thank you for sending the fund so quickly. I received $400 more than I originally expected. I can't thank you enough for this blessing. May all of my other requests manifest just as quickly. Thank you!!
8 - Orlando Souza
Thank you Saint Expedit, for help me so many times, since I was live in Brazil, you help go through Europe for competition in world cup, thank you for help get in USA, get my VISA, and now my Saint Expedit I asking you again to help in my situation this weekend...
Thank you Saint Expedit I will be with you next April 19 2009 with my event
In Saint Expedit name Thank you
Orlando
9 - Philip
It has taken a while for me to write this tribute to St. Expedite, and for this, I humbly apologize to him. He came through for me in an extremely needy time. My online business took a sharp downturn this summer. I needed customers to my business when only one or two would show up each day, and after a few prayers, I began to see a noticeable recovery in sales. I will continue to pray to him until I have become financially solvent.
10 - Philip
St. Expedite, thank you!
11 - Orlando Souza
Thank you Saint Expedit for everything you did for me and yours.. I also waiting on YOU next december 19 2008 for you to grant my petition I will promisse circulate your name, public the prayer, print 1000 flyers of Saint Expedit with novena, Go to the church pray for saint Expedit in day 19 each month and April 2009 i will promote the Road Race Saint Expedit Day
Thank you Saint EXPEDIT
12 - ronin, s.d.
Saint Expedite,
I ask for forgiveness for not giving Your due;
Please forgive my ignorance, this Work to me is new;
Grant me Your Blessings and Forgiveness, and I promise to always follow through;
Forgive me, grant me Your Grace, and I shall forever remain true.
Yea & Amen
Yea & Amen
Yea & Amen
Yea & Amen
13 - Christopher Rose
1. Is there a patron saint of bad poetry?
2. Is negotiating with saints allowed?
14 - Dr Dreadful
Is negotiating with saints allowed?
Of course it is. Catholics do it all the time.
15 - mansi
Thank you Dearest St Expedite,Your works are amazing,you have always granted my petitions.....I thank you from the bottom of my heart.
The only problem is that I cane find your statue in Delhi,India.......
But I will place fresh flowers in your honour in the Church.....
Thank you once again....St.Expedite.
Jesus Never fails..
16 - Heraldo
Thank you St.Expedite for your assistance in my personal matter. May your name be praised by the angels in heaven. Again I thank you for what you have done for me and may God bless you always.
17 - jyne
thank you saint expiditus, i promise you i will propagate this devotion to you, by sending out prayers to you.
june 28 -2009
18 - AF
My dear Saint Expedite,
Thank you so much for helping me sell the car so quickly in such a wonderful way.
I have made the move, and please help me with the next step as quickly as possible, despite my stubborn behavior! I do have a mission to fulfill for the next three years and need to start on my personal career development ASAP!
Thanks again for all your help, love and support!
With gratitude,
AF
19 - Renee
My dear St Expedite, I asked for a favour a while ago. I did not pay my dues because I was of the opinion that you did not hear me or answer my and for that I humbly apologize. Saint Expedite, you have helped me before and for that I will be forever thankful, becuase of you I now have a job that I love. Thank wonderful St Expedite
20 - Renee
My dear St Expedite, thank you so much for the movement I can see since I started praying to you yesterday morning. I knwo that I will get the full amount I asked for, thank you for the oppertunity that presented itself that enabled me to the necessary from my side.
Thank you St Expedite!
21 - LISA
Thank you St. Expedite for once again answering my prayer w/immediate activity and answering my prayer quickly! I thank you for accepting my apology and helping me once again. I will offer flowers and publish prayer and thanks to let your name be known.
22 - norma
I would like to thank St. Expedite for heling us. My husband had been out of work since Dec. 08 & he just got a job. He will be making LOTS less than he was but IT'S A JOB. We are so thankful to him for it.
Thank you, Thank you, Thank you. St. Expedite for interceeding for us.
23 - Thuong
My husband was laid off his job and I prayed to Saint Expedite. Only five days later he went and got two interviews in the same day. I want to say thanks Saint Expedite tomorrow I will be getting you your pound cake.
24 - Boeye Martyn, singapore.
My most dearest and blessed Saint Expedite, i thank you from the bottom of my heart for answering my prayers and for the prayers that will be answered. With most fervent gratitude, i promise to be ever mindful of this great favour. And to always honour you as my most special and powerful patron, and to gratefully encourage devotion to you. I place all my believe, confidence, faith, hope and trust in you, for i know the prayers of the world will be answered through the intercession of your most Divine Mercy. I continue to pray in your name and learn to forgive others. I Love You, I Praise You, and I Thank You. I shall follow you everyday of my life. Thank you Saint Expedite.