Finals week is, without a doubt, the most stressful time for students. One little exam can make your break your grade for an entire semester. Between studying your bahookie off for various tests and writing 20,000 pages of papers, we all search for ways to help us de-stress and relieve a lot of the pressure put on us.
We look for physical help, like drinking coffee to literally jump-start our bodies with caffeine and sugar, so we can “eye of the tiger” and soldier on through the pain. An easy way to stay focused is to go for a run before locking yourself in the library.
Creating a study playlist can help you feel motivated to keep studying long into the night. I want to suggest another way to get through the physical and emotional difficulties of finals. I suggest you pray to some saints for help.
When it comes to finals, we all need all the help we can get. Offer up a little prayer to one of these saints and get the saints all the heavenly choirs of angels on your side.
1. St. Thomas Aquinas – Patron Saint of Students
St. Thomas Aquinas is a baller saint to pray to during finals week. Not only is he the Patron Saint of All Students, but St. Thomas was one of the most prolific doctors in the church. He should be considered on the level of Einstein and Newton because this guy was a certified hot fudged genius.
He tried to burn a book he wrote because he thought it was garbage, but freaking angels came down and saved it from the flames. That book later became one of the best theological works of the Catholic Church. Next time you are doubting your resolve to make it through finals week or really want to burn your textbook, send a prayer his way asking for help to stay strong as a student.
2. St. Expedite – Emergency Situations and Solutions Against Procrastination
St. Expedite is the Patron Saint against procrastination which means he knows how to help when 8 hours of work needs to be done 30 minutes instead of 30 minutes of work turning into 8 hours. St. Expedite was a Roman centurion who was known for his humility. There is a legend that the devil tried to tempt St. Expedite to procrastinate his Catholicism for one day.
The devil was all like “My man! You should wait a day to do the Jesus thing.” St. Expedite was “Nah fam.” He was martyred the next day. We are all victims of falling into procrastination. Praying to St. Expedite can help us overcome this temptation.
3. St. Philomena – Impossible, Desperate, and Forgotten Causes
St. Philomena was a Greek princess who was martyred for her refusal to break a vow of consecrated virginity. St. Philomena was said to be a total babe... like, tons of kings and emperors were trying to win her hand in marriage. Finally, the Greek king tried to force St. Philomena to marry him.
However, he didn’t realize that St. Philomena was a strong independent Christian woman and she didn’t need a man to support her. She offered her life to God to try and live His will every day.
Naturally, the king got angry and tried to kill her. She was saved several times by angels from her executioners before being beheaded. If your semester grades feel like a lost cause, then ask St. Philomena for help through the impossibilities of good grades.
4. St. Jude Thaddeus – Patron Saint of Desperate Situations
St. Jude was one of the twelve apostles. St. Jude was always being mistaken for Judas, the dude that betrayed Jesus. St. Jude just quietly offered this up despite always being called the wrong name and being assumed a traitor all the time. I mean this guy, St. Jude, would get called out as Judas in crowds all the time.
I would be throwing fists and taking names making sure everyone got my name right. St. Jude instead constantly sought to help anyone who came to him for help, even interceding in the worst conditions. St. Jude never stopped proving his love and fire for Christ. No matter how bad your classes might be, St. Jude will help you if you ask him.
5. St. Padre Pio – Patron Saint of Stress Relief
St. Padre Pio is one of my favorite saints. This guy is like the Chuck Norris of Saints. When the ghostbusters were asked who they were going to call, they said Padre Pio. During his life, St. Padre Pio was blessed with Stigmata (bearing crucifixion wounds of Christ), the ability to read souls, and bilocate (he could be in two locations at the same time).
He was even rumored to be able to communicate with angels by helping people before they even asked him for it. St. Padre Pio’s favorite phrase he told people was “Pray, Hope, and Don’t Worry.” He basically was the Catholic Bob Marley. During finals week, even if everything seems like its going to end, pray to St. Padre Pio because if you pray and you have faith there is nothing you should worry about.
I can’t promise A’s if you pray to these Saints, but it certainly won’t hurt your chances. Good luck this week during finals!
