“There’s a saint for that” could be the Catholic version of the popular Apple iPhone slogan “There’s an app for that.” The reality that there is a patron saint for every infirmity or worry, even in the midst of struggles with livestock (ahem, speaking from a recent occurrence) highlights the commonality of the human experience.

We are never alone in our suffering, even when we feel most isolated, for “we are surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses” who can aid us even when earthly relationships falter (Hebrews 12:1). God’s faithfulness is displayed in the abundance and diversity of souls who lived and died, relatable not only across centuries but cultural divides. Comfort can be taken in the efficacious friendship of the multitude of saints. As St. Thomas Aquinas said, “praying for others is a sign of love; and the more love the saints in heaven have, the more they pray for those on earth who can be helped by their prayers. And the closer they are to God, the more effective their prayers are.” This is the story of the treasury of saints.

Often life’s circumstances drive us toward the kinship of a particular saint. Devotions become tailor-fit to the lives of the faithful and give them a sense of belonging within the mystical body of Christ. No matter how dire the situation, there is peace to be found in knowing that another who “fought the good fight” has not only faced similar challenges, but also intercedes on our behalf.

But, what if it were the saints who did the choosing? Imagine a relationship initiated by someone who possesses, through a perfected state, a fuller understanding of how personal stories fit within the scope of our lives and the will of God — a friend who befriends and nurtures in perfect charity.

It would be a dream to secure a one-year mentorship with a prominent, influential figure of worldly esteem. Those professional relationships would be life-altering on a professional scale, as theirs is a wealth and breadth of knowledge and skill. Without diminishing the achievements of these men and women, there are even greater mentorships readily available that have eternal importance.

Patiently waiting is a saint who longs to mentor and guide through the course of the next year. All that is required is compiling a hundred names of saints to place into a bowl and pray before grabbing hold of one piece of paper. Just as the Holy Spirit led the casting of lots to replace Judas, he too will guide the saint-mentor to the mentee. As the saints are working at the service of God’s will, it is consequently God who facilitates this particular mentorship.

The living out of this mentorship can take many forms. It can be as simple as asking for his or her intercession or reading about the saint’s life. Mark his or her feast day in a special celebration. In developing a posture of attentiveness in friendship of the saint, we develop an inclination toward God’s will for our lives.

For over a decade, our family has been casting lots to draw the name of a saint on All Saints’ Day. As our hands reach into the bowl containing the names of saints, we have come to realize that it is not us, but the saint, who reaches through the veil grabbing hold, consequently revealing a hint about the will of God. One personal story illuminates this:

As the world was turned on its head in 2020, our family had discerned, with the help of spiritual direction, to move across the expanse of 1,200 miles from the busy Northeast to the quiet, rural Deep South. We embarked upon a one-way, U-Haul-filled journey during the final month of 2020. As one last hurrah before moving, we hosted a final All Saints’ Day party in our little house in Pennsylvania. When my husband and I pulled the names of St. Patrick and St. Alphonsus Liguori, we had no idea how these acquaintances would bridge us from our old life toward a new depth found in the treasury of heavenly friendship.

Those who have made a dramatic move understand that, even in the best conditions, it is difficult to start over. On the feast of St. Stephen, in tearful prayer, I implored the Lord to reassure me that we had not made a tremendous mistake. The words of the Psalmist stirred deep within — “out of the depths I call to you, Lord; Lord, hear my cry! May your ears be attentive to my cry for mercy” (Psalm 130:1-2). Indeed, the Lord, in his mercy, sought to hearten me, though in an unexpected way.

Shortly thereafter, my husband returned home from work unbelievably animated as a result of a discovery he made during Mass. Our parish, the Basilica of St. Mary in Natchez, Mississippi, has numerous saints’ statues prominently placed high upon various perches throughout the church. It is a beautiful representation of the Church Militant and Triumphant within the backdrop of an ornate church that draws both tourists and photographers alike. Though we had noticed and admired the statues after one month, we could only assume some of the identities of the statues and guess at the others. It was after a homily that my husband had discovered that the only two statues turned back toward the faithful, on either side of the communion rail, were none other than St. Patrick and St. Alphonsus Liguori. Reassurance abounded.

This story is just one example of the saints’ involvement in our lives, informing us in ways both subtle and explicit of the will of God. Each year without fail, there is great meaning in the name drawn each Nov. 1. Jean-Pierre de Caussade reminds us that “all our moments are made productive by our obedience to the will of God, which reveals itself in a thousand different ways, each of which successively becomes our immediate duty.” It could be in the simplicity of something that arises on the feast day of your saintly mentor, his or her particular patronage, or the consolations and convictions found within the writings of the saint.

Allhallowtide is a commemoration of the entirety of the Body of Christ, from the traditional memento mori of All Hallows’ Eve to the rejoicing for God’s faithfulness during All Saints’ Day, and praying for our beloved departed on All Souls’ Day. It behooves us to be cognizant throughout this sacred time that, in this life, we are anything but alone, as there is a saint for every state and situation. It is important to treasure existing friendships with the saints that we sought as a result of life’s circumstances. However, we should be exposed to the unique opportunity awaiting us in a saintly mentorship this All Saints’ Day. Though they lie beyond the veil and our human understanding, they are alive and communing with God, seeking to befriend us and aid us in conforming ourselves to God’s will.

“Let us turn to the example of the saints. They were people like us, flesh and bone, with failings and weaknesses, who managed to conquer and master themselves for the love of God. Let us consider their lives and, like bees who distill precious nectar from each flower, we shall learn from their struggles.” — St. Josemaría Escrivá