Gifts for Catholics: Saint Shirts
A thoughtful gift for a Catholic is a shirt that tells the story of a saint. Honeyman Tees shows each saint as a cute chibi storybook-watercolor character with a short line on the speech bubble, and every design includes a true note about the saint's life. These shirts are gifts for Catholics, catechists, RCIA sponsors, confirmation students and sponsors, Catholic school teachers and anyone who loves the saints. Each shirt is printed to order, with production taking 3-10 days, and ships free to US addresses. They suit confirmation, a feast day, Christmas or a birthday. Start with the saints below.
Joan of Arc T-shirt
“Teen girl. Saved France. Your move.”
Joan of Arc was about 17 when she helped lead the French army to lift the siege of Orleans in 1429.
Saint Nicholas T-shirt
“Before the red suit, there was me.”
Saint Nicholas was a 4th-century bishop of Myra, in present-day Turkey, remembered for giving secret gifts to the poor. His feast day, December 6, inspired many later Christmas gift-giving traditions.
Saint Christopher T-shirt
“Patron saint of travel. Buckle up.”
Saint Christopher is honored as the patron saint of travelers. Tradition says he carried the Christ Child across a dangerous river on his shoulders.
Saint Francis of Assisi T-shirt
“My pets talk to me. Yours too?”
Saint Francis of Assisi loved all of God's creatures, and stories tell of him preaching to the birds. Many churches bless pets on or near his feast day, October 4.
Saint Patrick T-shirt
“I drove out the snakes. You're next, Monday.”
Saint Patrick brought the Christian faith to Ireland in the 5th century, and a well-loved legend says he drove all the snakes out of the island.
Saint George T-shirt
“Dragon slayer. Spider remover. Same job.”
Saint George was a soldier martyr of the early Church, and the beloved legend of George and the dragon made him a model of courage. He is the patron saint of England.
Saint Valentine T-shirt
“Patron saint of love. Not your situationship.”
Saint Valentine was a Roman martyr of the 3rd century remembered on February 14, a day that became linked with love in the Middle Ages.
Saint John Paul II T-shirt
“I skied, hiked, and still made Mass.”
Saint John Paul II loved the outdoors, and he kept hiking in the mountains and skiing well into his papacy.
Saint Padre Pio T-shirt
“Pray, hope, and don't worry. Then pray more.”
Saint Padre Pio, a friar from southern Italy, was known for encouraging people to pray with trust in God and not give in to worry.
Saint Peter the Apostle T-shirt
“Be kind. I have the keys.”
In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus tells Peter, "I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven" (Matthew 16:19), which is why Saint Peter is pictured holding keys.
Saint Anthony of Padua T-shirt
“Lost something? I'll find it. Again.”
Saint Anthony of Padua is honored as the patron saint of lost things, a tradition linked to the story of his book of psalms being taken and then returned to him.
Saint Therese of Lisieux T-shirt
“Little way. Big results.”
Saint Therese of Lisieux taught the "little way": doing small, everyday things with great love. She was named a Doctor of the Church in 1997.
Saint Michael the Archangel T-shirt
“Heaven's head of security. On duty.”
In the Book of Revelation, the archangel Michael leads the armies of heaven (Revelation 12:7), and he is honored as a protector and patron of police officers and soldiers.
Saint Augustine of Hippo T-shirt
“Make me good. Just not yet.”
In his Confessions, Saint Augustine remembers praying as a young man, "Give me chastity and continence, but not yet," years before his conversion in 386.
Saint Thomas Aquinas T-shirt
“Five proofs. Zero shortcuts.”
In his Summa Theologiae, Saint Thomas Aquinas set out five ways, or proofs, for the existence of God.
Saint Teresa of Avila T-shirt
“Founded seventeen convents. Mostly on foot.”
Saint Teresa of Avila founded 17 convents across Spain, traveling rough roads by cart and on foot, and she was named a Doctor of the Church in 1970.
Saint Ignatius of Loyola T-shirt
“Ex-soldier. Now I fight procrastination.”
Saint Ignatius of Loyola was a Spanish soldier until a cannonball wounded him in 1521. While recovering he read about the lives of the saints, changed his life and later founded a religious order.
Saint Benedict of Nursia T-shirt
“Ora et labora. Mostly labora.”
Saint Benedict of Nursia wrote his Rule for monks in the 6th century, and its spirit is often summed up as "ora et labora," pray and work.
Saint Dominic de Guzman T-shirt
“Preaching all day. My dog helps.”
Saint Dominic founded the Order of Preachers in 1216. A tradition says his mother dreamed of a dog carrying a torch before he was born, and an old play on words calls his friars "Domini canes," the dogs of the Lord.
Saint Catherine of Siena T-shirt
“Wrote the Pope. He listened.”
Saint Catherine of Siena wrote letters urging Pope Gregory XI to return the papacy from Avignon to Rome, and in 1377 he did.
Saint Rita of Cascia T-shirt
“Patron of impossible things. Like Mondays.”
Saint Rita of Cascia is honored as a patron of impossible causes, remembered for her faith through a hard marriage, the loss of her family and a long wait to enter the convent.
Saint Mary Magdalene T-shirt
“Apostle of the Apostles. It's official.”
The Gospels tell that Mary Magdalene was the first to see the risen Jesus. In 2016 the Church raised her memorial to a feast, honoring her as the Apostle of the Apostles.
Saint John the Baptist T-shirt
“Locusts and honey. Very trendy diet.”
The Gospels describe Saint John the Baptist living in the wilderness, dressed in camel's hair and eating locusts and wild honey (Matthew 3:4).
Saint Faustina Kowalska T-shirt
“Kept a diary. Pretty important one.”
Saint Faustina Kowalska, a Polish nun, kept a diary of her prayer life in the 1930s, and it became the source of a devotion to God's mercy that is cherished worldwide.
Saint Thomas of Villanueva, the Almsgiver T-shirt
“Gave away everything. Even the bed.”
Saint Thomas of Villanueva, a 16th-century Spanish archbishop, gave so much to the poor that people called him the Almsgiver. Tradition says he even gave away his bed.
Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton T-shirt
“First American-born saint. Homework's due.”
Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton, canonized in 1975, was the first person born in the United States to be declared a saint. She opened a Catholic school for girls in Emmitsburg, Maryland, in 1810.
Saint Gabriel the Archangel T-shirt
“Good news is literally my job.”
In the Gospel of Luke, the archangel Gabriel brings the news of the coming births of John the Baptist and of Jesus (Luke 1).
Saint Raphael the Archangel T-shirt
“God heals. I just do house calls.”
In the Old Testament, the archangel Raphael, whose name means "God heals," travels with young Tobias and brings healing to his father.
Patron Saint of Lawyers T-shirt
“Sorry, Your Majesty. I read the fine print.”
An English lawyer and Lord Chancellor, he would not accept the king as supreme head of the Church in England. He was executed in 1535, canonized in 1935, and is honored as the patron saint of lawyers and statesmen.
