Who is the saint to pray to for the sick?

Answer 1

There are different saints for different illnesses, usually dependent upon either what the saint suffered from, or what he has helped with in the past. For instance, St. Teresa of Avila was a tinnitus sufferer her whole life, so she would be a good one to pray for if you have noises in your head.

One thing that is important to keep in mind. God is primarily concerned with your eternal salvation and no saint or no intercession is going to help if a positive answer would be detrimental to your salvation. In most instances, for instance during the Anointing of the Sick, which is a Sacrament established by Jesus for healing, the healing (if you are disposed to it) is interior and that which would help you to attain salvation. Actual physical healing is rare, although there have been some spectacular examples, for instance the healings at Lourdes and Fatima through the intercession of the Blessed Virgin. These healings had to pass the most rigorous tests to make sure that they are miraculous. If there is any chance of a "natural" healing taking place, they are not considered miraculous.

Answer 2

The patron saints for sick people are:

Alphais

Alphonsa of India

Angela Merici

Angela Truszkowska

Arthelais

Bathild

Bernadette of Lourdes

Camillus of Lellis

Catherine del Ricci

Catherine of Siena

Drogo

Edel Quinn

Elizabeth of the Trinity

Gerard of Villamagna

Germaine Cousin

Gertrude of Nivelles

Gorgonia

Hilary of Poitiers

Hugh of Lincoln

Isabella of France

Jacinta Marto

John of God

Julia Billiart

Julia Falconieri

Juliana of Nicomedia

Louis IX

Louise de Marillac

Lydwina of Schiedam

Maria Bagnesi

Maria Gabriella

Maria Mazzarello

Marie Rose Durocher

Mary Ann de Paredes

Mary Magdalen of Pazzi

Michael the Archangel

Our Lady of Lourdes

Paula Frassinetti

Peregrine Laziosi

Philomena

Rafka Al-Rayes

Raphael the Archangel

Romula

Syncletica

Teresa of Avila

Terese of the Andes

Therese of Lisieux

Answer 3

It probably does not matter which saint you pray to for the sick.

In 2005, the John Templeton Foundation conducted a carefully designed, double-blind trial of the effect of intercessary prayer on the outcome of surgery. The intention was to evaluate whether (1) receiving intercessory prayer or (2) being certain of receiving intercessory prayer was associated with uncomplicated recovery after coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery. At the end of this test, they determined that intercessory prayer had no effect on the outcome of surgery. Presumably, intercessory prayer would equally have no effect on the seriously ill.

While you may be comforted by praying to one saint or other, if intercessory prayer actually has no effect on the wellbeing of the patient, you can choose any saint you like, with the same outcome from your prayers.