Full Strength Christianity: Patron Planets

This is a slightly tongue in cheek article and shouldn’t be taken too seriously. Though it does raise an interesting point.

Why do we name the heavenly bodies after ancient pagan gods? It seems rather strange, especially as Christ defeated them. Why do we name the planet closest to the Sun, Mercury, after the Roman god of trade, merchants and travel?

It seems to me these ancient gods were displaced by patron saints in the early Church. St Christopher is the patron saint of travellers and even today, people even wear medallions with an image of Christ on his shoulders.

If the ancient gods have been displaced, why not have patron saints for the planets, Sun and Moon.

Below is my list of who I think should be these patron saints.

St Peter, patron saint of the Sun

Matthew 16 v 18

And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

There are several interpretations of this verse, and one places Peter as the rock upon which the Church is built. Like how the Solar System is structured around the Sun.

St Paul, patron saint of Mercury

The name Paul means small. A suitable saint to be associated with the smallest planet. This also represents how Paul’s writings and activity were at the heart of the early Church and the Church throughout the ages. Just like how Mercenary is near the heart of the Solar System.

St Matthew, patron saint of Venus

When we look at Venus, it is shrouded in mystery. From the beginning of the Gospel of Matthew, it feels like a mystery of the Messiah is being revealed to the World. The layers of meaning within the text creates a rich tapestry, just like the cloud formations on Venus.

St Mark, patron saint of Mars

Mark’s Gospel is a very matter of fact retelling of the life of Jesus. Just like the surface of Mars, there is no atmosphere to obscure the topology of the planet. Nothing is obscured.

St Luke, patron saint of Jupiter

As with Matthew’s Gospel, Luke tells his stories using layers and deeper meanings. Even the Book of Acts points back to Old Testament archetypes. Jupiter equally, is a gas giant covered in swirling clouds. Who knows what deep mysteries these clouds might hide?

St John, patron saint of Saturn

After Paul, John is the most prolific New Testament writer. His Gospel and Revelation are writings which are drenched in symbolic layers, and containing multiple meanings. Like the rings of Saturn and the obscuring clouds of the gas giants atmosphere, John’s writings contain double meanings, allusions and reflect upon biblical archetypes.

St James, patron saint of Uranus

Uranus was the first planet to be discovered beyond the planets known by the ancients. James was the first faithful apostle to be martyred. I find this is an interesting link. As humanity began to discover new objects in the night sky, it was almost like pushing back the darkness of the night. Associating St James with this discovery, aligns with his role as the first Bishop of Jerusalem, pushing back the darkness of this World.

St Jude, patron saint of Neptune

Jude’s epistle contains unusual quotes from non-canonical sources. This creates a strangeness to the letter. Like with the other gas giants, it’s clouds obscure and equally Jude’s use of these texts create an unknowable mythic quality. He is also the last writer to be mentioned in the New Testament and the furthest planet from the Sun.

All these planets have many moons. So I would also propose these moons be given names based upon key verses written by these New Testament authors. So Titan, which orbits Saturn, could be also renamed John 1 v 1 or simply Logos.

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

Mary, Mother of Jesus, patron saint of the Earth

The Earth is commonly understood as a mother by the ancients and even by some modern peoples. So it makes sense she would be its patron saint.

St Joseph, patron saint of the Moon

Joseph, Mary’s husband and Jesus’ earthly father, was tasked with protecting the Holy Family. When threats came, he took them to Egypt, and when it was safe, he brought them to Nazareth. The Moon orbits the Earth, as though protecting it from objects flying through space.

Adam and Eve, patron saints of Pluto and Charon (respectively)

Pluto and Charon orbit each other. They are classified as dwarf planets. Pluto was demoted from being called a planet in the mid-2000s. As they have this mutual relationship, Adam and Eve could be appropriate patron saints. If we look at the surface of Pluto, we can see a heart shaped basin of frozen nitrogen and carbon monoxide ices. This heart is facing Charon. Not only showing the love Adam and Eve must have had for each other, but it also symbolises the love God has for Adam. And His desire to redeem humanity from sin.

This might seem an odd article to be placed in a series on Full Strength Christianity, but as Christians we should structure reality through the lens of Christ. And as the pagan gods have been defeated, why would we still name the planets after them? They lost and Christ won.

In terms of devotion, rather than looking up at the sky and simply seeing Venus in a cold dark night, by changing the names of the planets, it could actually remind us of the Gospel of Matthew and the wondrous story of Christ.