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Rannoch
July 26th, 2008, 07:36 PM
I'm trying to gather information about deities who were patrons or guardians of the poor.

So far I've got Hekate, who seems to have maybe cared for the poor? Any more?
Shawn Cameron
July 26th, 2008, 11:10 PM
Thor is often thought of as being a God of the common man... the workers and villagers and what not. Not necessarily poor but he was the first one to come to mind. i shall try and rack my brain and see what else I can find but I mostly only know about Norse Gods.
Son of Goddess
July 27th, 2008, 12:40 AM
From Rome: Ceres was the patron Goddess of the Plebeians, the common people.
David19
July 27th, 2008, 07:10 PM
I'm not too sure about that many Gods of the poor, but I think YHWH is a God of the poor, and also, Hel, the Norse Goddess of the underworld, I've heard, can be considered a patron of the poor, or something (any Heathens, please correct me if I'm wrong?).
Shawn Cameron
July 27th, 2008, 07:21 PM
Yes she has been considered a Goddess of the poor and down trodden on occasion, it depends on who you ask I think, I'm not sure of any lore on it myself... death, the great equalizer
DandelionDame
July 27th, 2008, 07:23 PM
From Ireland: Brigid/Brigit/Brighid/Bridget

She healed Lepers, then chastised those She had healed who would not in turn help Lepers themselves.

She was a goddess of healing, smithcraft, and poetry, all of which either directly or indirectly affected the little guy.

In general, She was a very, intensely beloved goddess of all people in Ireland, and there are plenty of prayers to Her in Saint Brigid form in the Carmina Gadelica.
Rick
July 27th, 2008, 07:24 PM
Um, Hel isn't a Goddess (she's a Giantess), nor is she the patroness of anything or anyone (except maybe the dead). She's the Keeper of the Underworld.
Shawn Cameron
July 27th, 2008, 08:02 PM
my apology's if I have offended you Rick. Though to me the Jotuns are Gods, especially those known as the Rokkur, which includes Hel, whom even Odin would not cross. and I know it is highly controversial but I know many who have Hel as a patron.
Brightshores
July 27th, 2008, 09:54 PM
If you happen to be Christian or not opposed to such things, Jesus would certainly qualify - all the hanging out with prostitutes and lepers and homeless people, etc..

Other than that... Kwan-Yin springs to mind...
Shawn Cameron
July 27th, 2008, 11:34 PM
ah and speaking of Christianity there is probably a saint or two that preside over such things... though I don't know much of anything in that department.
David19
July 28th, 2008, 11:49 AM
Yes she has been considered a Goddess of the poor and down trodden on occasion, it depends on who you ask I think, I'm not sure of any lore on it myself... death, the great equalizer


Um, Hel isn't a Goddess (she's a Giantess), nor is she the patroness of anything or anyone (except maybe the dead). She's the Keeper of the Underworld.


my apology's if I have offended you Rick. Though to me the Jotuns are Gods, especially those known as the Rokkur, which includes Hel, whom even Odin would not cross. and I know it is highly controversial but I know many who have Hel as a patron.

Thanks for correcting me, Rick, it's just I think I read it somewhere, that Hel was considered to be a patron, or protector, of the poor.
David19
July 28th, 2008, 11:49 AM
If you happen to be Christian or not opposed to such things, Jesus would certainly qualify - all the hanging out with prostitutes and lepers and homeless people, etc..

Other than that... Kwan-Yin springs to mind...

Very true, and, I didn't know that about Kwan-Yin.
David19
July 28th, 2008, 11:52 AM
ah and speaking of Christianity there is probably a saint or two that preside over such things... though I don't know much of anything in that department.

There are Saints of the Poor, paupers, etc, here's a list of them (http://saints.sqpn.com/pst00570.htm).


Here's another interesting link (http://www.justpeace.org/saints.htm), with some interesting info on Saints and the Poor.

Another link with sites, articles, etc on Saints of the Poor (http://www.google.co.uk/search?hl=en&q=Saints+of+the+Poor&meta=)
Cinnamon1991
July 28th, 2008, 12:41 PM
Oh as you're talking about saints,I think Santa Muerte is considered a patron of the poor.
Santa Muerte is a Mexican "saint" and She's probably derived from an Aztec goddess.
She's not a real saint though She's quit populair. The Catholic Church doesn't acknowledge Her as a saint, but She's really populair among common people, expecially drug dealers, prisoners and poor people.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Santa_Muerte

http://www.jesterbear.com/CPCholidays/SantaMuerte.html

http://www.witchesbrew.builderspot.com/page/page/2215114.htm
Heart of All
July 28th, 2008, 01:36 PM
There are Saints of the Poor, paupers, etc, here's a list of them (http://saints.sqpn.com/pst00570.htm).


Here's another interesting link (http://www.justpeace.org/saints.htm), with some interesting info on Saints and the Poor.

Another link with sites, articles, etc on Saints of the Poor (http://www.google.co.uk/search?hl=en&q=Saints+of+the+Poor&meta=)

Santa Claus!:santasmil
Theres
July 28th, 2008, 03:24 PM
... So far I've got Hekate, who seems to have maybe cared for the poor?
do you have a reference for that?

it's true that 'Hekate's Suppers', that is, offerings left to Her at crossroads on moonless nights, were often consumed by the poor.
however i think this was more opportunism on their part rather than any specific benevolence by the Goddess.
David19
July 29th, 2008, 08:45 PM
Oh as you're talking about saints,I think Santa Muerte is considered a patron of the poor.
Santa Muerte is a Mexican "saint" and She's probably derived from an Aztec goddess.
She's not a real saint though She's quit populair. The Catholic Church doesn't acknowledge Her as a saint, but She's really populair among common people, expecially drug dealers, prisoners and poor people.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Santa_Muerte

http://www.jesterbear.com/CPCholidays/SantaMuerte.html

http://www.witchesbrew.builderspot.com/page/page/2215114.htm

Thanks for those interesting links, and info, even, though, she may not have been "historical", that doesn't mean, she's not real, in the spiritual realm (and I don't just mean, the "same" as an Aztec God, either, as I don't think Saints and Gods are the same, they're 2 seperate beings, IMO).

That, or, maybe, there was a woman named Muerte, who did a lot for the poor, or whoever, etc, and her reputation spread, among locals, not enough, for the Catholic Church to consider her a "real" Saint, but, enough, that people had faith in her, or her reputation, etc.

Hope that last part made some sense :).
David19
July 29th, 2008, 08:46 PM
Santa Claus!:santasmil

I guess, he could be one too!, although, he's more for kids ;)!.
Heart of All
July 29th, 2008, 09:07 PM
I guess, he could be one too!, although, he's more for kids ;)!.

It's true...but then kids are the little guys. :)

No, but seriously, he's on this list of saints for poor people. http://saints.sqpn.com/pst00570.htm
David19
July 30th, 2008, 07:32 PM
It's true...but then kids are the little guys. :)

Very true!.


No, but seriously, he's on this list of saints for poor people. http://saints.sqpn.com/pst00570.htm

Thanks for telling me, I didn't see him before, well, I did, I just didn't pay much attention, and I didn't know Santa's name is Saint Nicholas of Myra (http://saints.sqpn.com/saintn01.htm) (I know, he was Saint Nicholas, I just didn't know which Nicholas).

Santa is a very cool guy ;)!.