It is often said that nothing brings students to their knees in prayer like an exam does. Because of this, I am often asked who is the Patron Saint of Students. Until recently, my answer was the standard St. Benedict or St. Thomas Acquinas — with a slight preference for the former because his patronage also includes kidney disease and poison sufferers.
But in reading student papers from my “Religion and Society” class this week, I learned something new. The real Patron Saint of Students is (the heretofore unknown to me) ST. MATTRESS — the saint who receives the most attention from students, especially on the Sabbath.
Live and learn.
DAVID YAMANE 