Gina Christian
By Gina Christian • Posted March 5, 2021
For Catholics, saints can be a bit like spiritual celebrities. Some are A-listers, with a steady stream of clients and thousands of parishes named after them; some are more like cult favorites, with a kind of niche appeal and loyal devotees; and still others are rising stars, poised to reach a new generation of faithful.
And then there’s St. Ansgar, who might be considered something of a “lesser-known artist.”
He’s even overshadowed on his own feast day, which he shares with the much more famous St. Blaise.
You won’t find Ansgar’s name on too many Catholic churches here in the United States, although there is one near Chicago. A town in northern Iowa is named for him, too.