The Noble Profession
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Robotics Developer
I might nominate Nicola Tesla for the patron saint of engineers. After all, he ...
ReneCardenas
Even back then HR screens were tough to get around, so outsourcing to match ...
The patron saint of engineers
Pocono Armchair Review
4/28/2011 3:14 PM EDT
In the traditions of some Christian Churches, such as the Catholic and Eastern Orthodox Churches, certain people are declared saints after they die, in recognition of their outstanding virtue and other qualities that net the honorees a larger benefits package, and discounts at religious stores.
I was thinking about this as a result of all the news updates regarding the approaching beatification of Pope John Paul II, which in the Catholic Church is a step toward sainthood. Once they reach that coveted cubicle next to the corner office (because, I've been told, that's as close as they can get), saints are often chosen by particular groups as their patrons, usually because the saint exhibits some quality or has a history that appeals to the group. There may be identification with the saint's profession, or with some struggle that the saint had to endure. But, besides the keyword matching on the resumes, there is also the presumption, or rather hope (in the Catholic Church at least), that the patron saint will put in a good word for you with the Big Boss.
If any profession needs a good word with the Big Boss, it is engineering. Slowly bled and eventually tossed aside, the long-suffering members of this profession exemplify self-sacrifice and virtue. But, where are the patron saints of engineering? Whose name could we agree upon as being representative of all our ideals, or whose earthly battles mirrored our own? I decided to do some research, once my own earthly battles subsided long enough to let me use the computer without dripping blood on it.
Initially, I wasn't able to find a patron saint for electrical or electronics engineering. Evidently, no one wanted the job. Looking through an online book of portraits of the saints, trying to find a likely looking candidate for engineering patron, I came across one of Saint Sebastian, who is often portrayed tied to a tree and bristling with arrows, as punishment for bothering an emperor. Amazingly, after he was rescued and nursed back to health, Saint Sebastian stood on top of some steps and yelled at the emperor (Emperor Diocletian) some more as he passed by. Diocletian then had Sebastian beaten with clubs, and that did Sebastian in. I couldn't help thinking, as I looked at the painting of him against that tree, looking really unhappy, that he was saying, “Engineering? What, are you crazy? You think I need more trouble?”
So, I had to start thinking laterally across disciplines and descriptions, to try to find patron saints in situations with at least some connection to electronics engineering. The first lateral description of EE that I could think of was “out of work.” Even with the economy supposedly roaring back beyond our wildest dreams, and job recruiters camping out on our front doors to catch us on our way to the spa, there are still a few poor geeky souls who haven't been passed the gravy boat.
One patron saint of the poor is Saint Lawrence, who, after making a reputation for himself as righteous, was clonked on the head by a maniac who had the idea Saint Lawrence would make a good martyr. Everyone thought Lawrence was mortally wounded, but, no, he got up, asked for some water, miraculously stopped his own bleeding, and then proceeded to negotiate a reconciliation between England and Ireland, which somehow didn't last. (Note that this isn't the same Saint Lawrence for whom the Saint Lawrence Seaway is named. That one was roasted to death for defying his boss--and that's boss with a small “b,” though this particular boss thought he should have a big “B.”) Getting clonked on the head, surviving, and then doing the impossible seemed to me to be a really good qualification to be the patron saint of engineers.
That is, I thought so until I discovered that, although there are no patron saints of electrical and electronics engineers (they couldn't afford the IEEE dues), I had, in my search, overlooked the more obvious alternative. Instead of “poor,” what about just plain “engineering”? And, yes, there turned out to be one very famous saint who IS referred to as the Patron Saint of Engineers. It is, of all people, Saint Patrick. That's right, the guy in green. If engineers need help, a guy who brings his own green beer should be just what the doctor ordered.
What I couldn't figure out, though, is why Saint Patrick is considered to be the patron saint of engineers. The biography just wasn't very clear about it. Yes, he drove out snakes from Ireland (I know, there weren't any to begin with--it's an allegory, don't you know), and there are a lot of snakes in engineering to deal with. Yes, he is an important source of revenue for police departments all across the country on his feast day of March 17th, and student engineers in particular pay homage to him by competing to be first to lose their sense of balance on that day. But, what makes him stand for engineers (or maybe lie down for them)? Nothing in his biography appears to stand out as particularly geeky or techie.
Then I saw it. He was abducted at an early age and forced to work as a slave. Ah ha! But then, after that (according to catholic.org), he lived in poverty, and endured much suffering until his death. Now if that isn't living like an engineer, I don't know what is.
I was thinking about this as a result of all the news updates regarding the approaching beatification of Pope John Paul II, which in the Catholic Church is a step toward sainthood. Once they reach that coveted cubicle next to the corner office (because, I've been told, that's as close as they can get), saints are often chosen by particular groups as their patrons, usually because the saint exhibits some quality or has a history that appeals to the group. There may be identification with the saint's profession, or with some struggle that the saint had to endure. But, besides the keyword matching on the resumes, there is also the presumption, or rather hope (in the Catholic Church at least), that the patron saint will put in a good word for you with the Big Boss.
If any profession needs a good word with the Big Boss, it is engineering. Slowly bled and eventually tossed aside, the long-suffering members of this profession exemplify self-sacrifice and virtue. But, where are the patron saints of engineering? Whose name could we agree upon as being representative of all our ideals, or whose earthly battles mirrored our own? I decided to do some research, once my own earthly battles subsided long enough to let me use the computer without dripping blood on it.
Initially, I wasn't able to find a patron saint for electrical or electronics engineering. Evidently, no one wanted the job. Looking through an online book of portraits of the saints, trying to find a likely looking candidate for engineering patron, I came across one of Saint Sebastian, who is often portrayed tied to a tree and bristling with arrows, as punishment for bothering an emperor. Amazingly, after he was rescued and nursed back to health, Saint Sebastian stood on top of some steps and yelled at the emperor (Emperor Diocletian) some more as he passed by. Diocletian then had Sebastian beaten with clubs, and that did Sebastian in. I couldn't help thinking, as I looked at the painting of him against that tree, looking really unhappy, that he was saying, “Engineering? What, are you crazy? You think I need more trouble?”
So, I had to start thinking laterally across disciplines and descriptions, to try to find patron saints in situations with at least some connection to electronics engineering. The first lateral description of EE that I could think of was “out of work.” Even with the economy supposedly roaring back beyond our wildest dreams, and job recruiters camping out on our front doors to catch us on our way to the spa, there are still a few poor geeky souls who haven't been passed the gravy boat.
One patron saint of the poor is Saint Lawrence, who, after making a reputation for himself as righteous, was clonked on the head by a maniac who had the idea Saint Lawrence would make a good martyr. Everyone thought Lawrence was mortally wounded, but, no, he got up, asked for some water, miraculously stopped his own bleeding, and then proceeded to negotiate a reconciliation between England and Ireland, which somehow didn't last. (Note that this isn't the same Saint Lawrence for whom the Saint Lawrence Seaway is named. That one was roasted to death for defying his boss--and that's boss with a small “b,” though this particular boss thought he should have a big “B.”) Getting clonked on the head, surviving, and then doing the impossible seemed to me to be a really good qualification to be the patron saint of engineers.
That is, I thought so until I discovered that, although there are no patron saints of electrical and electronics engineers (they couldn't afford the IEEE dues), I had, in my search, overlooked the more obvious alternative. Instead of “poor,” what about just plain “engineering”? And, yes, there turned out to be one very famous saint who IS referred to as the Patron Saint of Engineers. It is, of all people, Saint Patrick. That's right, the guy in green. If engineers need help, a guy who brings his own green beer should be just what the doctor ordered.
What I couldn't figure out, though, is why Saint Patrick is considered to be the patron saint of engineers. The biography just wasn't very clear about it. Yes, he drove out snakes from Ireland (I know, there weren't any to begin with--it's an allegory, don't you know), and there are a lot of snakes in engineering to deal with. Yes, he is an important source of revenue for police departments all across the country on his feast day of March 17th, and student engineers in particular pay homage to him by competing to be first to lose their sense of balance on that day. But, what makes him stand for engineers (or maybe lie down for them)? Nothing in his biography appears to stand out as particularly geeky or techie.
Then I saw it. He was abducted at an early age and forced to work as a slave. Ah ha! But then, after that (according to catholic.org), he lived in poverty, and endured much suffering until his death. Now if that isn't living like an engineer, I don't know what is.
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4/28/2011 6:14 PM EDT
If anyone here wants to apply to become the patron saint of engineers, you should know that most states offer a special license plate for that.
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Manca Massimo
5/3/2011 2:08 AM EDT
The patron saint of informatics is Santa Veronica (in english could be Veronique), an alternative is Sant Isidoro di Siviglia (for the programmers) so an electronic engineer working on software has his patron. Santa Lucia (Lucy) is the patron of electricians and San Benedetto (Benedict) is the patron of engineers (all engineers) but also San Guglielmo and San Mattia are reported as alternative patrons of engineers.
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Windraider
5/18/2011 4:08 AM EDT
I wish I loved the human race--------- I wish I loved it's sillyFace.
Not mine--- Better to have Roman
Acquaducts than other apparently
useful symbols.
leoanado -- was Engineer and artist --- The Engineers never created the modern divide
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DrQuine
4/28/2011 8:02 PM EDT
The downside of being the "patron saint of engineers" is that you literally have to suffer until you are dead to qualify. Maybe we could work on discovering the "guru of engineers", the "superhero of engineers", or even the "omnipotent engineer". Then he / she could be alive to appreciate the special plate on their hybrid car. In the meantime, in specific fields there do seem to be designated heroes - such as Leonardo da Vinci and Thomas Edison being recognized as extraordinary innovators. Apple seems to be working on creating some as well... In the present era I guess job specialization extends even to superheroes.
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4/30/2011 1:44 AM EDT
Engineers don't suffer until they are dead?
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DrQuine
4/28/2011 8:07 PM EDT
Besides which, the "Patron Saint of Engineers" is already taken according to wiki.answers.com:
Question: Why is Saint Patrick the patron saint of engineers?
Answer: St. Patrick, as the patron saint of engineers, is credited with fostering the development of arts and crafts and introducing the knowledge of the use of lime as mortar in Ireland. He is also responsible for the initial construction of clay churches in Ireland in the 5th century A.D. Another of St. Patrick's achievements was teaching the Irish to build arches of lime mortar instead of dry masonry. These beginnings of ceramic work developed into organized crafts, and that's how St. Patrick became the patron saint of ceramic engineers.
[citation:
http://wiki.answers.com/Q/Why_is_Saint_Patrick_the_patron_saint_of_engineers]
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4/30/2011 1:34 AM EDT
So, when they talk about getting lit up on St. Patrick's day, they're not talking about electricity?
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zeeglen
5/12/2011 4:10 PM EDT
Interesting. Wonder if there is a progressive connection between
lime
lime stone
lime rock
lime rick
limerick
and the village of Ardpatrick in County Limerick, Ireland, which has the site of a 5th century monastery said to be founded by St Patrick. (see Ardpatrick - Wikipedia).
Tie-in with electronics is the extensive use of ceramics in capacitors and ferromagnetics, as well as many other engineering technologies.
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5/18/2011 3:15 AM EDT
Not to mention all the cocktails with lime in them.
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nicolas.mokhoff
4/29/2011 6:17 AM EDT
DrQuin has it correct: you need to be dead to be proclaimed a patron saint. That's easy, and you only need to hope for the patron saint's intercession to help you. I much prefer to see the living "engineer saints" among us who labor for love, not money, who help their neighbors and inspire other engineers to do better (an EE Life kind of guy/gal).
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4/30/2011 1:41 AM EDT
What about Frankenstein's humanity-challenged, HMO-reimbursement-denied, multiple-donor recipient friend? He's dead, he gets around on electricity, and is "green" technology, to boot.
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DWilde1
5/3/2011 1:33 AM EDT
Give me a break, Rich. You are so wrapped up in your festering crap about abused engineers that you can't see that our "Patron Saint" is the "Big Guy" himself, as you put it? Engineers create solutions, usually out of "nothing".
Get off the Creative Writing 101 and acknowledge the wonder of what we do, without the complaints about whether we negotiated a worthwhile salary, okay?
We do what we do because we KNOW we're better than 'cleanliness', and we're really, like, the ONLY important input to the bottom line. Once we accomplish that, the festering pestilence of job shops and contracting and 'can hire four Chinese engineers for your salary' will go away.
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5/5/2011 1:50 AM EDT
Bartender, give me whatever he's having (with a can of sardines and a box of crackers on the side, please).
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Bibliognost
5/4/2011 8:39 AM EDT
I can report with great confidence that Patrick was "cannonized" by the student body of my alma mater (U of Missouri-Columbia) in the spring of 1903. An unusually brutal winter was intterupted by a sudden warm spell in the middle of March that year, and the engineering students, suffering from cabin fever and noting the approach of St. Patrick's day, engaged in the following sequence of creative logic:
- St. Patrick drove the snakes out of Ireland.
- A snake is little more than a glorified worm.
- This act can therefore be characterized as a 'worm drive.'
- Engineers make worm drives.
- Ergo, St. Patrick was the first engineer.
They then spontaneously declared him their patron saint and cut classes all day.
From these humble beginnings the tradition of Engineers' Week grew (amid parades, balls, and proclamations by the state legislature) to an opportunity for students to put their projects on display before the public. The community is invited in to hear more about the engineering profession and contributions engineers (mostly silently) make to their quality of life, and everyone has an enjoyable time (green beer included).
To my knowledge that tradition continues be celebrated on the week of March 17th, in defiance of a national organization's attempts to move Engineers' Week to the middle of February.
Every graduate of UMC Engineering has been thoroughly versed in this legend for over a century. He may not meet your needs, but we are proud of him!
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5/5/2011 1:54 AM EDT
You and I speak a language that goes beyond words. I expect great things from you, my boy, or girl, or whatever you are.
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jnhong
5/10/2011 1:31 AM EDT
St. Joseph is the primary patron saint of engineers. He is well-known as the patron of carpenters, craftsmen, and laborers (among many other things), but he was the era's version of technologist and project contractor. Like many of us, he travelled a lot on business, and worked for multi-national organizations.
Not only was he a worker, craftsman, and experienced project leader, he taught and tutored his child in his craft. Like a true and experienced engineer, St. Joseph was a mentor and a vivid example of service, selflessness, and dedication. His boy should have been an engineer too, but he found public speaking to be more compelling.
While not all that much is known, we can be certain that St. Joseph's traits passed to his son. Because of their travels and time in various lands, they could speak directly with the officials of the Empire -- very likely in Greek, the language of government and commerce in the Empire (Latin was reserved for the homeland, despite what Mel G. thought). It's very likely they spoke Egyptian as well, and definitely spoke Aramaic and knew Hebrew. They knew how to communicate -- this is a good thing for us engineers to emulate.
While the concept of microelectronics would totally baffle our beloved St. Joseph, he is the historical foundation for a Patron of engineering and technology. I'm sure he would be happy to delegate some responsibilities if we were to elect other Saints for advanced high-technology, though. Any nominees?
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5/10/2011 3:59 AM EDT
Speaking of St. Joseph, I used to work in St. Joseph, MI. I lived next door to the electronics plant. We didn't speak Aramaic, though.
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jnhong
5/11/2011 12:43 AM EDT
Don't forget the city of San Jose was named for the patron of engineers. Quite fitting that it is the center of Silicon Valley.
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5/11/2011 2:24 AM EDT
And if we don't get a resurrection in engineering soon in this country, then a lot of us are going to have to do what St. Joseph did, and that is pack up the family and move to another country.
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Duane Benson
5/11/2011 3:43 PM EDT
I think I'm seeing somewhat of a resurrection in software engineering here in the Silicon Rainforest. We've been having a terrible time hiring software engineers lately.
Each time we set our sights on one and get ready to make an offer, they've accepted a position someplace else. It's not uncommon that we get the resume and find out they have another job before the first interview.
I don't know if this is just a regional thing or if it extends to hardware engineers as well, but it's certainly a good sign. Or maybe just an anomaly plus some wishful thinking. Who's the patron saint of wishful thinking?
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5/18/2011 3:36 AM EDT
So true. Riches are showering down upon programmers and engineers now, there are so many offers. In fact, desperate companies are even offering jobs to people whose only qualification is that they may have at some time in their lives watched Star Trek, and still the companies can't get anybody. Spoiled, spoiled engineers, and poor, poor employers. We must supply some kind of relief to these injured companies, or they will be forced to ship even more jobs that were never here in the first place to someplace overseas.
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mjpandrews
5/12/2011 2:07 PM EDT
It doesn't bother anyone that as the Patron Saint of Engineers St. Patrick was actually an Englishman (or Scottsman depending on your preferences). He was not, repeat 'NOT' Irish. So St. Patrick was brought in from outside the country to do the work. The first official engineering job outsourcing was performed by our own Patron Saint? Sigh :-)
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5/18/2011 3:39 AM EDT
Sorry, the H1-B specified someone with a halo. They had to get someone from overseas. Plus, he was cheap.
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ReneCardenas
8/30/2011 10:28 AM EDT
Even back then HR screens were tough to get around, so outsourcing to match perfect halo was a tough if not impossible skillset. .... you guys crack me up... LoL
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Robotics Developer
8/30/2011 1:09 PM EDT
I might nominate Nicola Tesla for the patron saint of engineers. After all, he created many new devices, worked (and died) in poverty, fought with the boss (Edison) and generally was not well received by the press. Sound familiar???
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