Saint Sara Kali is popularly known as the patron saint or protector of all gypsies. One of the main pseudonyms used by her devotees is Santa Sara La Negra. Find out all you need to know about this saint to whom devotion goes back a long way.
History of Saint Sara Kali
Saint Sara Kali is not included in the Roman martyrology. To a certain extent, the devotion to La Negra is accepted by the Catholic Church, due to the spread and veneration of her sympathisers. Little is known about Saint Sara Kali, but some is known about the antiquity of her cult. It seems that Sara is related to the goddesses of fertility.
One of the reasons why the Catholic Church does not include Saint Sara Kali in the Book of Saints is that it associates her worship with pagan culture. It is worth mentioning that St Dismas was also not accepted by the Holy See because of his criminal acts, which, although they were for just causes, are not looked upon favourably. The main characteristic of Saint Sara is her skin colour, as she is completely black.
The gypsies call her the black princess, the black sorceress. Legend has it that Sara came to France from the shores of Egypt with an oar. The boat in which the saint set off had no oars, but the wind carried her to safety. Some historians associate Sara with Jesus as the lost daughter of Mary Magdalene, also thanks to her Hebrew etymological name.
Legend of Saint Sara Kali
Saint Sara Kali was the daughter of a wealthy family of Egyptian origin. Because of her colour, Sara wandered from kingdom to kingdom offering her services as a servant. She and the family with whom she continued to work were forced to flee Palestine after the death of Jesus (see: What Jesus Died Of and Why He Did It). Their flight was by boat until they reached a French port. The saint and the rest of the crew started again in that country.
Saint Sara Kali is associated with the Middle Ages as the black princess, protector of the gypsies. This patronage is attributed to the fact that Sara, in order to make a living in France, supported herself as an alms-giver and preached the future to the people.
The day of Saint Sara Kali
The feast day of Saint Sara Kali is 24 May. This day is attributed to her arrival in France by boat. Sara de Kali fled with her patrons because of the persecution of Christians at the time (see: How the first Christians died).
The identity of Saint Sara’s parents is completely unknown. Various theologians who have studied her claim that she was the daughter of gypsies who worked in Egypt. Sara was a very wise and intuitive woman, partly because of her gift of knowing the powers of magic. After landing in France, the saint became one of Mary Magdalene’s best friends and together they contemplated evil whenever they could.
Among other powers, Saint Sara had the ability to see the future. She helped people to foretell deaths or accidents so that they could take precautions. She was very loyal to all her patrons, whom she vehemently defended, and therefore decided to accompany them on their journey to France.
Prayer to Saint Sara Kali
If you support Saint Sara Kali in a good way, you should honour her with a prayer. For the saint to listen to you, your faith must be sufficiently high (see: Prayer of Faith).
O Holy Sara. You are forever enchanting, Saint Sara. Gracious patroness of all gypsies. On this beautiful day I give you my affection and my honour. Bless my path forever, so that vice and evil may not surround me. Help and protect all your gypsy brothers, so that they may continue to exercise the gift of prophecy with pride.
Great are you forever, divine Sarah. Queen of France and of the Egyptian community. Help all travellers who wish to set out on new paths. Watch over every step taken by pilgrims to raise their prayers in other lands. Reach out with your gifts to each of your parishioners who proclaim love and decency before your holy image. Listen with unwavering attention to this majestic prayer. Amen.
