Today, we call on
#11 . . .
August
8: Feast of the 14 Holy Helpers (no longer officially observed now that
we have no plague)
The Fourteen Holy Helpers are invoked as a group because of the Black
Plague which devastated Europe from 1346 to 1349. Among its symptoms were
the black tongue, a parched throat, violent headache, fever, and boils on the
abdomen. The victims were attacked without warning, robbing them of their
reason, and killed within a few hours; many died without the last Sacraments.
No one was immune, and the disease wreaked havoc in villages and family
circles. The epidemic appeared incurable. The pious turned to Heaven, begging
the intervention of the saints, praying to be spared or cured. Each of these
fourteen saints had been efficacious in interceding in some aspect for the
stricken during the Black Plague. The dates are the traditional feast days; not
all the saints are on the General Roman Calendar.
- St.
George (April 23rd), soldier-martyr. Invoked for protection for domestic
animals and against herpetic diseases. Also patron of soldiers, England,
Portugal, Germany, Aragon, Genoa and Venice.
- St.
Blaise (also Blase and Blasius) (February 3rd), bishop and martyr. He is
invoked against diseases of the throat. Blessing of the throats takes
place on his feast day.
- St.
Erasmus (also St. Elmo) (June 2nd), bishop and martyr. He is invoked
against diseases of the stomach and intestine, protection for domestic
animals and patron of sailors.
- St.
Pantaleon (July 27th), bishop and martyr. Invoked against consumption,
protection for domestic animals and patron of physicians and midwives.
- St.
Vitus (also St. Guy) (June 15th), martyr. Invoked in epilepsy, chorea
("St. Vitus' dance"), lethargy, and the bites of poisonous or
mad animals and against storms. Also protection for domestic animals.
Patron of dancer and actors.
- St.
Christopher (also Christophorus) (July 25th), martyr. Invoked against the
plague and sudden death. He is the patron of travelers, especially
motorists, and is also invoked in storms.
- St.
Denis (also Dionysius) (October 9th), bishop and martyr. Invoked against
diabolical possession and headaches.
- St.
Cyriacus (also Cyriac) (August 8th), deacon and martyr. Invoked against
diseases of the eye and diabolical possession. Also interceded for those
in temptation, especially at the time of death.
- St.
Acathius (also Acacius) (May 8th), martyr. Invoked against headaches and at
the time of death's agony.
- St.
Eustace (also Eustachius, Eustathius) (September 20th), martyr. Invoked
against fire — temporal and eternal. Patron of hunters. Patron in all
kinds of difficulties, and invoked in family troubles.
- St.
Giles (also Aegidius) (September 1st), hermit and abbot. Invoked against
the plague, panic, epilepsy, madness, and nightmares and for a good
confession. Patron of cripples, beggars, and breastfeeding mothers.
- St.
Margaret of Antioch (July 20th), virgin and martyr. Invoked against
backache. Patron for women in childbirth.
- St.
Catherine of Alexandria (November 25th), virgin and martyr. Invoked
against diseases of the tongue, protection against a sudden and unprovided
death. Patroness of Christian philosophers, of maidens, preachers,
wheelwrights and mechanics. She is also invoked by students, orators, and
barristers as "the wise counselor."
- St.
Barbara (December 4th), virgin and martyr. Invoked against fever and
sudden death. Patron of builders, artillerymen and miners. Also invoked
against lightning, fire and sudden death.
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