Fourteen Holy Helpers

Catholic Saints

Fourteen Holy Helpers-Group of martyrs considered especially helpful against adversity

 

 

 

The Fourteen Holy Helpers were especially invoked during the Black Plague in Europe from 1346 to 1349, when people took ill suddenly and often died violently, within hours and without last sacraments. Symptoms included a black tongue, parched throat, violent headache, fever and abdominal boils. In 1445 and 1446 a shepherd boy named Herman Leicht, of Bamberg, Bavaria, saw apparitions first of one child and then of 14 while he was out with his flock. The children said they were the Fourteen Helpers and asked for a chapel to be built in their honor, and for Herman to serve them. The monks did not believe the boy, but people began praying at the spot where the apparitions appeared. When remarkable favors happened to them, the monks constructed a chapel in 1447–48. The site attracted pilgrims. In 1743, work was begun on a grand cathedral to replace the little chapel; work was completed in 1772. Churches and altars to the Fourteen Holy Helpers have been built elsewhere in Europe and around the world. The 14 martyrs and their special patronages are:

 

 

 

Achatius against death agony

 

 

 

Barbara against fever and sudden death

 

Blase against throat problems

 

 

Catherine against tongue problems and sudden death

 

 

Christopher against plague and sudden death

 

 

 

Cyriacus against temptations, especially at death

 

 

 

Dionysius against headache

 

 

Erasmus against abdominal problems; protection of domestic animals

 

 

 

Eustachius against family troubles

 

 

 

George protection of domestic animals

 

 

 

Giles making a good confession

 

 

 

Pantaleon physicians; protection of domestic animals

 

 

Vitus against epilepsy; protection of domestic animals

 

 

Giles plague