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Today, 4 December, is the feast of ... * Barbara, virgin and martyr (?) - one of the Fourteen Holy Helpers, she is invoked against lightning and fire, and is patron of gunners, miners, architects, builders and stonemasons Margaret Cormack brought the following new book to my attention: The Old-Norse Icelandic legend of Saint Barbara ed. Kirsten Wolf pub. the Pontifical Institute. along with editions (and a translation) of the two icelandic texts, there is an edition of the latin one in Douai Bibliotheque Municipale Codex 838. Thanks Margaret! Two years ago John Flood informed us who the 14 holy helpers were: The Fourteen Holy Helpers are: Achatius 22 June Aegidius (Giles) 1 September Barbara 4 December Blasius 3 February Christopher 25 July Cyriacus 8 August Dionysius (Denis) 9 October Erasmus 2 June Eustachius 20 September George 23 April Katharina (Catherine) 25 November Margaret 29 July Pantaleon 27 July Vitus 15 June Sophie Oosterwijk added the following: The list of the Fourteen Holy Helpers may vary but usually consists of Acacius, Barbara, Blaise, Catharine of Alexandria, Christopher, Cyriacus, Denys, Erasmus, Eustace, George, Giles, Margaret of Antioch, Pantaleon and Vitus, although one may also find Antony, Leonard, Nicolas, Sebastian or Roch. These saints were supposed to be particularly helpful against various diseases and afflictions; they were venerated as a group from the fourteenth century. * Clement of Alexandria (c. 215) - renowned apologist, but his name is not in the Roman Martyrology * Maruthas, bishop of Maiferkat (c. 415) - he brought so many saints' relics to his city that it became known as 'Martyropolis' * Peter Chrysologus, archbishop of Ravenna, doctor (c. 450) - preached so vehemently that he would become speechless from excitement * Anno, archbishop of Cologne (1075) - leader of the German bishops who supported pope Alexander II against antipope Cadalus of Parma * Osmund, bishop of Salisbury (1099) - came to England with the Normans, and nominated by king William as bishop of Salisbury in 1078; responsible for revision of Sarum Use; enjoyed copying and binding books * Bernard, bishop of Parma and cardinal (1133) - abbot general of the Vallombrosan order, made bishop by pope Paschal II; forced from his see in 1104 by followers of antipope Maginulf * * * * * * * * * Carolyn Muessig Department of Theology and Religious Studies University of Bristol 3 Woodland Road Bristol BS8 1TB UK fax: +44.117.929.7850 phone: +44.117.928.8168 [log in to unmask]