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
Last year 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
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