St. AcaciusSt. Acacius was a 4th Century Priest who lived in Armenia. He was arrested and executed under the governor Maximus with seven women and one Hirenarchus, who was so impressed with the devotion to their faith he became a Christian and suffered the same fate. He is said to be one of 10,000 soldiers who fled to Armenia and were all martyred under Roman rule. Acacius is called upon individually for headaches and is said to favor soldiers and the terminally ill. His individual feast day is May 8th.
St. BlaiseSt. Blaise was martyred early in the 4th century. While very little is known about this Bishop in Armenia, he is associated with the blessing of the throat that takes place on his February 3rd feast day. This is a result of the story that he saved a boy who was choking and so has become the intercessor for throat trouble. Beliefnet.com
St. ChristopherSt. Christopher is the well-known saint of travelers with many Catholics hanging St. Christopher medals in their cars. The medal typically shows the saint holding the Christ child since “Christopher” means “Christ bearer.” His feast day is July 25th.
Beliefnet.com St. DenisSt. Denis was a 3rd century Christian missionary who became the first bishop of Paris. He is the patron of the possessed and is pictured carrying his head as a result of the legend that says he was beheaded and then promptly picked up his head and took it to its current burial site a few miles from the beheading—at which time he then died. His feast day is October 9th. Beliefnet.com
St. EustaceSt. Eustace was roasted to death after refusing to offer incense to Roman gods. His excruciating death makes him the intercessor for those facing terrible adversities. His feast day is September 20th.
Beliefnet.com St. GilesSt. Giles lived in the 7th century and desired to be a hermit. Unfortunately his quest for solitude was always infringed upon and he ultimately founded a monastery where he worked miracles. He favors the disabled and beggars and has a September 1st feast day. Beliefnet.com
St. PantaleonSt. Pantaleon was a physician and is now called “The Wonder Worker.” As was the case for most of his predecessors and contemporaries, Pantaleon underwent many tortures in an attempt to get him to denounce his Christian faith. Physicians today often ask for Pantaleon’s intercession. His feast day is July 27th. Beliefnet.com
The Fourteen Holy HelpersThese fourteen holy helpers are venerated on August 8th when their combined intercession can be petitioned. Individually, they represent the sort of mediation available to Catholics who call upon them for specific needs; collectively they are a powerhouse of heavenly help.
At the heart of the fourteen were three virgin martyrs: St Margaret with the Dragon, St Barbara with the Tower, St Catherine with the Wheel, Those are the three holy maids. Other saints began to be invoked along with these three virgin martyrs, they were: St. Christopher and St. Giles were invoked against the plague. Saint Denis was prayed to for relief from headache, Saint Blaise for ills of the throat, Saint Elmo, for abdominal maladies, Saint Barbara for fever, and Saint Vitus against epilepsy. Saint Pantaleon was the patron of physicians, Saint Cyriacus invoked against temptation on the deathbed, and Saints Christopher, Barbara, and Catherine for protection against a sudden and unprovided-for death. Saint Giles was prayed to for a good confession, and Saint Eustace as healer of family troubles. Domestic animals were also attacked by the plague, and so Saints George, Elmo, Pantaleon, and Vitus were invoked for their protection. Saint Margaret of Antioch is the patron of safe childbirth. |
St. BarbaraSt. Barbara was a beautiful, strong-willed girl who lived in a pagan home run by a tyrannical father who wished his daughter to enter into an arranged marriage. According to the legend, Barbara was kept hidden in a tower. At one point she is said to have destroyed all her father’s pagan idols which resulted in brutal beatings and her ultimate death. Barbara is called upon by builders, architects and all who work with artillery. Her father is said to have been incinerated by a bolt of lightning when he killed her so she is also the patron saint of sudden death. Her individual feast day is December 4th.
Beliefnet.com St. CatherineSt. Catherine of Alexandria is said to have converted all people who came to her to debate the truths of her faith—she was considered that brilliant of a thinker and speaker! Although St. Catherine’s life is undocumented, veneration of her continues to this day. Iconography of her typically includes a wheel because a spiked wheel was to be the cause of her martyrdom. Her own feast day is November 25th.
Beliefnet.com St. CyriacusSt. Cyriacus is usually venerated with his mother, Julitta—a wealthy widow who refused to denounce her faith even when the life of her small child, Cyriacus (or Quiricus), was threatened by authorities. Cyriacus is called upon by victims of torture and for intercession of the needs of children and has his individual feast day on June 16th.
Beliefnet.com St. ElmoSt. Elmo is also known as Erasmus—a popular name of early Christians. Suffering numerous tortures during the Christian persecutions in the early years of the church, the phenomenon known as St. Elmo’s Fire is attributed to this saint who was said to have withstood lightning. Elmo’s feast day is June 2. Beliefnet.com
St. GeorgeSt. George is the truly larger-than-life figure who saved a Libyan city from a dragon. St. George is a wildly popular saint whose images are always of him slaying a dragon. He is the patron saint of countless people and places including such countries as Canada and England and such people as farm workers, equestrians, and butchers. His feast day is April 23rd. Beliefnet.com
St. Margaret of AntiochSt. Margaret of Antioch was the daughter of a Pagan priest. She converted to Christianity and the legend surrounding her life is that Satan appeared as a dragon and attempted to swallow her whole but her sweetness and goodness revolted him. Her martyrdom in a cauldron of boiling oil was interrupted by an earthquake. She was ultimately beheaded but made known her allegiance to pregnant women before her demise. Her feast day is July 20th. Beliefnet.com
St. VitusSt. Vitus is said to have exorcised Emperor Diocletian’s son who was possessed but instead of giving gratitude to Vitus, Diocletian had him tortured. Carried away by angels to his home in Sicily, Vitus is now considered the patron saint of pharmacists and vintners. He is depicted praying by a huge cauldron or surrounded by animals—both representing the ways in which Diocletian attempted to martyr Vitus. His feast day is June 15th. Beliefnet.com
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