The fourteen holy helpers are a group of saints venerated together in Roman Catholicism because their intercession was effective against various diseases and other calamities. The fourteen saints are:
- St. George
- St. Blaise
- St. Erasmus
- St. Pantaleon
- St. Vitus
- St. Christopher
- St. Denis
- St. Cyriacus
- St. Acacius
- St. Eustace
- St. Giles
- St. Margaret
- St. Catherine of Alexandria
- St. Barbara
The invocation of these saints for protection against diseases and dangers has its origins in the bubonic plague that devastated Europe in the 14th century. The cult of the fourteen holy helpers emerged in Germany in response to the devastation caused by the plague and devotion to them spread to other European countries over the next centuries. Here is some background on each of these fourteen saints:
St. George
St. George was a soldier in the Roman army who was martyred for his Christian faith in the early 4th century AD. He is best known for the legend of killing a dragon. He was invoked against skin diseases, pestilence, leprosy, and syphilis. The story goes that St. George killed the dragon that was demanding human sacrifices and rescued the king’s daughter in the process. This legend made him popular throughout Christendom as a symbol of victory of good over evil. He is the patron saint of England, Portugal, Germany, Greece, and more.
St. Blaise
St. Blaise was a 4th century Armenian bishop who was martyred for his Christian faith. He is invoked against diseases of the throat because of the legend that he cured a boy who was choking on a fish bone. On his feast day, the Feast of St. Blaise on February 3, the traditional “Blessing of Throats” with crossed candles is given in some churches.
St. Erasmus
St. Erasmus, also known as St. Elmo, was a 4th century Italian bishop who was martyred for his faith. He is invoked against intestinal ailments, especially colic, because of the legend that he continued preaching after his intestines were extracted by his torturers. This led to the belief that he could intercede for those suffering from abdominal pains.
St. Pantaleon
St. Pantaleon was a 4th century physician who became a martyr under the persecution of Emperor Diocletian. He was invoked against consumption, headaches, and dropping sickness. He came to be regarded as the patron saint of physicians and midwives. The name Pantaleon means “all-compassionate” in Greek.
St. Vitus
St. Vitus was a 4th century Sicilian martyr under Emperor Diocletian. He is invoked against epilepsy, paralysis, and diseases of the nervous system. He is also the patron saint of dancers because of the legend that he prayed while in prison and angels came to dance with him. This led to the medieval practice of praying to him if one danced continuously for days due to a tarantula bite.
St. Christopher
St. Christopher was a 3rd century martyr who is mostly known for the medieval legend that he carried a child across a river who then revealed himself as Christ. Therefore, he is invoked against plagues and dangers while traveling. The patronage of St. Christopher over travel led to the practice of putting St. Christopher medals in vehicles for protection.
St. Denis
St. Denis was the first bishop of Paris and patron saint of France. He was martyred in the 3rd century AD. He is invoked against headaches and possession. After he was beheaded on Montmartre, according to legend, he carried his head several miles while preaching a sermon of repentance. He became one of the most venerated saints during the medieval period in France.
St. Cyriacus
St. Cyriacus was a 4th century Eastern Christian deacon martyred during the persecution of Diocletian. He is invoked against temptations, especially those related to one’s chastity. He was known for vigorously defending his faith in Christ before the tortures of the emperor Maximian.
St. Acacius
St. Acacius was a Roman officer who secretly became a Christian and was martyred in the 3rd century AD during the reign of Emperor Galerius. He is invoked against headaches and pains in the neck or back. This is related to his martyrdom when his spine was broken on the wheel during torture.
St. Eustace
St. Eustace was a Roman general who converted to Christianity after seeing a vision of a crucifix between the antlers of a stag he was hunting. He was martyred along with his family in the 2nd century AD under Emperor Hadrian. He is invoked against fires and misfortune with animals and agriculture. He endured many trials and tribulations after his conversion, which led to his veneration in asking for protection.
St. Giles
St. Giles was an 8th century monk from Greece who lived as a hermit in France. He is invoked against plagues, leprosy, skin diseases, sterility, disabilities, epilepsy, madness, and nightmares. He became very popular in the Middle Ages. His tomb became a popular pilgrimage site and a monastery grew around it. The wide range of ailments he is invoked against made him one of the most popular medieval saints.
St. Margaret
St. Margaret of Antioch was one of the most popular saints during the Middle Ages. She was purportedly a Christian martyred in the 3rd or 4th century AD under Emperor Diocletian. She promised to marry a pagan nobleman if he became a Christian. When he found out she was already a Christian, she was tortured and killed for her faith. She is invoked against pregnant women in labor and farmers against storms. She was believed to be especially efficacious in interceding before God.
St. Catherine of Alexandria
St. Catherine of Alexandria was a legendary 4th century martyr under the persecution of Emperor Maxentius. She was known for her intelligence and rhetorical skill in defending Christianity before the emperor. She is invoked by students, philosophers, preachers, and those confronting persecution. She refused marriage to the emperor, who then had her tortured on the breaking wheel and beheaded. The story has little historical evidence but was immensely popular in the Middle Ages.
St. Barbara
St. Barbara was a 3rd century martyr killed by her pagan father, according to legend. She was beheaded after being tortured for her Christian faith. She is invoked against fires and lightning strikes. She was prayed to for deliverance from sudden death. She became associated with storms, artillery, and explosives, leading to the custom of ringing church bells when it thundered to pray for protection.
In summary, the fourteen holy helpers were invoked during the Middle Ages against many different illnesses and dangers. The bubonic plague heightened the need for heavenly intercession from saints. This led to the rise of veneration of these fourteen saints together. Their varied lives, martyrdoms, legends, and areas of patronage made them very popular intercessors for medieval Catholics against many of life’s troubles and tribulations.
