The Fourteen Holy Helpers are a group of saints venerated together in Roman Catholicism because their intercession was believed to be particularly effective against various diseases.
This group of "helpers in need" originated in 14th century Rhineland, due largely as a result of the epidemic that grew to become the Black Death, but their veneration spread almost as quickly as the plague.
Saint Blaise was a physician, and later bishop of Sebastea, which in antiquity was in Armenia.
He was martyred, according to the Acta Sanctorum, by being beaten, attacked with iron carding combs, before being beheaded.
His patronage protected against illness of the throat and of domestic animals.
In the Latin Church his feast day falls on 3rd February, in the Eastern Churches on 11th February.
No comments:
Post a Comment