THE FOURTEEN HOLY HELPERS - VITUS

 

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 Vitus was a Christian saint from Sicily who died as a martyr during the persecution of Christians by co-ruling Roman Emperors Diocletian and Maximian in 303.

In the Middle Ages, people by dancing before his statue and became known as "Saint Vitus Dance" which was later given to a neurological disorder.

Saint Vitus is the patron saint of actors, comedians, dancers, and epileptics. He is also said to protect against lightning strikes, animal attacks and oversleeping, and is the patron saint of a number of towns and cities

Saint Vitus's Day is celebrated on June 15th.