When Millions Were Dropping Dead From the Plague, The 14 Holy Helpers Were Summoned to Intercede

The Fourteen Holy Helpers are a group of saints venerated together in the Roman Catholic Church. Veneration of this group of saints (known also as auxiliary saints) began during the 14th century, as it was believed that their combined intercession was particularly effective against various illnesses, in particular the Black Death that was sweeping across Europe during that century.

The fourteen saints are St. George, St. Blaise, St. Pantaleon, St. Vitus, St. Erasmus, St. Christopher, St. Giles, St. Cyriacus, St. Agathius, St. Denis, St. Eustace, St. Catherine of Alexandria, St. Margaret of Antioch, and St. Barbara.

These Fourteen Holy Helpers are recorded to have first been venerated during the 14th century in the Rhineland (in what is today Germany), and were known as Nothelfer (translated as ‘Helpers in Need’). During that time (around the middle of the 14th century), Europe was being devastated by the Black Death, hence the saints were invoked for protection against this dreadful plague.

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