These Saints have been invoked as a group ever since the time of an epidemic which devastated Europe from 1346 to 1349. It was called the Plague, or "Black Death". Some of its terrible symptoms were: the turning black of the tongue; a parched throat; violent headache; fever; and sores on the abdomen. This dreadful malady attacked its victims suddenly, depriving them the use of their reason, and causing death in a few hours. Many died in this horrible way without even the benefit of the Last Sacraments. All natural cures for the plague were fruitless.

During this period of widespread agony, the people turned toward Heaven with confidence. They took refuge in the intercession of the Saints, praying to be spared of the plague’s deadly attack, or to be cured when stricken.

Among the saints that are invoked as special patrons, in time of certain diseases, are these fourteen:

St. Christopher and St. Giles against the plague

St. Denis against headache

St. Blaise against ills of the throat

St. Catherine against the ills of the tongue

St. Erasmus against the ills of the abdomen

St. Barbara against fever

St. Vitus against epilepsy

St. Pantaleon is the patron of physicians

St. Cyriac is powerful in protection against temptations, especially those at the hour of death.

St. Acacius is invoked in death’s agony

St. Margaret is invoked during pregnancy, labor, and childbirth

Sts. Christopher, Barbara, and Catherine were appealed to for protection against a sudden and unprovided death

St. Giles is prayed to for the graces to make a good confession

St. Eustace is patron in all kinds of difficulties, including protection against fire. Also, since he was separated from his family because of unusual and painful circumstances, St. Eustace is also invoked in family troubles. During the "Black Death", his patronage was especially invoked since many families were suffering attacks and separation due to the widespread terror and death.

Sts. George, Erasmus, Pantaleon, and Vitus are invoked for the protection of domestic animals, which were also attacked by the plague.

Invoking the "14 Holy Helpers" was very effective and widespread in olden times - especially during the Plague and other epidemics. But why these fourteen? Evidently, what they were the patrons for or against is what motivated people to pray to them. And in time, the faithful were inspired to invoke all fourteen as a special group.

Over the centuries, these fourteen Saints have been depicted in religious art with the symbols of their martyrdom. Surprisingly enough, they have also been represented as a group of children. The story behind this, was actually an interesting confirmation from the 14 Holy Helpers that they were pleased to be identified as a group.

It was on the evening of September 22, 1445, that a young shepherd, Herman Leicht, was gathering his flock for the journey home. The sheep were actually not his own, but belonged to the monks of the abbey of Langheim. This monastery, in the diocese of Bamberg, Bavaria owned a small farm where the monks could keep their flocks. The animals were then tended to by shepherds, who led them along the hillsides. After a quiet graze all day, the flocks would be herded back to the farm.

And it was on such a return journey, that young Herman suddenly thought he heard the cry of a child. Looking around, he saw a child sitting in a field nearby. Surprised, and wondering how the child had come there, Herman was about to approach, when the mysterious child disappeared.

Feeling rather disturbed, the young shepherd returned to his flock. After reaching it, he turned to look back to the spot where he had seen the apparition. There the child sat again, this time in a circle of light, and between two burning candles. Terrified at this second apparition, Herman made the sign of the cross. But the child simply smiled, as if to encourage him. So, Herman went to approach it again. But before he got near, the child vanished a second time.

The poor shepherd was utterly bewildered. He led his flock home and informed his parents of the strange occurrence. They considered the whole affair nothing more than a delusion of his mind. But Herman felt so uneasy about the whole thing that he went to the monastery, hoping to receive some explanation. He told his experience to one of the Fathers. The monk advised Herman that if the child should appear again, he should ask the child what it wanted.

Nearly a year later, at about sunset on June 28, 1446, the eve of the feast of Sts. Peter and Paul, the child did appear again to the shepherd in the same place as before. But this time it was surrounded by thirteen other children, all of them in a halo of glory. Herman boldly approached the group and, addressing the child he’d first seen, he asked - in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit - what this child desired.

The reply was: "We are the Fourteen Helpers, and desire that a chapel be built for us. Be our servant, and we shall serve you." Then the group of children disappeared, and the shepherd boy was filled with heavenly consolation.

The following Sunday, after he had led his flock to the pasture, Herman saw two lighted candles descending from the sky to the place where he had seen the Heavenly children.

The boy hurried to the monastery and told them everything he had seen. The abbot, Frederic IV, was not inclined to believe in the apparitions. Unfortunately, neither were the rest of the community. They attributed it to the boy's ‘visionary fancy’. But God did not abandon Herman.

One by one, people began reporting extraordinary favors being received upon the simple hillside - the very place where Herman had seen the 14 Holy Helpers. The monks could not ignore this ever growing appeal of miracles and, in 1447, they at last began construction of the requested chapel. The next year, the building was completed and, not long afterwards, officially dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary and the Fourteen Holy Helpers.

The bishop granted an indulgence for the day of the anniversary of the dedication. The Papal Nuncio, Cardinal Joannes, granted another, and Pope Nicholas V granted a third. These indulgences, and a number of other spiritual privileges granted to the chapel, attracted a great many visitors, to the point that it became a place of pious pilgrimage.

Elector Frederic III, in fulfillment of a vow he had made when he was assailed by certain troubles, went himself to the chapel in 1485. Emperor Ferdinand also visited this chapel, and left, as a votive offering, his gold pectoral chain on the altar. As time passed, devotion to the Fourteen Holy Helpers continued to spread. In 1743, the old chapel was replaced with a magnificent church.

Whenever and wherever these saints have been invoked, they have proven themselves to be eager helpers. More than anything else, this saintly band desires to intercede for those who confidently and faithfully call upon them in all difficulties and trials, however serious or sudden these troubles may be.