The Fourteen Helpers

Here's something interesting. Today is the day the Fourteen Holy Helpers are venerated, or at least this used to be their feast day before the reformation of 1969... They were first collectively invoked during the black plague, a time when people died horrific deaths, many, many domestic animals died, violence broke out, religion failed and family structure broke down.

• Achatius, against headaches, helpful advocate in death, grant us a happy death
  
• Barbara, against fever and sudden death, mighty patroness of the dying, receive us in heaven
  
• Blaise, against ills of the throat, zealous bishop and benefactor of the poor, confirm us in hope
  
• Catherine of Alexandria, against sudden death, victorious defender of faith and of purity, shorten our purgatory
  
• Christophorus, against plagues and sudden death, mighty intercessor in dangers, preserve us from sin
  
• Cyriacus, against temptations, especially at the time of death, terror of Hell, grant us resignation to Thy holy will
  
• Dionysius, against headaches, shining mirror of faith and confidence, give us tranquility of conscience
  
• Erasmus, against abdominal maladies and for protection of domestic animals, mighty protector of the oppressed, enkindle in us Thy holy love
  
• Eustachius, against family trouble, exemplar of patience in adversity, give us patience in adversity
  
• George, for protection of domestic animals, valiant Martyr of Christ, preserve us in the faith
  
• Giles, against plagues and for a good confession, despiser of the world, grant us a merciful judgment
  
• Margaret of Antioch, for safe childbirth, valiant champion of the faith, preserve us from Hell
  
• Pantaleon, for physicians and for the protection of domestic animals, miraculous exemplar of charity, give us charity for our neighbor
  
• Vitus, against epilepsy and for protection of domestic animals, special protector of of chastity, teach us the value of our soul

INVOCATION OF THE HOLY HELPERS:

Fourteen Holy Helpers, who served God in humility and confidence on earth and are now in the enjoyment of His beatific vision in Heaven; because thou persevered till death thou gained the crown of eternal life. Remember the dangers that surround us in this vale of tears, and intercede for us in all our needs and adversities. Amen.

Fourteen Holy Helpers, select friends of God, I honor thee as mighty intercessors, and come with filial confidence to thee in my needs, for the relief of which I have undertaken to make this novena. Help me by thy intercession to placate God's wrath, which I have provoked by my sins, and aid me in amending my life and doing penance. Obtain for me the grace to serve God with a willing heart, to be resigned to His holy will, to be patient in adversity and to persevere unto the end, so that, having finished my earthly course, I may join thee in Heaven, there to praise for ever God, who is wonderful in His Saints. Amen

The Litany (which is quite lengthy) can be found here.

I actually took the time to prayerfully read the entire thing. And it was very powerful. I highly recommend it even though I am a buddhist and this is a little bit out of my box.

This is the Basilica Vierzehnheiligen... here is the story:

On September 24, 1445 a Franciscan monastery’s young shepherd, Hermann Leicht, saw a crying child in a field. As he bent down to pick it up, it suddenly disappeared.

A short time later, the child reappeared in the same spot and this time, two candles were burning next to it. In June 1446 the shepherd saw the child a third time, this time carrying a red cross on its chest and accompanied by thirteen children.

The child said to the shepherd: ‘We are the 14 helpers and wish to erect a chapel here, where we can rest. If you will be our servant, we will be yours!’ Shortly after, the shepherd saw two burning candles descending to this spot. Soon, miraculous healings began, through the intervention of the fourteen helper saints....

And if you still haven't had enough, here's a link to a slide show of the basilica. Have a blessed day!