SaintChristopher and Saint Giles were invoked against the plague itself. Saint Denis was prayed to for relief from headache, Saint Blaise for ills of the throat, Saint Elmo, for abdominal maladies, SaintBarbara for fever, and SaintVitus against epilepsy. Saint Pantaleon was the patron of physicians, Saint Cyriacus invoked against temptation on the deathbed, and SaintChristopher, SaintBarbara, and SaintCatherine for protection against a sudden and unprovided-for death. Saint Giles was prayed to for a good confession, and Saint Eustace as healer of family troubles. Domestic animals were also attacked by the plague, and so Saints George, Elmo, Pantaleon, and Vitus were invoked for their protection. Saint Margaret of Antioch is the patron of safe childbirth.
Name (Alternate) | Feast day | Patronage |
Agathius (Acacius) | 7 May | Against headache |
Barbara | 4 December | Against fever and sudden death |
Blaise | 3 February | Against illness of the throat and for protection of domestic animals |
Catherine of Alexandria | 25 November | Against sudden death |
Christopher (Christophorus) | 25 July | Against bubonic plague and dangers while traveling |
Cyriacus | 8 August | Against temptation on the death-bed |
Denis (Dionysius) | 9 October | Against headache |
Erasmus (Elmo) | 2 June | Against intestinal ailments |
Eustace (Eustachius, Eustathius) | 20 September | Against family discord |
George (Georgius) | 23 April | For the health of domestic animals |
Giles (Aegidius) | 1 September | Against plague, for a good confession, and for cripples, beggars and blacksmiths |
Margaret of Antioch | 20 July | During childbirth, and escape from devils |
Pantaleon (Panteleimon) | 27 July | For physicians, and against cancer and tuberculosis |
Vitus (Guy) | 15 June | Against epilepsy, lightning and for protection of domestic animals |