Page:MaryHelpOfChristians.djvu/180

 making a  good  confession;  St.  Eustachius  was patron in  all  kinds  of  difficulties,  and,  because peculiar circumstances  separated  him  for  a  time from his  family,  he  was  invoked  also  in  family troubles. Domestic animals,  too,  being  attacked by the  plague,  Sts. George, Erasmus,  Pantaleon, and Vitus  were  invoked  for  their  protection. It appears from  the  invocation  of  these  saints,  so widespread  in  olden  times  during  the  plague  and other epidemics,  that  their  being  grouped  as  the Fourteen Holy  Helpers  originated  in  a  like visitation.

The fourteen  saints  venerated  as  the  Holy Helpers are  represented  with  the  symbols  of  their martyrdom, or  with  the  insignia  of  their  state  of life;  also,  as  a  group  of  children. The latter  representation is  accounted  for  as  follows:

The abbey  of  Langheim,  in  the  diocese  of Bamberg,  Bavaria,  owned  a  farm  on  which  the monks kept  their  flocks. The sheep  were  tended by shepherds,  who  led  them  along  the  hillsides, where they  grazed  quietly  during  the  day,  and were driven  home  in  the  evening.

On the  evening  of  September  22,  1445,  a  young shepherd, Herman  Leicht,  who  was  gathering  his flock for  the  homeward  drive,  heard  what  seemed to him  to  be  the  cry  of  a  child,  and  looking  about, saw a  child  sitting  in  a  field  near  by. Surprised, and wondering  how  the  child  came  there,  he  was