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 which the  Church,  declaring  it  outside  of  her domain, permitted  to  be  embellished  at  will. Thus poetic legends  were  multiplied,  their  authors being more  or  less  convinced  that  the  reader would be  able  to  distinguish  truth  from  poetical embellishment. The common  people  continued  to make  little  distinction  and  did  not  permit  criticism to  influence  their  ancient  beliefs. They regarded these  legends  as  they  regard  the  pictures of the  saints;  not  as  portraits  of  the  persons  depicted— for  in  the  very  next  church  the  same  saint might be  represented  in  a  quite  different  manner— but  as  illustrations,  more  or  less  apt,  whose object was  to  attract  the  attention  by  their  artistic character and  thus  to  draw  the  mind  to  the  contemplation of  their  original,  and  by  it  to  God,  and thereby serve  the  purpose  of  edification."

If we  are  not  devoid  of  all  sentiments  of  piety, the history  of  the  combats  and  victories  of  the saints and  martyrs,  and  the  narrative  of  the miracles wrought  through  their  intercession  before and  after  their  death,  will  always  be  a  source of joy  and  consolation  to  us,  and  will  tend  to animate  us  with  similar  fortitude  and  love  of virtue.

The legends  of  the  Fourteen  Holy  Helpers  are replete with  the  most  glorious  examples  of  heroic firmness and  invincible  courage  in  the  profession of the  Faith,  which  ought  to  incite  us  to  imitate