Real Superheroes for real life

I was thinking today about the ‘Fourteen Holy Helpers’, a group of saints who, although they had their own feast days, they also shared a feast day.  At least until the feast was dropped and suppressed in the 1969 reform of the calendar.  Their intercession was sought because they were the patron saints of the various maladies associated with the Black Plague in the 14th century.  They reminded me of a group of superheroes that are all the rage in the movies these days.

While the Black Plague is a distant memory, we could certainly use the saints’ help with the plagues of the current world, and I think we’re going to need a lot of intercessory prayers.  I thought it would be fun (and maybe even necessary) to ask a new set of Fourteen Holy Helpers to intercede for us so that we may grow closer to God through Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit. 

In no particular order, these are the problems of the world as I see them:  Abortion, euthanasia, atheism, cancer, the attack on sacramental marriage between a man and a woman, the idolatry attached to technology, wars over religion or ideology, the attack on the priesthood (especially from within the clergy itself!), a lack of respect for one another, poverty, injustice to immigrants, the apparent assault on religious freedom and beliefs, and addictions to drugs, alcohol and pornography.  This is not by any means an exhaustive list, but I do think these are the battles most affecting us today.

1.    As I assemble my list of ‘Heavenly Helpers’, St. Mary, the Mother of God and our Blessed Mother must head that list for obvious reasons.  There is no problem in the world that we can’t ask her to bring before Jesus for a resolution.  The rest of the group are:

2.    St. Joseph, the blessed spouse of Mary, and the patron of all fathers, as well as injustices to immigrants.

3.    St. Peter, the first Pope, who was chosen by Jesus to be the Rock upon which His Church is built.

4.    St. John, the Beloved Disciple, who was entrusted by Jesus to take care of Mary at the foot of the Cross.

5.    St. Stephen, the first Martyr, who teaches us that we must endure in our faith, even under violent threat of death.

6.    St. Gianna Beretta Molla, a pediatrician in the 20^th century who refused both an abortion and a hysterectomy while pregnant with her fourth child despite knowing that continuing the refusal could result in her own death which later occurred.

7.    St. Peregrine, who is the patron saint against cancer.  A victim of a spreading cancer in his foot, Peregrine was scheduled for an amputation.  He spent the night before the operation in prayer; he received a vision of Christ who touched the diseased area. The next morning, Peregrine found his cancer completely healed.

8.    St. John Vianney, the patron saint of priests, who was known to work 16-18 hours a day working in the confessional, administering the Sacrament of Penance, or Reconciliation (Confession).

9.    St. Gabriel the Archangel, the Messenger of God, who we can turn to for helping us to recognize truth and justice in today’s world of manufactured news and gossip.

10.   St. Gerard Majella, whose prayers are sought for children, unborn children, women in childbirth, mothers, expectant mothers, motherhood, falsely accused people, and good confessions.  His intercession was sought by both my grandfather when my grandmother was in danger of death while pregnant with my mother, and by my mother, after having several miscarriages before my own birth.

11. St. Michael the Archangel, the leader of all angels and of the army of God. This is what the title "Archangel" means, that he is above all the others in rank.  St. Michael has four main responsibilities, as we know from scripture and Christian tradition.  The first is to combat Satan.  The second is to escort the faithful to heaven at their hour of death.  The third is to be a champion of all Christians, and the Church itself.  And the fourth is to call men from life on Earth to their heavenly judgment.

12. St. Kateri Tekakwitha, the patroness of ecology and the environment, and the saint my daughter Alicia chose as her Confirmation saint.  She was known as the “Lily of the Mohawks”.  Alicia’s daughter is Liliana, ‘Lily’ for short.  I believe it was Providence in her choice of names.

13. Joachim and

14. Anne, the parents of Mary and the grandparents of Jesus. 

O, Heavenly Helpers, you have all attained the reward of a life lived in the service of God and of others.  Please help us in our endeavors to imitate your virtues so we may join you in singing eternal praise to God at the foot of His throne.  Amen.