St Margaret of Antioch. From Gueranger's 'The Liturgical Year': "This same day brings before us a rival of the warrior-martyr, St. George: Margaret, like him victorious over the dragon, and like him …More
St Margaret of Antioch.
From Gueranger's 'The Liturgical Year': "This same day brings before us a rival of the warrior-martyr, St. George: Margaret, like him victorious over the dragon, and like him called in the Menaea of the Greeks, the Great Martyr. The cross was her weapon; and, like the soldier, the virgin, too, consummated her trial in her blood. They were equally renowned in those chivalrous times when valor and faith fought hand in hand for Christ beneath the standard of the saints. So early as the seventh century our Western island rivaled the East in honoring the pearl drawn from the abyss of infidelity. Before the disastrous schism brought about by Henry VIII, the Island of Saints celebrated this feast as a double of the second class; women alone were obliged to rest from servile work, in gratitude for the protection afforded them by St. Margaret at the moment of childbirth—a favor which ranked her among the saints called in the Middle Ages auxiliaries or helpers. But it was not in England alone that Margaret was invoked, as history proves by the many and illustrious persons of all countries who have borne her blessed name." Today, 20 July, is the traditional feast day of St Margaret of Antioch, one of the 'Fourteen Holy Helpers', patron saint of pregnancy. This medieval statue of the Saint is in the Victoria & Albert Museum.
Source: Lawrence OP on Flickr
From Gueranger's 'The Liturgical Year': "This same day brings before us a rival of the warrior-martyr, St. George: Margaret, like him victorious over the dragon, and like him called in the Menaea of the Greeks, the Great Martyr. The cross was her weapon; and, like the soldier, the virgin, too, consummated her trial in her blood. They were equally renowned in those chivalrous times when valor and faith fought hand in hand for Christ beneath the standard of the saints. So early as the seventh century our Western island rivaled the East in honoring the pearl drawn from the abyss of infidelity. Before the disastrous schism brought about by Henry VIII, the Island of Saints celebrated this feast as a double of the second class; women alone were obliged to rest from servile work, in gratitude for the protection afforded them by St. Margaret at the moment of childbirth—a favor which ranked her among the saints called in the Middle Ages auxiliaries or helpers. But it was not in England alone that Margaret was invoked, as history proves by the many and illustrious persons of all countries who have borne her blessed name." Today, 20 July, is the traditional feast day of St Margaret of Antioch, one of the 'Fourteen Holy Helpers', patron saint of pregnancy. This medieval statue of the Saint is in the Victoria & Albert Museum.
Source: Lawrence OP on Flickr