Saints and Holy People

Saint Barbara (mid-third century–late third or early fourth century)

Patron saint of artillery, mining, those who work with explosives

December 4

---

Saint Barbara was an early Christian Greek saint and martyr. According to legend, her father, a rich pagan, kept her locked in a tower to protect her from the outside world. However, she secretly became a Christian. When her father had a bathhouse built for her near her tower, she directed that three windows be placed in it, rather than two as originally designed. The three windows were in honor of the Holy Trinity. She acknowledged to her father that she had become a Christian.

Barbara was then taken before the prefect of the province, who had her cruelly tortured and imprisoned. Yet, during the night, the prison was filled with light, and miracles occurred. In the morning, Barbara’s wounds were healed. Finally, she was condemned to death, and it is said that her father took part in the sentence. The legend is that her father was struck by lightning on the way home and was consumed by flames.

Because her father was struck by lightning, Saint Barbara is invoked against lightning and fire. Through this association, she is also the patron saint of artillery, mining, and those who work with explosives.

Santa Barbara, California, was named for Saint Barbara by the Spanish navigator Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo, who explored that area of California on Saint Barbara’s feast day in 1542. The Franciscans established Mission Santa Barbara there in 1786, and it is one of the twenty-one California missions.

Saint Barbara is usually pictured by a tower, carrying a palm branch as a symbol of victory and martyrdom. She is sometimes also seen with a chalice, a cannon, and a sword.

(Image© Zvonimir Atletic/ Shutterstock.com)