Four Marshals of God
The four marshals of God are four saints of early Christianity who were venerated as patron saints for inexplicable epidemics and diseases, especially in the Rhineland . The helpful Saints Cornelius, Antonius, Hubertus and Quirinus were compared with marshals who, like the marshals at the imperial court, ruled the heavenly throne of the ruling Christ and are called court marshals of God "because of their unique services and daily help".
- Quirinus von Rom or Quirinus von Neuss was a martyr from the 2nd century . According to tradition, the Roman tribune Quirinus was a prison guard and converted to Christianity with his daughter Balbina . He was persecuted as a Christian under Emperor Hadrian and beheaded around 115. He is the patron saint of horses, cattle and knights and is invoked against leg and foot ailments, gout , paralysis, pus ulcers, skin rashes, plague , earache, goiter, fistulas, damaged bones, smallpox and horse diseases.
- Cornelius (Bishop of Rome) († June 253 in Centumcellae today Civitavecchia , Italy) was Bishop of Rome from March 251 to June 253. Under Emperor Trebonianus Gallus he was exiled to Centumcellae (Civitavecchia), where he died. As patron saint, he has a double function: on the one hand patron of the horned cattle (Latin cornu , German horn ), on the other hand protector against epilepsy ( epilepsy ), cramps and other nervous diseases, in the Netherlands especially as a helper with childhood diseases .
- Anthony the Great (* around 251 ?; † 356) was a Christian Egyptian monk, ascetic and hermit . Antony became famous for his energetic resistance to numerous temptations and admired as a miracle worker and man of God. On the occasion of the end of the 11th century occurring Antoniusfeuer disease mentioned that one later than poisoning by ergot identified, they sought refuge with the relics of St. Anthony as a remedy. Antonius is a helper against various epidemics, especially the Antonius fire and the plague; he is the patron saint of farmers and their livestock, but also of sow herders and butchers.
- Hubertus von Liège (* around 655 in Toulouse, † 727 in Tervuren near Brussels ) was Bishop of Maastricht and Liège . Hubertus lived as Count Palatine at the court of Theodoric III. in Paris, later in Metz at the court of Pippin the Middle , with whom he was probably related. When he was widowed, Hubertus went to the forests of the Ardennes as a hermit . In 705 he became Bishop of Tongeren - Maastricht , in 716 he moved his bishopric to Liège. Saint Hubert is said to protect against dog bites and hunting accidents, salt and bread consecrated on Hubertus Day protect - according to legend - humans and pets from rabies .