Saint Barbara

Who is she?

Saint Barbara is a virgin martyr whom Christians have honored for many centuries, in both East and West. We know very few things about her life for certain; her story was written down late and has many legendary features. For that reason, in 1969 the Church removed her feast from the General Roman Calendar, but she is still in the Church’s official list of saints and is still celebrated in many places.

Life story

The story that follows is told according to tradition.

Barbara lived around the third century, in the land that is now Turkey or Lebanon. Her father, Dioscorus, was a wealthy man who worshiped pagan gods. He loved his beautiful daughter but wanted to keep her all to himself, so he built a tower and locked her in it.

In the tower, Barbara thought a lot about the One who made heaven and earth. She learned about Jesus, came to believe in him and was baptized. She refused to marry because she wanted to give her whole life to God.

Once, while her father was away, she asked the workmen to add one more window, so there were three windows instead of two. When her father came back and asked about it, she explained: the three windows recall the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, who are the light for everyone.

Her father was furious that his daughter had become a Christian. He handed her over to the authorities. Barbara was tortured but stayed faithful. In the end, she was put to death. The story says that her own father killed her and was then struck dead by lightning. That is why people ask Saint Barbara to protect them from lightning and sudden death; people who do dangerous work, like miners, artillery soldiers and firefighters, have also chosen her as their patron saint.

Why is she a saint?

Even though many details are legend, Christians through the ages have remembered Saint Barbara as a brave young woman who kept her faith in the Holy Trinity and would rather die than abandon God. The Church honors her as a virgin martyr.

A lesson for you

• Each time you make the Sign of the Cross, remember that you are professing the Holy Trinity, like Saint Barbara.
• When you have to live your faith alone, among people who don’t believe, don’t be ashamed or afraid.
• Pray for people who do dangerous work to protect others.