Who is Saint Barbara? Turns out she is the patron saint of miners, artillerymen and sundry other saps who work with explosives. According to legend she died on December 4th, 306. Until yesterday I had never heard of her but Neal Stephenson makes mention of her in Quicksilver
and I had to go find out more about my patron saint! Are you allowed to claim her as your patron saint if you aren't Catholic or Orthodox? Who cares! If she can keep me from getting blown up I am all for her.
