4 December

It’s the feast day of Barbara, Greek saint and martyr.

Late in the third century, St. Barbara was tortured and condemned to death after converting to Christianity. Her father carried out the beheading. On his way home he was struck by lightning and his body was consumed by fire.

Barbara is therefore known as the patron saint of those who work with explosives.

Above: Shrine to Saint Barbara in the German mine, Schacht Konrad.

Also, born in 1795 – Thomas Carlyle, Scottish-English historian and philosopher.

Our main business is not to see what lies dimly at a distance, but to do what lies clearly at hand.