Feast of St. Blaise, Bishop and Martyr
-
Sunday, February 4, 2024"Through the intercession of St. Blaise, bishop and martyr, may God deliver you from every disease of the throat and from every other illness, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit." — Prayer from the Blessing of the Throats
In celebration of the feast of St. Blaise, a blessing of throats will be offered after all Mass on the weekend of February 3rd and 4th. Two blessed candles are tied together with a red ribbon in the form of a cross and either pressed against or held over the throat for a blessing. The red ribbon represents the blood of martyrs, and the candles are held in the shape of a cross. The blessing of throats may be given by a priest, deacon, or a lay minister who follows the rites and prayers designated for a lay minister.
Saint Blaise was the bishop of Sebaste in Armenia during the fourth century. Very little is known about his life. According to various accounts… he was a physician before becoming a bishop. His cult spread throughout the entire Church in the Middle Ages because he was reputed to have miraculously cured a little boy who nearly died because of a fishbone in his throat. He was martyred for the faith in 316 A.D. From the eighth century he has been invoked on behalf of the sick, especially those afflicted with illnesses of the throat. Source: Book of Blessings, 1625-1627.