Only a few facts are known about Saint Blaise.
Saint Blaise was born in to a noble and affluent family who raised him to be a man of God. He spent time studying philosophy and later medicine.
Saint Blaise became the bishop of Sebastea in Armenia during the reign of Licinius in the early fourth century, when a series of persecution began again. In one of his prayers, he got a message to set off to the mountains so as to escape persecution. He lived in a cave on Mount Argeus but as soon as people found out where he was, they came flocking to him from nearby countries and provinces for the cure of their ailments both spiritual and physical.
He was discovered by the huntsmen when they saw the myriads of people waiting outside the cave while Blaise was praying. He was arrested, put in prison and was martyred. While in prison, a boy was brought to him who had a fishbone stuck in his throat -this led to the blessing of throats on February 3- Saint Blaise’s feast day.
The blessing of St. Blaise is done by consecrating two candles which are then held in a crossed position by a priest and pressed against the throat or over the head as the following blessing is said: "May God at the intercession of St. Blasius preserve you from throat troubles and every other evil."
Patronage:
Saint Blaise is venerated as the patron saint of:
Throat illnesses
Animals
Wool combers
Veterinarians
Various places and professions associated with throat diseases
Feast Day
Roman Catholic Church: Celebrated on February 3.
Eastern Orthodox Church: Celebrated on February 11.
Prayer to Saint Blaise
"O Glorious Saint Blaise, who by your martyrdom has left to the Church a precious witness to the faith, obtain for us the grace to preserve within ourselves this divine gift, and to defend, without human respect, both by word and example, the truth of that same faith, which is so wickedly attacked and slandered in these our times. You who miraculously cured a little child when it was at the point of death by reason of an affliction of the throat, grant us your powerful protection in like misfortunes; and, above all, obtain for us the grace of dying a holy death. Amen."
Reflection:
Reflecting on the life of Saint Blaise encourages us to consider the strength of faith in the face of adversity. His commitment to serving others, despite the danger to his own life, highlights the virtue of selflessness. In our own lives, we can draw inspiration from his example to aid those in need and to stand firm in our beliefs, even when faced with challenges. The story of Saint Blaise also reminds us of the power of intercessory prayer and the importance of spiritual well-being alongside physical health.
