Blessing of Throats

Sunday, February 3rd is the feast of St. Blaise. St. Blaise was a Bishop in Armenia. According to various stories written about him, due to persecution of Christianity in Armenia, Bishop Blaise was forced to flee to the back country, and lived as a hermit in solitude and prayer. Hunters found him and forced him to come with them to be imprisoned. As he was being brought into prison, a woman came with her young son who had a fish bone lodged in this throat. At Blaise’s command, the child was able to cough up the bone. Bishop Blaise was eventually tortured, and beheaded in 316.

Traditionally, on his feast day we come forward to have our throats blessed. On the weekend closest to Febuary 3rd, we will be blessing throats at the end of all the Saturday evening and Sunday Masses. When you come forward, a set of two crossed candles will be set around your throat. The blessing you will be given is:

“Through the intercession of St. Blaise, bishop and martyr, may God deliver you from ailments of the throat and from every other illness. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.”