Wednesday, February 3, 2016

Blessing of Throats

February 3, the day after the blessing of new beeswax candles, is the traditional day for the blessing of throats through the intercession of St. Blase (also Blaise), bishop and martyr.  Attendance at weekday Mass (and even Sunday Mass) has dropped dramatically these days, but the blessing of throats, especially when colds and flu are "in vogue" at this time of year, remains so popular that many parishes transfer it to their weekend Masses to give more people an opportunity to receive it.
St. Blase was a bishop in Armenia in the 4th century noted for his miraculous cures. Some think he might have been a physician before becoming a bishop.  On one occasion a woman came to him with her son who was choking on a fishbone caught in his throat.  Bishop Blase cured him.  Hence the origin of seeking his intercession for illnesses of the throat, and because of his other cures, all illnesses are lumped into this blessing. Blase was later beheaded and thus is listed among the Martyrs.
The use of the X shaped double candles stems from the candles brought to him while he was in prison by a woman whose pig he had rescued from the clutches of a wolf.
If we can't receive the blessing from a priest, we might want to pray it on our own.
Through the intercession of St. Blase, Bishop and Martyr, may God heal you from disease of the throat and  from every other illness.  In the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Bro. Rene

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