St. Blaise

Today, February 3, is the feast of St. Blaise (or Blase) in the Catholic and Orthodox Churches.

According to the story, 

"Blaise, who had studied philosophy in his youth, was a doctor in Sebaste in Armenia, the city of his birth, who exercised his art with miraculous ability, good-will, and piety. When the bishop of the city died, he was chosen to succeed him, with the acclamation of all the people. His holiness was manifest through many miracles: from all around, people came to him to find cures for their spirit and their body; even wild animals came in herds to receive his blessing. In 316, Agricola, the governor of Cappadocia and of Lesser Armenia, having arrived in Sebastia at the order of the emperor Licinius to kill the Christians, arrested the bishop. As he was being led to jail, a mother set her only son, choking to death of a fish-bone, at his feet, and the child was cured straight away. Regardless, the governor, unable to make Blaise renounce his faith, beat him with a stick, ripped his flesh with iron combs, and beheaded him."

The main reason anyone remembers him today is the story about the fish-bone. Saint Blaise is invoked for protection against injuries and illnesses of the throat.

Two candles that were blessed on February 2 for the Feast of the Presentation of the Child Jesus in the Temple, are held in a crossed position by a priest over the heads of the faithful or the people are touched on the throat with them. At the same time the following blessing is given: "May Almighty God at the intercession of St. Blaise, Bishop and Martyr, preserve you from infections of the throat and from all other afflictions". Then the priest makes the sign of the cross over the faithful.

Before I was Catholic, one of my roommates dragged me to Mass on the feast of St. Blaise to get my throat blessed. We were both inclined to have colds and flu, and he was convinced Blaise would help. I do not recall if we were any better that winter or not. I will testify that I have never choked on a fish-bone.

The other personal anecdote about St. Blaise has to do with an encounter I witnessed between a Carmelite seminarian and another seminarian.

Carmelite: Hi, I'm Brother Bruno.

Seminarian: I'm Brother Blaise.

Carmelite: Blaze! Were you named for a horse?