The Feast of St. Blaise

Today the Catholic Church celebrates the feast of St. Blaise. Very few facts are known about this 4th century saint's life, but it is believed that he was the bishop of Sebastea in Armenia and was martyred for the Faith.

Many Catholics might remember St. Blaise because of the "Blessing of the Throats" that takes place on this day, in commemoration of the holy man who is known as the patron saint of those who suffer from illnesses of the throat. This protection apprarently comes from a legend that a boy was brought to him with a fishbone stuck in his throat, and he was about to die when St. Blaise healed him.

I don't know about you, but I love to learn about the saints. I feel like I can use all the help I can get--so the more Heavenly helpers I can find, the better! Here is a prayer to St. Blaise: O glorious St. Blaise, who by thy martyrdom didst leave 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. Thou who didst miraculously restore a little child when he was at the point of death by reason of an affliction of the throat, grant us thy mighty protection in like misfortunes; and above all, obtain for us the grace of Christian mortification, together with a faithful observance of the precepts of the Church, which may keep us from offending Almighty God. Amen.

God bless you with health and happiness on this glorious, sunshiny winter day! (I must say, this mild winter we're having here in New England has been nothing short of miraculous!)