[Catholic Caucus] Feast of St. Blaise

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[Salvation]

Feast of
St. Blaise

St. Blaise (also spelled Blase and Blasius) -- one of the Fourteen Holy Helpers -- was a 3rd century physician who became Bishop of Sebaste, Armenia. This was the time of persecution under Licinius, so St. Blaise hid out in a cave on Mt. Argeus. From the Golden Legend: ...the birds of heaven brought to him meat for to eat. And it seemed to him that they came to serve him and accompany him, and would not depart from him till he had lift up his hands and blessed them. And also sick men came to him and anon were cured and healed. Now it happed that the prince of this region sent his knights to hunt, and they could take nothing. But by adventure they came unto the desert place where S. Blase was, where they found great multitude of beasts which were about him, of whom they could take none, whereof they were all abashed and showed this to their lord, the which anon sent many knights for him, and commanded to bring him and all the christian men with him. And that night Jesu Christ appeared to him thrice, which said to him: Arise up and make to me sacrifice. Lo! here be the knights that come to fetch thee at the commandment of the prince. And the knights said to him: Come out from this place, the president calleth thee. And S. Blase answered: My sons, ye be welcome, I see now well that God hath not forgotten me. He went with them and continually preached, and did many miracles tofore them. There was a woman that had a son dying, in whose throat was a bone of a fish athwart, which estrangled him, and she brought him tofore his feet, praying him that he would make her son whole. And S. Blase put his hand upon him and made his prayer to God that this child, and all they that demanded benefits of health in his name, that they should be holpen and obtain it, and anon he was whole and guerished. Another woman there was that was poor which had a swine, which the wolf had borne away, and she humbly prayed to S. Blase that she might have again her swine. And he began to smile and said: Good woman anger thee not, for thou shalt have again thy swine, and anon the wolf brought again to the woman, which was a widow, her swine. St. Blaise was captured and taken before the prince, whose gods, Blaise informed him, were fiends. The prince was enraged and threw him in prison. The widow whose pig was returned to her killed the pig and fed Blaise with it. From the Golden Legend again:  And when this good widow, which by S. Blase had recovered her swine, heard thereof, she slew it, and the head and the feet with a little bread and a candle, she brought to S. Blase, and he thanked God and ate thereof, and he said to her that every year she should offer in his church a candle, and know thou that to thee and to all them that so shall do shall well happen to them, and so she did all her life, and she had much great prosperity. Even after imprisonment, he refused to worship the prince's gods, and for punishment his flesh torn by wool combs. He was finally beheaded, martyred along with seven women and two children. Because of the cure of the boy's throat when the boy was choking, St. Blaise is patron against troubles of the throat, and today our throats are blessed at Mass. The priest will bless two candles in honor of St. Blaise. The words of this blessing are: V. Our help + is in the name of the Lord. R. Who made heaven and earth. V. The Lord be with you. R. And with thy spirit. Let us pray. Almighty and most gentle God, Who didst create the multiplicity of things through Thine only Word, and didst will that same Word through Whom all things were made to take flesh for the refashioning of man; Thou, Who art great and without measure, terrible and worthy of praise, a Worker of wonders: the glorious martyr and bishop Blaise, not fearing to suffer all sorts of diverse tortures because of his profession of faith in Thee, was suited happily to bear the palm of martyrdom: and Thou didst grant to him, among other graces, the favor that he should by Thy power cure all kinds of illnesses of the throat: we humbly beg Thy Majesty not to look upon our sins, but to be pleased by his merits and prayers and to deign in Thy venerable kindness to bless + and sanctify + this creature of wax by the outpouring of Thy grace; that all whose necks in good faith are touched by it may be freed by the merits of his sufferings from any illness of the throat, and that healthy and strong they may offer thanks to Thee within Thy Holy Church, and praise Thy glorious name, which is blessed forever and ever. Through our Lord Jesus Christ Thy Son, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end. R. Amen. Then he will hold the two, unlit blessed candles crossed over our throats, intoning: Per intercessionem S. Blasii liberet te Deus a malo gutteris et a quovis alio malo English: May God at the intercession of St. Blasius preserve you from throat troubles and every other evil. Then he will make a sign of the Cross over us. St. Blaise is also the patron of veterinarians and against attacks of wild animals. He is represented in art as a Bishop holding two crossed candles, with wool combs, or in a cave surrounded by wild animals.

[Salvation]

St. Blaise is remembered on February 3rd.

[Salvation]

Domestic Church Suggestions for Families

Saint Blaise

by Catherine Fournier

© Copyright 1997-2010 Domestic Church Communications Ltd.

Saint Blaise,
Bishop and Martyr.
Feast Day: February 3
Patron: Those suffering from Throat Ailments.
Symbol: Crossed Candles, Iron Combs, A Cave with Wild Animals

 

Young Families

Have you ever received a blessing? Maybe you get a blessing when you family receives Communion at Sunday Mass. Sometimes fathers bless their families every night before bed. There's special blessings for many different things. You can get your car blessed, or your home blessed. Every time, we are asking God to watch over us, protect us and give us graces and strengths to follow Him. A special blessing takes place on the feast day of Saint Blaise. On this day, people can have their throats blessed.

Saint Blaise was a bishop in Armenia in the early fourth century. Not much is known about him, but there are many legends and stories that tell us what the times were like. It was a time of persecution for the Catholic Church. The Roman empire was trying to get rid of the Christians. Many faithful were martyred because they would not give up their love and faith in Jesus Christ.

Saint Blaise received a message from God to go into the hills to escape the persecution. The Roman governor sent men to find him. While searching for Saint Blaise, the hunters discovered a cave that was full of sick wild animals. There was Saint Blaise in the middle, healing the animals! They captured him and took him back to the governor.

On the way, Saint Blaise rescued a poor woman's pig from a wolf. Other stories say that he cured a boy who had a fish bone stuck in this throat and was choking to death. It is because of this miraculous healing that he is considered to be the patron of throat ailments. After suffering various forms of torture, Saint Blaise was beheaded. Seven women were martyred at the same time.

Practiced Families

Saint Blaise, Bishop and Martyr, devoted the early years of his life to the study of philosophy and became a physician. Then, receiving a call from God, he was ordained to the priesthood and made Bishop of Sebaste in Armenia.

At about this time, a new persecution of Christians began under the reign of Licinius. Saint Blaise was told in a message from God to go into the hills to escape this persecution, so that he might minister to the flock. Saint Blaise went into the mountains and took refuge in a cave.

The governor of the region, called Agricolaus, sent men into the hills to hunt Saint Blaise. When these hunters came across the cave, they found it surrounded by wild animals, all suffering from illnesses. Saint Blaise moved about them, healing the animals, and unharmed by them.

The hunters seized Saint Blaise and took him back to the governor. Along the way, Saint Blaise continued to perform miracles. He cured a woman's son, who was choking to death on a fish bone. He persuaded a wild wolf to release a poor woman's pig. In gratitude, this woman followed Saint Blaise and brought him candles and food while he was imprisoned.

Finally, Saint Blaise was ordered executed by the governor, and was beheaded along with seven Christian women. The Roman Catholic date of his feast day is February 3rd, while in the Eastern rite, his feast is celebrated on February 11th. Because of the miracles he performed, devotions to Saint Blaise for healing of throat ailments grew through the centuries and are still performed today.

There is a group of fourteen saints known as the 'Fourteen Auxiliary Saints' (or Holy Helpers). During times of illness or death, mankind turns to God with prayers and petitions. This was especially true during the 14th century when a plague epidemic caused sudden and painful death throughout Europe. Because death occurred so suddenly, many people missed receiving the final sacraments. In fear, the living sought the intercession of saints known individually for helping with different symptoms of the plague. (Legend has the parents of Saint Nicholas dying from the plague). Thus devotion was established to a group known as the Holy Helpers. Saint Blaise, as the patron of those suffering from throat ailments, is one of these Fourteen Holy Helpers.

Experienced Families

Though there are few details available of the life of Saint Blaise, and he does not appear in martyrologies until the ninth century, it is agreed that Saint Blaise was the Bishop of Sebaste during the period of persecution of Licinius, the early fourth century.

According to legend, Saint Blaise was a physician at Sebaste before he became a priest and was raised to the episcopal see. When the persecutions of Christains began, Blaise took refuge in the hills. He was discovered living in a cave, by men who had been sent to hunt him under order of the governor. Legend states that when he was found, he was surrounded by sick wild beasts whom he was curing.

While in prison awaiting trial and torture, Saint Blaise performed a miraculous cure of a young boy who was choking to death on a fish bone. After suffering various forms of torture, (some illustrations show him being pierced with iron combs) Saint Blaise was beheaded.

In the holy wars, his relics were dispersed over Europe and his veneration was increased by many miraculous cures, especially of sore or diseased throats. He is the principal patron of Ragusa. Perhaps because of his great popularity or because of the iron combs by which it was said to have been tortured, this celebrated martyr is also the patron of woolcombers.

He is represented holding two candles in his hand (used for the blessing of throats) or in a cave surrounded by wild animals, as he was found by the governor's men.

Prayer: Saint Blaise, pray for us that we may not suffer from illnesses of the throat and pray that all who are suffering be healed by God's love.

[Salvation]

[CATHOLIC/ORTHODOX CAUCUS] The Feast of the Fourteen Holy Helpers
Catholic Bamberg: Vierzehnheiligen (Shrine of the Fourteen Holy Helpers in Germany)
Fourteen Holy Helpers

[fishtank]

Some thoughts, even though I’m not RCC:

(1) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blasius_boundary_layer

“Blasius boundary layer theory” is from a different person.

(2) The Russian icon would have his name pronounced as “Vlas”.

(3) I remember the candle service from years ago.

Thanks for the post!

[Kolokotronis]

And in Holy Orthodoxy, he is commemorated on February 11.

Apolytikion in the Fourth Tone

As a sharer of the ways and a successor to the throne of the Apostles, O inspired of God, thou foundest discipline to be a means of ascent to divine vision. Wherefore, having rightly divided the word of truth, thou didst also contest for the Faith even unto blood, O Hieromartyr Vlassios. Intercede with Christ our God that our souls be saved.

Troparion in the Third Tone

Thou didst blossom as a fruitful tree in the Church,/ by the cultivation of divine grace, O Father Blaise;/ thou didst shine with the grace of the priesthood/ and bear fruit in thy martyr's contest./ Entreat Christ our God to grant us His great mercy.

Kontakion in the Second Tone

O Godbearing Blaise, thou wast a holy shoot,/ a fadeless flower, a fruitful branch of Christ the Vine./ Fill with thy gladness those who faithfully honor thy memory,/ and intercede unceasingly for us all.

[The_Reader_David]

The antimension at our little mission contains a relic of the Holy Hieromartyr Blaise.

[Kolokotronis]

"The antimension at our little mission contains a relic of the Holy Hieromartyr Blaise."

Will there be a Divine Liturgy on the 11th?

[Bigg Red]

I remember getting the blessing of St. Blaise in church with the priest holding the 2 crossed candles. My mother explained to me the story behind the blessing. She also told me that when she was a girl, lighted candles were used. Lighting the candles was discontinued, she said, because the veil on a woman’s hat had caught fire once.

Sadly, the blessing of St. Blaise is apparently not administered these days. I have not seen it at any of the churches I have attended as an adult.

[Salvation]

**Sadly, the blessing of St. Blaise is apparently not administered these days. I have not seen it at any of the churches I have attended as an adult.**

You need to come to my church — my priest does it every year. Perhaps because he suffered immensely with laryngitis for a long time until he found out he had a terrible allergy to soy. (Try to find ketcup without soy in it.....sidenote.)

[Salvation]

ketchup

[The_Reader_David]

We share our priest with another parish (more borrow — they pay him a proper salary, we pay a small stipend for serving our Liturgies on Saturdays), so no. I think our priest plans to preach on the importance of holy relics and offer the relic for veneration on Saturday.

[Kolokotronis]

How far is it to the other parish? Have you considered bringing over a priest from one of the old countries? Many of those guys are fabulous priests. In the GOA we’ve recently gotten quite an influx of Romanians and, of course, Greeks. I’ve heard there are a number of Russian and Lebanese priests who can come also. It may be worth looking at.

[johngrace]

My mother would always get our throats blessed around this time when I was a Kid. She loved this Saint’s Story. Praise Jesus!

[Salvation]

On Blaise and Throat Blessings [Ecumenical]
Catholic Caucus] Feast of St. Blaise
Blessing Throats on the Feast of St. Blaise
St Blase, Bishop And Martyr