Posted on 02/02/2012 9:59:40 PM PST by Salvation
St. Blaise and the Blessing of Throats
Issue: What is the blessing of St. Blaise? Who may give the blessing of throats on the Feast of St. Blaise
1?Response: The blessing of St. Blaise, also known as the blessing of throats, is given on the Feast of St. Blaise (February 3). It is a special blessing in which the faithful invoke the saint’s intercession, asking him to protect them from ailments of the throat and every other illness. A blessing is provided in the Church’s rites for this purpose.
Priests, deacons, and even lay ministers provide the blessing of throats on the Feast of St. Blaise. However, the formula used by a layperson for the blessing is different than that used by an ordained minister.
Discussion: St. Blaise was the bishop of Sebaste, Armenia, in the early fourth century. He was imprisoned and later martyred for the faith. Most of what we know about him comes from the tradition associated with the liturgical celebrations of the Church.
Saint Blaise was known for his ability to heal both people and animals. Two incidents are particularly significant, as they are reflected in the blessing we receive today. Tradition says that a mother brought her son, who was choking to death on a fishbone, to the bishop. The bishop then healed the boy. When St. Blaise was being taken to prison, he encountered a poor woman whose pig had been taken by a wolf. At St. Blaise’s command, the wolf brought back the pig unharmed. The woman is said to have brought St. Blaise food and candles while he was in prison.
The blessing of throats is related to the saint’s healing of the boy who was choking. The use of two candles in the blessing is said to be in memory of candles brought to St. Blaise by the woman whose pig he had rescued.
As with any prayer, the blessing of throats is not a guarantee that those who receive the blessing will not have ailments of the throat. Rather, it is a prayer for protection from such ailments.
Since 1989, lay ministers have been allowed to participate in the blessing of throats on the Feast of St. Blaise. The Book of Blessings provides the proper formulas for the blessing and distinguishes between the blessing given by an ordained minister and that given by a lay minister:
A minister who is a priest or deacon touches the throat of each person with the crossed candles and says the prayer of blessing.
Through the intercession of Saint Blase, bishop and martyr, may God deliver you from every disease of the throat and from every other illness:
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, @ and of the Holy Spirit.2
On the other hand, a lay minister "touches the throat of each person with the crossed candles and, without making the sign of the cross, says the prayer of blessing" (emphasis added).
As the Book of Blessings indicates, laypersons do not make the sign of the cross over the faithful as the priest does. This seemingly small difference points to their distinct vocations: All the faithful are members of the common priesthood, while priests are members of the ministerial priesthood. God works directly through the words and actions of ordained priests as they intercede for the faithful. The lay faithful, on the other hand, petition God for a blessing.
1 Translations of Church documents such as the Sacramentary and Book of Blessings use the spelling "Blase." In English, however, the name is more commonly spelled "Blaise."
2 The cross @ indicates making the sign of the cross.
Recommended Reading
Holy Bible (Catholic edition)
Catechism of the Catholic Church
Documents of Vatican II
Sacrosanctum Concilium
Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, Spirit of the Liturgy
At my parish, this special blessing is done on the Sunday closet to the feast day itself. Even people call to ask if it still going to be done. Folks have not fogotten.
That’s good that they have not forgotten. Since this is also the First Friday, I am expecting a big crowd in church for Daily Mass — probably close to 100.
St. Blaise Ping!
Was at 6:30am Mass this morning, was also totally envisioning Saint Blaise’s name being spelled Saint Blaze (way cooler), I think I will continue with my ignorance on this one hahaha.
I loved this tradition as a child.
My mother once told me that, at one time, the candles used were lit but the practice of using unlit candles came about because the veil of a woman’s hat caught fire. Don’t know if this was true or just a legend.
...totally envisioning Saint Blaise’s name being spelled Saint Blaze....
&&&
You brought back a childhood memory. I remember thinking it must be “blaze” because of the fire of the candle.
Post #7 depicts the problem with your idea ;)
ping
We had about 200 at our 7:00 am mass. I have always loved this feast and I am so happy to see so many feel the same way.
Deacon Francis
I had my throat blessed this morning.
Wonderful!
Big Red :) that was VMI’s sports teams nickname.
Big Red :) that was VMI’s sports teams nickname.
^^\
Oh, I know — now! :) There is also The Big Red One in the army.
When I began using Bigg Red (I only added the second “g” because the system told me that there was already a “Big Red”), I guess I really did not think it through. People always think that I am a man and involved in sports or in the military.
:) if you’re from Texas you can say you’re from a big red state! haha, or if you’re from georgia the g would have an explanation. But I still like the name! Cheers.
Ahh, but you’re my northern neighbor, not very red up there, however good people can be found everywhere.
Well, I am from Maryland. It’s not a big state, but it is large in terms of its blueness. :(
Big Red is a nickname my husband gave me, while we were dating, because I am tall and, at the time, my hair was auburn.
:)
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