Feb. 3 is the feast day of St. Blaise. The ceremonial blessing of the throats is credited to him.
The actual birth date of St. Blaise is not known. He was born into a wealthy family in Sebaste, Armenia. It is believed Blaise was a physician who had also studied philosophy. Eventually, he became the Bishop of Sebaste, Armenia. He was known for his gift of healing. The most famous of these healings was the healing of a young boy who was choking on a fish bone. This led to the tradition of blessing of the throats on his feast day using two blessed candles pressed against the throat.
St. Blaise not only healed people, but he also healed wild animals. A pig, belonging to a poor woman, had been attacked by a wolf. After Blaise succeeded in healing the pig, he fled to the hills to avoid persecution. Eventually, he was found and captured. Sentenced to die for his faith, the woman whose pig he had cured came to visit him, bringing him two wax candles to dispel evil. He was eventually tortured and killed in the year 316.
St. Blaise is the patron of throat maladies and wild animals.
A prayer for intercession:
Dear bishop and lover of souls, you willingly bore heavy crosses in faithful imitation of Jesus. Similarly, with Christ-llike compassion you cured many sufferers. Then after undergoing horrible torture died a martyr for Christ. Obtain a cure for these ailments (describe afflictions) if this is agreeable to God. Amen
The following blessing is found in the official "Book of Blessings"
Through the intercession of St. Blaise, 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 the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
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