Feast Day: February 3
Patronage: Throat ailments, veterinarians, wool combers, and wild animals
Life and Legend
Saint Blaise (also spelled Blasius) was a bishop and martyr of the early Church, venerated in both the Eastern and Western traditions. He lived in the late 3rd and early 4th centuries and was Bishop of Sebaste in Armenia (modern-day Sivas, Turkey). His life is shrouded in pious tradition, but his sanctity and miraculous intercessions have been recognized for centuries.
Early Life and Episcopacy
Little is known about Blaise’s early years, but he is believed to have been a physician before becoming a bishop. His medical knowledge, combined with his pastoral care, made him a beloved shepherd of his flock. During the fierce persecutions of Christians under the Roman Emperor Licinius (r. 308–324), Saint Blaise withdrew to a cave in the mountains to escape the authorities. There, he lived as a hermit, devoting himself to prayer and mortification.
Miracles and Acts of Mercy
Even in his secluded retreat, Blaise was known for his miraculous interventions. Tradition tells us that wild animals, recognizing his sanctity, would approach him for healing, and he would bless and cure them. One of his most famous miracles occurred when a mother brought him her child, who was choking on a fishbone. Blaise prayed over the boy and miraculously healed him, an event that led to his patronage of those suffering from throat illnesses.
Martyrdom
Eventually, Roman soldiers discovered Blaise in his mountain refuge and arrested him. While being led away, he encountered a poor woman whose pig had been stolen by a wolf. Blaise commanded the wolf to return the animal, and it obeyed. The woman, in gratitude, later brought him candles while he was imprisoned, a gesture that some associate with the custom of the Blessing of the Throats on his feast day.
Blaise was tortured for refusing to renounce his Christian faith. He was scourged and cruelly raked with iron combs—an instrument used in wool combing—before finally being beheaded around the year 316.
Veneration and Legacy
Saint Blaise’s cult spread rapidly in both the East and the West. His relics were enshrined in various churches, and his name was included in the Roman Martyrology. He is particularly revered in Armenia, Italy, and Germany.
The Blessing of the Throats
One of the most enduring customs associated with Saint Blaise is the Blessing of the Throats, traditionally performed on his feast day (February 3). This sacramental involves the priest holding two crossed candles against the throat of the faithful while invoking Saint Blaise’s intercession:
“Per intercessionem Sancti Blasii, Episcopi et Martyris, liberet te Deus a malo gutturis et a quovis alio malo.”
(Through the intercession of Saint Blaise, bishop and martyr, may God deliver you from every disease of the throat and from every other illness.)
This practice has been observed for centuries and remains a cherished devotion in the Church.
Iconography and Patronage
Saint Blaise is often depicted in sacred art as:
- A bishop holding two crossed candles (symbolizing his feast day blessing)
- A bishop with iron combs (symbolizing his martyrdom)
- A healer surrounded by wild animals (referencing his miracles)
He is the patron saint of throat illnesses, wool combers (due to the manner of his torture), veterinarians, and those who work with animals.
Conclusion
Saint Blaise stands as a model of steadfast faith, charity, and miraculous intercession. His life reminds the faithful of Christ’s power to heal both body and soul. As we seek his protection, particularly from ailments of the throat, we are called to emulate his unwavering trust in God amidst trials and persecution.
Saint Blaise, pray for us!