Feb 3: Saint Blaise

St. Blaise is regarded with such honor that some Eastern Orthodox churches consider his feast day a holy day. For decades, Catholics in the United States have sought an annual blessing of their throats.

St. Blaise was a good Bishop who encouraged his people to seek spiritual and physical health. He lived in Armenia where Christian persecution was rampant. He was forced to flee to the back country where he began to live a life of solitude and prayer as a hermit. A group of hunters stumbled across his cave and found him kneeling and praying while surrounded by hungry bears, wolves, and lions. As the hunters hauled St. Blaise off to prison, a mother approached him with a young child who had a fish bone stuck in his throat. St. Blaise was able to command the boy to cough up the fish bone.

St. Blaise was beaten and tortured in an attempt to get him to worship a pagan idol. He was eventually beheaded in 316 for his refusal.

It’s that time of year when it seems like EVERYBODY is sick. It always starts with a scratchy throat.

Saint Blaise with oils: Saint Blaise and Throat health calls for Thieves Roll On. I just roll it all over my throat when it starts to feel scratchy and hurt. And then I ask Saint Blaise to pray for me!