Blessing of the Throats : Feast of St. Blaise

The feast day of St. Blaise is on Monday, February 3, 2025.  Blessing of the Throats will take place after the 12:10pm Mass. 

St. Blaise is recognized as the saint of throat diseases and for the "Blessing of the Throats". His most famous and memorable act was when he healed a young boy who choked on a fish bone. The boy was placed at the Saint's feet by his mother, and was healed right away. The governor, however, placed him in jail due to his faith. The governor was unsuccessful in getting St. Blaise to renounce his faith and therefore had him beheaded in 316 AD. 

The crossed candles are an important part of St. Blaise Day as they commemorate the mother of the boy who choked on the fishbone. She presented St. Blaise with the crossed candles to light his way to jail after the ruler of Sebastea ordered his arrest. The origin of the blessing of the throats uses crossed candles as a symbol.