St. Blaise

The bishop-physician on whose feast throats are blessed with crossed candles.

The story

A physician and bishop of Sebaste in Armenia, Blaise healed a boy choking on a fish bone and was martyred under Licinius. The blessing of throats on his feast day, with two candles from Candlemas, is one of the Church's most beloved sacramentals.

What Blaise teaches

Sacramentals dispose us to grace; the Church blesses the body because God became flesh.

Patronage

throat ailments, wool workers.

Prayer

Through the intercession of St. Blaise, bishop and martyr, may God deliver you from every disease of the throat and from every other illness. Amen.