Today, in the Latin Church, we celebrate the feast of Saint Blase, the Patron of Those with Throat Diseases. Although there isn’t a lot of information on him, here are six things you probably didn’t know about the 4^th century saint.

1. St. Blase was a devoted student who studied Philosophy, then studied medicine and became a Physician.

2. St. Blase was ordained to the priesthood and then elevated as Bishop of Sebaste in Armenia.

3. The governor of the region, Agricolous, seized and carried off St. Blase to prison.

4. As St. Blase was being walked off to prison, a distraught mother asked for his aid because her child was suffering from a terrible throat disease. After the saint’s intercession, the child was miraculous healed.

5. Ever since this time, St. Blase has been the intercessor for people who endure throat ailments.

6. In the year 316, after suffering great persecution and torture, he was beheaded and is considered a martyr of the Catholic Church.

Throughout the years devotions arose to St. Blase and now on this day we have the Blessing of the Throats. The priest holding two candles together in the shape of cross and touching the throat, with the intercession of St. Blase says,

“Through the merits and intercession of St. Blase, Bishop and Martyr, may God deliver you from all diseases of the throat, and from every other evil. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.”

St. Blase…Pray For Us.