St. Blaise Throat Blessing after all Masses on…
February 1 and 2, 2025, by Saint Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church
Saturday, February 3, is the Feast of St. Blaise, Bishop and Martyr. St. Blaise was the bishop of Sebaste in Armenia, martyred in 316 AD. The earliest accounts tell us that Blaise was a physician in Sebaste before becoming bishop. During the 4th-century persecution under Licinius, St. Blaise was imprisoned. After enduring various forms of torture, he was beheaded.
The blessing of the throat is performed with two white taper candles that were blessed during Mass on February 1 and 2, which is the Presentation of the Lord (Candlemas Day). The white color of the candles represents purity, while a red ribbon tied around the base signifies the martyrdom of St. Blaise. The candles are held in an X-shape and positioned close to the throat of the person receiving the blessing: “Through the intercession of St. Blaise, bishop and martyr, may God deliver you from every disease of the throat and from every other illness, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.”