Catholic Campus Ministry: Weekly Update from CCM

Tuesday, February 3, 2015

Weekly Update from CCM

Today is the feast of St. Blaise. St. Blaise was an early fourth century bishop and martyr about whom very little is known. But he has long been venerated in both the east and west for his miraculous healing abilities. According to legend, even animals would come to him for healing (though they would never disturb him while he was at prayer). After Blaise was arrested for his Christian faith, he continued to heal people while in prison, including a little boy who was choking on a fish bone. For this reason, the intercession of St. Blaise has long been invoked for healing of all sorts of throat ailments.

Coming as it does the day after Candlemas (the popular name of the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord on Feb. 2, which includes a special procession and blessing of candles), the St. Blaise throat blessing is administered using two crossed candles placed at the throat.

For more information on St. Blaise and the blessing of throats, click here

O glorious St. Blaise, who by your martyrdom left to the Church a precious witness to the Faith, obtain for us the grace to preserve within ourselves this divine gift, and to defend — without concern for human respect — both by word and example, the truth of that same Faith, which is so wickedly attacked and slandered in these our times. You miraculously restored a little child who was at the point of death because of an affliction of the throat.

Grant us your mighty protection in similar misfortunes. And, above all, obtain for us the grace of Christian mortification, together with faithful observance of the precepts of the Church, which keep us from offending almighty God. Amen.