LIVES OF THE SAINTS

ST. BLAISE, bishop and Martyr. February 3 Patron of Throat Diseases.

The blessing of throats, invoking the intercession of St. Blaise, has become a very popular devotion. St. Blaise, bishop and Martyr, devoted the early years of his life to the study of philosophy and afterward became a physician. He was ordained to the priesthood and made bishop of Sebaste, in Armenia, where he was seized and carried off the prison by Agricolous, the governor. On his way to prison a distracted mother whose child was suffering from a disease of the throat implored his aid. At his intercession the child was cured, and since that time his aid has often been solicited in cases of a similar disease. After cruel tortures the saint was beheaded in the year 316. Through his intercession many have been cured of throat diseases or protected from them.

The priest in giving the blessing of St. Blaise holds two candles in the form of a cross touching the throat, and prays that through the merits and intercession of St. Blaise the person blessed may be delivered from throat diseases and from every other evil.

The priest says: “ Through the merits and intercession of St. Blaise, 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. AGATHA, Virgin and Martyr. February 5 Patroness of nurses .


ST. AGATHA, an illustrious Sicilian virgin, noble of birth, but more so for her heroic

virtue, was martyred at Catania in 251 during the Decian persecution for refusing the

solicitations of a roman senator. This same senator, Quintanius by name, had her

subjected to various cruel tortures including tearing off her breasts. There is a legend

that they were restored to her by the miraculous intercession of St. Peter.