The Reason for the Blessing of Throats

To many non-Catholics, the tradition of blessing throats may seem odd.  However, there is always a story behind these wonderful traditions.  And more important, there is a blessing!

St. Blaise

Feast day: February 3
Birth:  ??
Death: 316
Patron of throat illnesses, animals, wool combers, and wool trading

Very little is known about Blaise, especially his childhood.  At some point, he became a physician and would heal both people and animals.  It was said that even the wild animals knew to come to Blaise for care.

He was eventually ordained and became a healer of souls as well as the body.

When the local governor of the region chose to persecute the Christians, he would have his soldiers obtain wild animals to take to the arena.  These animals were meant to attack the Christians until death.  The soldiers found a large group of animals at the hut of Blaise.  When they tried to capture the animals, they found Blaise in prayer so they took him to jail.  It has been told that on the way to prison, a woman stopped the group and asked for assistance in saving her pig from a wolf.  Blaise convinced the wolf to return the pig to the woman.

The governor tried to have Blaise recant his faith, but he refused.  While in prison, Blaise ministered to and healed fellow prisoners, including saving a child who was choking on a fish bone (the reason we have the blessing of throats on his feast day).  The woman who had her pig saved returned the favor to Blaise at this time by bringing him candles to dispel the gloom of his dark cell (maybe made from fat rendered from her pig! LOL).

When he would not give up the faith, the governor had him beaten.  He was then thrown into a lake to drown.  However, Blaise stood on the surface and invited his persecutors to walk out and prove the power of their gods; they drowned. When he returned to land, he was martyred by being beaten, his flesh torn with wool combs (which led to his patronage of those involved in the wool trade), and then eventually martyred by beheading.

Blasie is considered one of the Fourteen Holy Helpers.  He became one of the most popular saints of the Middle Ages.

Today we went to Mass and Fr. Hall blessed our throats asking the intercession of St. Blaise for healing of any ailments of the throat.  So appropriate for this time of year with illnesses related to congestion and such.  I love the little "t" traditions of our church just as much as the doctrinal Tradition.  Praise be to God!