St. Blaise and Throat Blessing

Today Con/Mom and I went to church.  We didn't know we were to honor the feast day of St. Blaise.  Appropriate for Con/Mom indeed!  Father Greg blessed our throats with two candles (just like the picture) after mass.  I have never had that done before.

If you are unfamiliar with the history of St. Blaise here's a refresher:

Little is known about Saint Blaise prior to his mention in a court physician's medical journal. The physician, Aëtius Amidenus, spoke of Saint Blaise's aid in treating objects caught in the throat. He was also mentioned in the book of Acts, where he was aided by animals and treated people and beasts alike.

Saint Blaise is believed to begin as a healer then, eventually, became a "physician of souls." He then retired to a cave, where he remained in prayer. People often turned to Saint Blaise for healing miracles.

In 316, the governor of Cappadocia and of Lesser Armenia, Agricola, arrested then-bishop Blaise for being a Christian. On their way to the jail, a woman set her only son, who was chocking to death on a fish bone, at his feet.

Blaise cured the child, and though Agricola was amazed, he could not get Blaise to renounce his faith. Therefore, Agricola beat Blaise with a stick and tore at his flesh with iron combs before beheading him.

Con/Mom is trucking along and is glad to have January behind her as well as the one-year mark of her stroke. We are all moving forward with support of each other, family and friends! 

p.s. It's National Wear Red Day!  Support awareness for the #1 killers (heart disease and stroke)!