SAINT BLAISE THROAT BLESSINGS

On February 3, 2011, from 7 PM to 8 PM in the Chapel of Divine Mercy, 2749 NE 10 Ave., Wilton Manors (954-567-1930) St. Blaise throating blessings will be offered to all.

 Heres a little history of St.Blaise, whose feast day we celebrate February 3.  St. Blaise was the Bishop of Sebaste in Armenia and suffered martydom A.D.316.  While the persecution of Christians  was going on. St. Blaise moved from town to town  and also lived as a hermit in a cave.  Wild animals, according to tradition, visited him and he healed many that were sick and wounded,  After he had been captured and was being taken to prison St. Blaise encountered a woman whose pig was being seized by a wolf, St. Blaise commanded the wolf to release the pig and it was freed unhurt.

While he was in prison and before he was tortured and beheaded, he miraculously cured a small boy who was choking to death on a fishbone lodged in his throat.  By the 6th century, in the  East,  his intercession was invoked for diseases of the throat. In the 8th century records attest to the veneration of St. Blaise in Europe and he became one of the most popular saints in the spiritual life of the Middle Ages.   One reason St. Blaise's popularity  arose was the fact he was a physician who cured , even performed miraculous  cures  .  Eventually the custom of blessing of throats arose whereby the priest held two crossed candles, touching the side of the throat and invoking the prayer of the saint and imparting God's blessing.

Please come to St.Blaise Blessing,, Thursday, Feb. 3, 7-8 PM, Father John Joseph Reid, Fathers of Divine Mercy