ST. BLAISE Healer of those with throat ailments, Patron of Doctors and Veterinarians

On the feast of St. Blaise, February 3, the blessing of the throat takes place. Two candles are blessed, held slightly open and press between the throat as the prayer of blessing is said.Few facts are known about St. Blaise. He was a bishop of Armenia who was martyred under the reign of Licinius in the early fourth century. St. Blaise was born into a rich and noble family who raised him as a Christian. Then he became a bishop. According to tradition, he received a special message from Jesus to go to the hills during a persecution. Hunters discovered him in a cave surrounded by animals. St. Blaise was curing the ailments of these animals when discovered by the hunters. The hunters captured him due to the bounty on his head and brought him to the governor. On coming down the mountain, St. Blaise encountered a wolf who was about to kill a pig; he asked the wolf not to eat the pig because the pig belonged to an old woman. The wolf released the pig. Out of gratitude when St. Blaise was in prison, the woman brought him bread and candles. While in prison, his guard complained about pain on his throat. St. Blaise touched his throat with a candle and his ailment was miraculously cured.The governor ordered his execution. Because of what he did to his guard, St. Blaise became known as healer of those with throat ailments, and patron of doctors and veterinarians.

DAILY PRAYER

St. Blaise, gracious benefactor of mankind and faithful servant of God, who for the love of our savior suffered many tortures with patience and resignation; I invoke your powerful intercession. Preserve me from all evils of body and soul. Because of your special merits, God has given you special graces to help those who suffer from ills of the throat. Relieve and preserve me from them, so that I may always be able to fulfill my duties and with the aid of God’s grace, perform good works. I invoke your help as special physician of souls that I may confess my sins sincerely in the holy sacrament of penance and obtain their forgiveness. Amen.

FIRST DAY

Lord Jesus Christ, you said that your disciples would only be worthy of you if they are able to carry their cross. You asked them to be faithful till the end, even if it means shedding their blood for your sake. You are pleased by the offering of life done by your servant St. Blaise. His death sealed his loyalty to you, and for this reason, you love your servant St. Blaise.

O St. Blaise, Christians down the centuries have asked your intercession for their throat ailments, and you have proven your closeness to Jesus by the long list of miracles attributed to your name. We come to you with our petitions and problems hoping that your closeness to Jesus will enable you to help us. Listen then to our prayers and bring them to Jesus. Amen.

Daily Prayer

(3) Our Father, (3) Hail Mary, (3) Glory Be

St. Blaise, protect us from all throat ailments.

SECOND DAY

Lord Jesus Christ, you predicted that your first followers would face terrible persecutions in the hands of the Romans. For three hundred years, your followers were massacred, beheaded and eaten by the lions, and the blood of the martyrs became the seed of Christianity. Your Church continued to grow. In the Church of Armenia, St. Blaise is the most prominent martyr.

O St. Blaise, your courage to face death in the name of Jesus became the light of the Church in Armenia. As a bishop, you led the way inspiring others to be faithful to Jesus. You preached the gospel most effectively when you chose to die rather than betray your Lord and Savior. Share with us your courage that we may witness to Jesus’ presence in our world. Let us always love when we are invited to hate, to forgive when we are tempted to vengeance. Inspire us to do Jesus’ commands at any circumstances. Amen.

Daily Prayer

(3) Our Father, (3) Hail Mary, (3) Glory Be

St. Blaise, protect us from all throat ailments.

THIRD DAY

O Lord Jesus Christ, you left the Eucharist as your constant presence in the world. Your presence though sacramental is real but we can only touch and feel you if our faith is strong enough. You commanded your Church to continue with this daily offering so that everybody may experience your presence. The Eucharist was the love of St. Blaise, as he hid from his persecutors, celebrating it in the cave along with some of his trusted friends.

O St. Blaise, look kindly on us your devotees who at times find it difficult to experience Jesus’ presence in the Eucharist. We lack faith because we want to see in order to believe. We sacrifice easily our Sunday masses for other activities. Inspire us then to renew our faith in the Eucharist and to participate on it with full mind and heart, attentive to Jesus’ presence. Amen.

Daily Prayer

(3) Our Father, (3) Hail Mary, (3) Glory Be

St. Blaise, protect us from all throat ailments.

FOURTH DAY

O Lord Jesus Christ, you commanded your apostles to put their trust on you when they were in trial before governors and kings. You promised them the Holy Spirit who would speak in their behalf and instill in them the courage that they need for the day. For this reason St. Blaise spoke fearlessly, declaring that he would not give up his faith in exchange for his life.

O St. Blaise, give us your conviction that our Catholic faith is the most precious treasure that we have, and that we would never give it up for anything in the world. May your example instill in us the courage to live our faith and enable us to respond to the moral demands of our faith. May the love of Jesus make us stronger everyday. Amen.

Daily Prayer

(3) Our Father, (3) Hail Mary, (3) Glory Be

St. Blaise, protect us from all throat ailments.

FIFTH DAY

O Lord Jesus Christ, you taught your apostles that they had to live the beatitudes in order to be part of your Kingdom. You were poor, meek, humble, and persecuted. That is why, you were the happiest of all men because you yourself have lived the beatitudes to their fullness. Your servant St. Blaise completed the beatitudes when he gave his life for the defense of the gospel.

O St. Blaise, inspire us always to be humble in spirit, to be meek and lowly so that we may merit the promise of eternal life promised by Jesus to all his followers. May the beatitudes permeate our lives. May we reflect to others the beauty of being poor, meek, and humble in the name of Jesus. We ask you, dear saint, to intercede for us before Jesus so that he may pour on us the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Daily Prayer

(3) Our Father, (3) Hail Mary, (3) Glory Be

St. Blaise, protect us from all throat ailments.

SIXTH DAY

O Lord Jesus Christ, you wanted to adopt all men and women as your brothers and sisters to form a new human family of faith. You wish that all men and women become your disciples and followers and inaugurate a Kingdom where all humanity would become children of your Father. The holy martyrs form an elite group in this new family, where their faith shines so splendidly. O St. Blaise, Jesus is very proud of you because of your faith. Look on us, your devotees, who are still struggling on this valley of tears, with our waning faith because at times life is too cruel for us. Inspire us to live your kind of faith, to make Jesus our strength so that we can withstand the perils of life, sufferings and pains we encounter, and not to be afraid of sacrifices. Amen.

Daily Prayer

(3) Our Father, (3) Hail Mary, (3) Glory Be

St. Blaise, protect us from all throat ailments.

SEVENTH DAY

O Lord Jesus Christ, you told your disciples that the door to heaven is narrow and that they must do their best in order to enter it. You want them to be strong in virtues and resistant to sin and temptations. You emphasized that heaven is not for those who easily succumbed to sin, but are for those who resist and stand strong. For this purpose, you shower them with graces.

O St. Blaise, as a bishop, you already had a heroic life marked by mortification and fasting, as you disciplined your body so that you may stand strong in spiritual matters. You did not hesitate to sacrifice food and comfort so that you may become closer to Jesus. Look on us, your devotees as we struggle to be holy and faithful. Instill in us the love for fasting and mortification so that being able to discipline our bodies, we may deepen our relationship with Jesus. Amen.

Daily Prayer

(3) Our Father, (3) Hail Mary, (3) Glory Be

St. Blaise, protect us from all throat ailments.

EIGHTH DAY

O Lord Jesus Christ, you did many healings and three times you ordered three dead persons to life. You showed your disciples that you have power over their lives, the sickness and death that afflict them, but you also did not cure everybody, nor did you resurrect all the dead. Sickness and death have a role to play in your plan of salvation and you want them to be included in our reality till the end of this earthly existence.

O St. Blaise, we accept our sicknesses and ailments. But we also ask Jesus that we would be really happy and thankful if he can grant us exception. Tell him that our healing will bring him glory, honor, and the spread of your name. In this way, more men and women will follow Jesus and become his disciples through your intercession. Amen.

Daily Prayer

(3) Our Father, (3) Hail Mary, (3) Glory Be

St. Blaise, protect us from all throat ailments.

NINTH DAY

O Lord Jesus Christ, you predicted that your apostles would die as martyrs. In fact all of them, except for the apostle John shed their blood for you. You were happy for them because they followed your footsteps. No servant indeed is above his master. You who have the power over death and life, love to see your disciples giving up their lives for you, knowing that you can give them a better life, a better existence.

O St. Blaise, Jesus restored your life and you are now in heaven, enjoying the company of the apostles and the saints. You have already seen how powerful God is, a power shown in his love for us. Listen then to our petitions and whisper these to the ears of the Almighty so that he may take them into his consideration and decide favorably for us. Amen.

Daily Prayer

(3) Our Father, (3) Hail Mary, (3) Glory Be

St. Blaise, protect us from all throat ailments.