Feast of Saint Blaise

Good morning. Today is the day in the church calendar when we turn our attention to ailments of the throat in celebration of the Feast Day of Saint Blaise. We know more about the devotion to St. Blaise by Christians around the world than we know about the saint himself. Saint Blaise is believed to have been a bishop of Sebaste, Armenia, in the early part of the fourth century. He suffered martyrdom under the Roman emperor Licinius. In today's Gospel we read of the martyrdom of Saint John the Baptist. Both Saint John the Baptist and Saint Blaise were beheaded for their convictions. I wonder some times whether I would have the courage to do likewise. We should all pray for the grace to stand up for our faith and to live daily our convictions.

We traditionally get our throats blessed on this day because Saint Blaise had saved a child from choking on a fish bone and because of this he is the Patron Saint of protection against ailments of the throat. We look to Saint Blaise to protect us against any problems involving our throat. We might today take this opportunity to look to Saint Blaise for assistance in matters involving our throats which we don’t normally consider. Perhaps we could call upon Saint Blaise for assistance in being gentler and kinder in the use of our words with our spouse and with others in our lives. We typically don’t hesitate to offer comments to our spouse regarding a particular dissatisfaction we may be experiencing in our marriage; yet how often do we take the time to offer a compliment? A well timed compliment goes a lot further towards making things run smoothly than a word of correction. Why not take note of when our spouse gets it right versus focusing so much on when it doesn’t go our way? All of us want and need to feel appreciated. If we don’t appreciate our spouse it could very well be that someone else will. Right now, think of something you could sincerely say to your spouse that would say they are truly appreciated. Are there things you can comment on that you haven't mentioned before? Through the intercession of Saint Blaise, bishop and martyr, may God deliver you from ailments of the throat and from every other evil. And, may you be gentler and kinder in your words today. Make a great day!

Today we recall the good life, gifts and works of Saint Blaise.