(Among the Fourteen Holy Helpers, only the Feast of St. Blase occurs during the Winter months:)
St. Blase was born at Sebaste, Armenia. He became a physician, but at the same time devoted himself zealously to the
practice of his Christian duties. His virtuous conduct gained for him the esteem of the Christian clergy and people
to such a degree, that he was elected Bishop of his native city. Henceforth he devoted himself to ward off the dangers
of soul from the faithful, as he had hitherto been intent on healing their bodily ills. To all, he was a shining example
of virtue.
During the reign of Emperor Licinius a cruel persecution of Christians broke out. The persecutors directed
their fury principally against the bishops, well knowing that when the shepherd is stricken the flock is dispersed.
Listening to the entreaties of the faithful, and mindful of the words of Our Lord, When they shall persecute you in this city,
flee into another
(Matt. 10: 23), St. Blase hid himself in a cave. But one day the prefect Agricola instituted
a hunt, and his party discovered the holy Bishop and brought him before their master.
St. Blase remained steadfast in the Faith, and by its able confession and defense he attracted the attention of the attendants at his trial. The cruel tyrant had him bound and tortured with iron combs. After suffering these torments with great patience and meekness, the Saint was cast into prison. He was kept there a long time, because the prefect hoped to exhaust his powers of endurance, and to bring him to sacrifice to the idols. His jailer permitted the holy Bishop to receive visitors in his prison, and many sick and suffering availed themselves of this privilege. He cured some of them and gave good advice to others.
One day a mother brought to him her boy, who, while eating, had swallowed a fishbone, which remained in his throat, and, causing great pain, threatened suffocation. St. Blase prayed and made the Sign of the Cross over the boy, and behold – he was cured. For this reason the Saint is invoked in throat troubles.
At length the holy Bishop was again brought before the judge and commanded to sacrifice to the idols.
But he said: Thou art blind, because thou art not illuminated by the true light. How can a man sacrifice to idols,
when he adores the true God alone? I do not fear thy threats. Do with me according to thy pleasure.
My body is in your power, but God alone has power over my soul. Thou seekest salvation with the idols;
I hope and trust to receive it from the only true and living God, Whom I adore.
Then the prefect sentenced him to death.
Saint Blase was beheaded, suffering death for the Faith on February 3, 316.
St. Blase gave us a glorious example of fortitude in the confession of the Faith. According to the
teaching of St. Paul, confession of the Faith is necessary for our salvation. He says, For if thou confess with
thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and believe in thy heart that God hath raised Him up from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
For with the heart we believe unto justice, but with the mouth confession is made unto salvation
(Rom. 10: 9-10).
We are, therefore, not permitted to be silent, much less to agree, when our Faith, and whatever is connected therewith,
as the Sacraments, ceremonies, priests, etc., are ridiculed and reviled. Parents especially must be most careful in
speaking of these subjects before their children and servants, and do so only with due reverence.
On the contrary, we must confess our Faith, and if necessary, defend it against all attacks.
Often one serious word will suffice to silence a calumniator of the Faith and cause him to blush.
We must confess our Faith not only in the bosom of our family, but also in public.
We must let our fellow-men know that we are true Catholics, who adhere to our Faith from conviction,
without regard to what others say of us, or how they judge us, remembering the words of Our Lord, Everyone, therefore,
that shall confess Me before men, I will also confess him before My Father Who is in Heaven
(Matt. 10: 32).
It was remarked above that St. Blase is the Patron invoked in throat troubles. Therefore the Church,
on his feast, February 3, gives a special blessing, at which She prays over those receiving it: By the intercession
of St. Blase, Bishop and Martyr, may God deliver thee from all ills of the throat and from all other evils;
in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen.
Do not neglect to receive this blessing,
if you have the opportunity. The blessings of the Church are powerful and effective, for She is God's representative on earth.
Therefore Her blessing is God's blessing, and is always effective, except if we ourselves place an obstacle in its way.
O God, Who dost rejoice us through the memory of Thy Blessed Bishop and Martyr Blase: graciously grant us, that we, who honor his memory, may experience his protection. Through Our Lord Jesus Christ... Amen.
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