Exiit qui seminat

This weekend, the parish will have the blessing of throats in honor of St. Blaise, bishop and martyr. Very little is known of this early Christian martyr with the first reference about his life coming from the end of the 5th and the beginning of the 6th century. Blaise, the bishop of Sebaste in Armenia was martyred under the Emperor Licinius around 316 AD, a former ally of Constantine who, after their falling out, persecuted the Church. Consecrated a bishop at a very young age, St. Blaise felt called to a life of prayer as a hermit. From the Cult of Saints, the ancient tradition connected to the commemoration of saints, St. Blaise was always associated with the healing of both animals and people. The annual blessing of throats with the candles blessed on the feast of the Presentation is meant to be a traditional sign of our struggle against illness as a part of the Christian life. While the Blessing of Throats on February 3rd (give or take a day or two) is a unique blessing once a year, as a Church, we pray for the sick daily and make the Anointing of the Sick readily available for all who need it. Let us conitue to pray for all who are suffering with illnesses of mind, body and spirit and, "[t]hrough the intercession of St. Blaise, bishop and martyr, may God deliver you from every disease of the throat and from every other evil, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit."