Blessing Of Throats

Monday, February 3, 2020 is the Feast of Saint Blaise, Bishop of Sebaste in Armenia during the fourth century.  Little is known about his life, but according to various accounts he was a physician before becoming a bishop.  Devotion to him spread throughout the entire Church in the Middle Ages because he was reputed to have miraculously cured a little boy who nearly died due to a fishbone stuck in his throat.  From the eighth century he has been invoked on behalf of the sick, especially those afflicted with illnesses of the throat.

In anticipation of the feast, the Blessing of Throats will be conferred to all who attend the February 1/2, 2020 weekend Masses as the priest, extending his hands over the people without holding crossed candles, says the prayer of blessing as the conclusion to the Universal Prayer.  (Book of Blessings, no. 1628.)

An individual Blessing of Throats will conferred at the Masses celebrated on the Monday, February 3, 2020 feast day.