The Irish standard., 1905-02-11
THE THROAT HEALER.
st. Blasius of Ssbast.s Whose Feast |.
Observe on F.b. 3.

Observed on F>b. 3.
1t may interest some of our readers
to know the origin of the wide devo-
ton Of Catholics to st. Blasius, as
the healer of all throat diseases, says
the Canadian Messenger of the Sacred
Heart.
Tie saint was himself a physician,
in whom, however, says his biography,
the fear of God surpa ssed his love for
the knowledge and practice Of his
profession. His holy life won for him
such respect that while not yet in the
prime Of life he was chosen as bishop
Of Sebastes. Shortly after his con-
sccration he retired into the wilder
ness, where, according to the most
ancient chronicles, he performed
wonderful works, and where he lived
among the wild beasts without ever
experiencing from them either hurt or
harm.
At this time Agricola, the Roman
governor Of Cappadocia, having come
to Sebastes, began cruel persecution
Of the Christians. Blasius was soon
found out in his wild retreat, dragged
to the city and cast into prison. 1t
was while thus captive that the
people tiocked to see the holy martyr
and to be cured by him. Among the
patients brought to the prison cell was
young boy who had been given over
by the best physicians Of the city.
The child while eating fish had
swallowed bone which had stuck so
firmly in his throat that everything
done to extract it had proven of no
avail. What with pain and fasting
the poor boy was already dying.
Blasius knelt and prayed to Our
Lord for the suffering child and for all
in like trouble, and then touched the
boys throat with his fingers. Instant
ly the little sufferer was cured and
returned home weak, but without
pain. The fame of this evident mir
acle spread far and wide throughout
the country, and the thousands who
f1ocked to the prison experienced in
themselves like wonderful results
when afflicted with disease of the
throat.
This devotion at once took hold of
the people, and we find it mentioned
even in surgical works such as
30
physician Aetius, who recommends
among other we'll known cures for
throat complaints the intercession of
St Blasils of Sebastes.
OF late years it has become quite
popular among Catholics to invoke the
aid of st. Blasius in all throat troubles.
and OH his feast day, the Sd of Febru-
airy, great crowds come to the church.
es for the blessing of the throats.
The church has so far deigned to
! look upon this devition with favor as
to assign to it special prayer in her
ritual. Her ministers are directed to
/ bless the candles to be used during
/ the ceremony, and in words that re-
call the sufferings and glorious death
of st. Blasius our Holy Mother calls
on the author of all good to shower
down his blessings on these waxen-
candles so that those on whose Threats
+; they may have been placed shall ex-
perience the effect of this prayer.
Then, while these blessed candles
, in the form Of cross are held under
each persons chin the priest is direct
cd to say the following prayer:
"By the intercession of St. Blasius,
bishop and martyr, may God free you
from sore throat and from every other
evil in the name Of the Father, and
! Of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.
! Amen"
Mother-Well, Johnnie, what are
You going to give your teacher for n
, Christmas present?
Johnnie-It is too soon to talk about
; that vet, mamma; it all depends on
how she behaves herself between now
s~A.