The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1905-02-04
BLESS THROATS:
ST. BLAIZE'S DAN
Children and Grown Persons Observ
the Catholic Festival.
SERVICES AT ST. MARYs
FAITHFUL BELIEVE NO AILMEN7
WILL FOLLOW.

1E least or st. BlaiZe. or ST. Blasfu
was observed yesterday morning ant
afternoon at St. Mary's Catholi
cathedral, and in the afternoon an tnf
several institutions under the control o
the Catholic diocese OF salt Lake City b
simple, vet impressive ceremonies. couN
sisting OF prayers and the blessing of III
thrOats of children and grown persons
who have faith in the efficacy of tn
patron saint TO aid in shielding them fror
illness during the year It is estimate
that at least 100 persons had their throat
blessed
St BIaize was bishop Of Sebaste, AFl
menia-- and was martyred i'm $50. he wa
adopted by the wOol-combers as thei
patron saint, apparently because irof
combs were used in tearing bis fles
when he was martyred- His festival
celebrated on FEB. by the Roman an (
anglican churches. and Feb Il by tnI
creeks. The W0ol-comDers procession
still held on Feb in England
Why Threats Are Blessed.
It has often been asked why the bless|
ing of throats IS associated with the III
and history Of St Blaize- The saint val
himself a physician. in whom. howeved /
according to his biography. the fear o.
God surpassed his love for the knOwIedg7
and practice Of his profession His holi
life won for him such respect that Will
not yet in the prime of lie he was choset
bishop OF Sebastes. Shortly after "
conservation ne retired into a wilderness
where. according TO the most ancieu
chronicles, he performed wonderful work Il
and where he lived among the wild beast|
without ever experiencing from ther.
either hurt or harm
Al this time AgricOia. the Roman govf
ernOr of CappadOcia, having come 4
Sebastes, began a cruel persecution of I'll
( out in his wild retreat dragged to thl
| city and cast into prison It was viii
/ thus a captive thaE the people fiockei
1 to see the holy martyr and to be cured
/ by him Among the patients brought 4
| the prison cell was a young boy wh'
( had been given over by the best physI
The child while eating fish had swaI
| lowed a bone which had stuck so firm
in his throat that everything done to e.
L tract it had proven Of no avail Wild
/ with pain and fasting the poor boy va
I already dying
An instantaneous Cure.
| St. Blaize kneit and prayed for the 81
/ fering child and for all in like roubl
/ and then touched the boys throat wit
i his fingers Instantly the little suffers
I was cured and returned home weak. b1
/ without pain, according to the story IT
| set forth in the church chronicles tn Il
1 the fame of this miracle spread lar al
/ wide throughout the country. and ~
| thousands who flOcked to the prison g
/ perienced in themselves like wonderff
( results when afflicted by disease OF Il
! This devotion at once took hold of II
/ people, and a record of it is found eNeI
| in surgical works such as the Encyci4
/ paed1a Meolca' or the Greek pnyslcieI
/ Aetius. who recommends among other " 4
/ known cures for throat complaints u
/ intercessiOn Of St. Blaze of lsehasJes.
! In Germany the ceremony Of hiessld
! the threats Of chHdreE and grown peoT'
/ is prevalent, and tfi6-12tsf'urcheF a.
thrOnged on the feast day by 1----rs,3i
all conditions Of life. many Of
/ travel great distances TO attend the ~
vices In this country the day Is alW a1
| observed by the faithful
Observe Day With Simple Ceremonid
In Salt Lake the afternoon ceremOII
l was performed at the same hour,
/ clock in St. Mary's church. the Cathoi
I Orphanage, Holy Cross hospital AID Il
! spent some time in prayer Father Denes
EUXter. Sciochetu and CuTran Officiating
| at the respective institutions
At St. Mary's church Their" vas a lara
/ attendance at both services. and 800 pei
4 sons. mostly children with their pdrenrI
| approached the altar rail, after haviIl
lspent some time in prayer Father Deuea
| had two lighted blessed candles. and 4
! each person knelt before him he touchel
their threats with the candles and Il
! peated this prayer:
Through the interceSslon OF st. Blalzi
{ bishop and martyr, free us, . God frol
/ every disease of the throat, in the nam!
OF the Father, the Son. and Holy Ghos1
I Amon-''
I Following this simple ceremony, thOf
whose thrOats had been blessed retired
! the nave of the church and spent n
neXt half hour or hour in meditation an
PRAYER. At the other institutions the 81
tiers in charge had their threats blessef
IS well as those over whom they are \
charge