Monday, February 3, 2014

Homily: February 3 - St. Blaise - Blessing of Throats




Though St. Blaise was a bishop and martyr in the early Church, his notoriety came about when it was said that he healed a boy who had fish bones stuck in his throat and near death. After this healing miracle, the Bishop Blaise was imprisoned because of the Christian persecution.  The boy’s mother brought him food and candles while he was in prison.  This is why candles are used in the throat blessing.

After the final blessing today, you may come up to receive a personal blessing of your throat if you wish.
This really is a unique blessing.  Perhaps it is because our throats have such a special role to play in our Christian life.  We are to use our throats to sing God’s praise every day, we are to use our throats to give encouragement to each other in remaining faithful to Christ, and we are to use our throats to spread his Gospel, to build up the Church by proclaiming Christ’s truth

The candles which are placed around our throats is to remind us that what comes out of our throats is meant to resemble the light of Christ.  Yet, the candles are also crossed, to remind us that it is by the cross which we are delivered from all evils. 

In the Gospel we hear how Jesus cast out the unclean spirit.  His saints work with him to deliver the world from all forms of evil as they share in his victory by living in imitation of him, by giving their lives in witness to him.

By our prayers and our words and works may we with Christ deliver those in need from illness, from the dominion of evil, from fear, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.



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