Today we celebrate the Feast of St. Blaise. His feast day is actually February 3rd but I am lucky to live in a community that brings the traditions to weekend masses. I love the Feast of St. Blaise. I am taken back to my childhood when we used to kneel along the communion rail after Mass on the Feast of St. Blaise and get our throats blessed.
St. Blaise is the Patron Saint against diseases of the throat, even as little as a sore throat.
St. Blaise was a doctor before he became a Bishop. He lived early in the history of the church so he was persecuted as a Christian. Tradition has it that he was arrested and as he was being led to jail a woman came at him with her young son who was choking on a chicken bone. St. Blaise cured the boy and the woman brought him candles to jail.
When I was little going to church at St. Joseph in Louisville we were led by the Franciscan Friars. Our parish priest, Fr. Phillip Johnson was larger than life. He was a tall man and his brown robes just made him more so. He had a booming voice that could be heard all through the church as this was before everyone had a microphone.
I can still see those crossed candles coming at me as I knelt in anticipation of the blessing. And I was always so relieved to know that it didn’t give me a sore throat. Young minds think that way.
Years later I ran into Fr. Phillip. He couldn’t speak louder than a whisper. He told me that he had always had a strong voice and a strong arm. He told me that he didn’t know why his strengths were taken from him. I tended to believe that he had done the things he needed those strengths for and he needed to develop other strengths. I think he ended up living another twenty years.
I too have a strong voice. I can be really loud if I want to. I can’t imagine losing my voice permanently. No one would get to hear my great jokes.
Father talked about healing at Mass this morning. I’ve been thinking about healing a lot these days. I have a sore knee. I’ve finally gotten it to where it’s more sore than painful but it has given me fits for a couple of months now. Of course the doctor tells me that it’s only arthritis. Anyway, I think how Jesus would heal just by being near the person. I’m not looking for Jesus’ healing here. There are so many more people with so many more ailments than I have, it would be a waste to ask Jesus to help out with a sore knee. I think about my brother who is having issues with his heart. I think about my brother-in-law who is still on a respirator fighting Covid. I think of those who are fighting cancer, some having good news about their treatment and others not so much. Those are the healings that I ask Jesus for. Healings are different than cures. I think some cures end in death. Being with the Lord is the ultimate healing. I know that idea is not what most families want but maybe it is the best for the one with the ailment. I pray that God cures me with being able to spend eternity with him. I will be sad for my children and those that love me but that’s when I’ll be praying that they will be able to join me.
The Blessing of Throats is one of those Catholic traditions that no one thinks about. I, for one, am glad it is still observed.