Rev.
Fr. Leonard Goffine's
The Church's Year
INSTRUCTION
ON THE FEAST OF ST. BLASE,
BISHOP AND MARTYR [February 3.]
St. Blase was
born at Sebaste, in Armenia. In his youth he gave himself with great
zeal to the study of philosophy and medicine, but at the same time
did not forget his soul. He followed Christ in beautiful virtues,
especially in meekness and humility, and kept from the sinful ways
of the world. He was appointed bishop of Sebaste at the earnest
solicitations of its inhabitants. At that time the Christians, especially
the bishops and priests, suffered many persecutions from the pagans;
persecutions from which Sebaste did not escape. That his life might
be saved for his flock, St. Blase withdrew to a grotto in Mount
Agaeus, where he led a most penitent life, and entirely destroyed
the old man in himself. If one masters his corrupt nature, subdues
his evil inclinations, and banishes everything earthly from himself,
then his course of life becomes a heavenly one, and he becomes master
over the earthly, material life, so that all nature is his friend
and servant. So it was with St. Blase. The animals of the forests
became his friends and served him; they approached him with confidence,
permitted themselves to be caressed by him, had their wounds healed
by him, received his blessing, brought him food, and obeyed his
voice. A hunter one day met him in the midst of these animals, and
forthwith reported the saintly man to the governor, who sent his
officers to apprehend him. St. Blase went cordially to meet them,
and when they reached the door of his cave, he said: "You are
welcome, for now I see that God has not forgotten me." When
they were returning with him, the animals followed, and the officers
terrified would have fled, but St. Blase reassured them: "Be
not afraid," he said, "they will do you no harm,"
and ordered the animals to go back. They obeyed, but for a long
time looked sadly after him. While on his way many people came on
the road to see the saint and to ask his blessing; among them a
woman whose child was suffering from the effects of having swallowed
a fish-bone. She was inconsolable, and cried out to the saint: "O
dearest master, help my child, or it will be strangled!" The
saint knelt down, prayed, blessed the child with the sign of the
cross, and it was immediately cured.
When the saint
had reached the city, he was taken before the governor who ordered
him to worship the gods. Refusing to do this, he was struck with
clubs; while thus tortured, he said to the governor: "Do you
indeed fancy, that by torture you can force me to forsake my Lord
and my God? You are indeed wrong, no pain shall separate me from
my Jesus." The governor, then, was so enraged that he had him
bound to a pillar and torn to pieces by iron claws. St. Blase calmly
looking up to heaven, suffered all without uttering a single moan.
He was then taken to prison, where the governor allowed him to remain
for a time. Once more called to the judgment - seat, the saint again
firmly refused to offer sacrifice to idols, and the governor then
ordered that he should be beheaded.
The Church venerates
his memory on the third of February. After the Mass on this day,
the priest, holding two burning candles, touches with them the necks
of the faithful while he pronounces the following blessing: "Through
the intercession of the holy bishop and martyr Blase, may the Lord
preserve thee from every disease of the throat, and all other evils,
in the name †of the Father, † and of the Son, †
and of the Holy Ghost. Amen." It is a very ancient custom to
invoke St. Blase in all diseases of the throat, hence this blessing.
COLLECT O God, who dost gladden us with the yearly solemnity of blessed Blase,
Thy martyr and bishop: mercifully grant, that as we celebrate his
birthday to immortality, so we may also rejoice in his protection.
Thro'. etc.
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