Saint Blaise

  • Feast Day: February 3rd

  • Birthplace and Country: Sivas, Turkey

  • Date of Birth and Death: C. 280 - 316 AD 

  • Canonization: Pre-congregation (Before formal canonization process)

  • Patronage: Throat illnesses, wool combers, wild animals, veterinarians

You may know the name Saint Blaise from the popular devotion dedicated to him on his feast day: The Blessing of the Throats. However, there is much more to Saint Blaise than his protection of the throat on February 3rd.

Saint Blaise was the Bishop of Sebastea (a city in ancient Turkey) and a great doctor. Not much is known about his early life, but he was a great miracle worker in his later years and was martyred for his faith. He was a good Bishop and served the people not just spiritually but also physically with his great healing ability. He would help with patients suffering from throat problems.

Later in his life he retired to a cave in the middle of the woods, possibly due to the fact that he was at risk of being captured and killed for his faith. He lived as a hermit, his only companions being the wild animals in the forest, with whom he made friends with. When he was caught by his persecutors, he was found deep in prayer peacefully surrounded by wild wolves, lions, and bears.

According to legend, when Blaise was being taken to prison a mother came with her young son who was chocking on a fish bone lodged in his throat. In the presence of Saint Blaise the boy was cured and was able to cough up the fish bone.

In another story on his way to the prison a women whose pig had been stolen by a wolf came to Saint Blaise. Saint Blaise commanded that the wolf returned the pig, and amazingly it did.

When Saint Blaise finally reached the prison, he was commanded to reject God and sacrifice to pagan idols. Saint Blaise refused and was tortured and martyred for his faith.

Prayers To Saint Blaise

Prayer to Saint Blaise from Catholic Culture:

O glorious St. Blaise, who by your martyrdom left to the Church a precious witness to the Faith, obtain for us the grace to preserve within ourselves this divine gift, and to defend — without concern for human respect — both by word and example, the truth of that same Faith, which is so wickedly attacked and slandered in these our times. You miraculously restored a little child who was at the point of death because of an affliction of the throat.

Grant us your mighty protection in similar misfortunes. And, above all, obtain for us the grace of Christian mortification, together with faithful observance of the precepts of the Church, which keep us from offending almighty God. Amen.

Pray the Saint Blaise Novena on PrayMoreNovenas