St. Blaise Throat Blessing

The Blessing of Throats will take place at Divine Mercy Parish following the First Saturday Devotions (begins with Confession at 7:30am) and after all weekend Masses on February 3rd and 4th.

Catholics often participate in the tradition of having their throats blessed. To do this, the priest consecrates two candles, generally by a prayer, and then holds each in a crossed position on the throat of the person being blessed. At the same time, the following blessing is given: “Through the intercession of Saint Blaise, bishop and martyr, may God deliver you from ailments of the throat and from every other evil. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.”

Why does the blessing of the throat take place on St. Blaise Day? St. Blaise, a physician and bishop, asked God to cure a child who was choking to death on a fish bone and the child’s life was saved. Thus, St. Blaise is the patron saint of healthy throats.