St. Blasé was the bishop of Sebaste, in Asia Minor in the beginning of the fourth century. He was a physician before he became a priest. One day a woman came to him bringing a boy in whose throat a fish-bone had lodged, causing it to swell and endanger his life. She fell to her knees and begged the bishop to do something for the child. St. Blasé called for two candles, which he lighted and held crosswise under the boy’s chin. He then prayed and gave the boy his blessing. Almost immediately the fish-bone loosened and was easily removed. The boy experienced no ill effects from the accident. In commemoration of this incident, it is customary in many churches for priests on the third of February to give the blessing of St. Blase to the people, at the same time praying that it may please God to deliver them from diseases of the throat.
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