MEMORIAL OF ST. BLAISE: FEBRUARY 3

Saint Blaise was the bishop of Sebaste in Armenia during the fourth century. Very little is known about his life. According to various accounts he was a physician before becoming a bishop. His cult spread throughout the entire Church in the Middle Ages because he was reputed to have miraculously cured a little boy who nearly died because of a fishbone in his throat. From the eighth century he has been invoked on behalf of the sick, especially those afflicted with illnesses of the throat.

The blessing of the sick by ministers of the Church is a very ancient custom, rooted in imitation of Christ himself and his apostles.

The annual Blessing of Throats is a traditional sign of the struggle against illness in the life of the Christian. The blessing will be offered following the 10:00 a.m. (Spanish) and Noon (English) Masses at St. Elizabeth on Saturday, February 3. Anyone who wishes to receive the blessing should approach the communion rail immediately following Mass.

THE CHURCH'S TEACHING ON MINISTERING TO THE SICK

Suffering and illness have always been among the greatest problems that trouble the human spirit. Christians feel and experience pain as do all other people. Yet their faith helps them to grasp more deeply the mystery of suffering and to bear their pain with greater courage. ...

Sickness cannot be regarded as a punishement inflicted on the individual for personal sins (John 9:3). Christ himelf, who is without sin,. took on all the wounds of his passion and shared in all human pain (Isaiah 53:4-5).

Part of the plan laid our by God's providence is that we should fight against sickness, suffering and wrong, and should seek the blessings of good health, so that we may fulfill our role in human society. ... That is why, through the sacrament of anointing, Christ strengthens the faithful who are afflicted by illness, providing them with the strongest means of support. ... Thus the sick person is able not only to bear suffering bravely, but also fight against it."