St. Blaise was born in Armenia and became bishop of his home town of Sebaste. During the persecution of Christians the governor had Blaise arrested, tortured by having his flesh torn with iron combs, and finally beheaded. There is a tradition that this holy bishop healed a young boy who almost choked to death on a fish bone that was lodged in his throat. From this arises the custom of blessing the throats of the faithful on his feast day.

Jesus himself showed concern for the sick and suffering. He cured so many of them that crowds flocked to him. Today the Church, the Body of Christ, shares his concern and care for the sick by caring for them both physically and spiritually. In a week we will celebrate the annual World Day of the Sick, a day on which we lift up in a special way the sick and all those health care workers who serve them. Pope Benedict has asked us to pray this month for health workers, especially in the world’s poorest countries where they are challenged in so many ways. We are also praying in our General Intention for something that can lead to the prevention of many of the world’s sicknesses and diseases—access to clean water. The Church shows the love of Jesus to those in need not only by caring for them but also by trying to change the situations that are the cause of their suffering. Let us ask St. Blaise to join us today in praying for these two intentions of the Holy Father by praying an adaptation of the traditional St. Blaise Blessing Prayer.

Through the intercession of Saint Blaise, bishop and martyr, may God deliver me, my family and loved ones, and people 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.