Fourth Week in Ordinary Time
Saint Blaise of Sebaste
During the bubonic plague often called the Black Death (1346-1353), almost half of the population of Europe succumbed to the plague. So, many Catholics prayed fervently and, out of that chaos, not only did the practice of memento mori arise, but a new devotion became prominent to the “Fourteen Holy Helpers”. Those holy helpers were fourteen saints that were believed to be powerful intercessors, especially to cure illness. The devotion began in Germany called the Nothhelfer or Helpers in Need. Among those fourteen is Saint Blaise.
The first reference there is of the saint is in the medical journals of a court physician named Aëtius Amidenus, from the end of the fifth or beginning of the sixth century, where St. Blaise is mentioned as being called upon for treating objects stuck in the throat. Apparently, Blaise was an excellent physician in his hometown of Sebaste, Armenia or modern-day Silvas, Türkiye. As a youth, he studied many of the great philosophers. When the Bishop of Sebaste died, Blaise was chosen as the new bishop by the popular acclaim “of all the people.” He was said to be a man of great faith and virtue, caring for his people in both body and soul. Many came to him for physical healing as a physician but also received many miracles, too. Others came to him for spiritual healing, which was imparted by his deep faith. According to that same pious tradition, even animals would listen to him and obey his commands, and he would heal them of ailments.
In the year AD 313, the co-ruling Roman Emperors, Constantine I and Licinius, jointly issued the Edict of Milan which established religious toleration throughout the Roman Empire. Although that edict was already three years old, persecution still raged in Armenia, Agricloaus, who was the Governor of Cappadocia, acting on an order by the emperor Licinius, began to arrest and kill Christians. As bishop, Blaise was martyred in his episcopal city of Sebaste, Armenia, in AD 316.
The Acts of St. Blaise were written 400 years later. According to those writings, Blaise was a good bishop, working hard to encourage the spiritual and physical health of his people. According to tradition, Blaise was forced to flee to the back country. There he lived as a hermit in solitude and prayer, but he made friends with the wild animals. One day a group of hunters seeking such animals for the amphitheater stumbled upon Blaise’s cave. They were first surprised and then frightened. The bishop was kneeling in prayer surrounded by patiently waiting wolves, lions and bears.
While on the future saint’s way to jail, the tradition account continues that a boy was choking on a fishbone, and the boy’s mother sent her son to Blaise for his prayers. Bishop Blaise miraculously cured him on the spot. Another testimony attests to the fact that while on his to jail, a woman begged Blaise to save her pig who had been seized by a wolf. The bishop ordered the wolf to release the pig and the wolf obeyed him. Out of gratitude, the woman brought Blaise two wax candles to give light to his prison cell.
With the governor diligently trying multiple times to persuade Blaise to sacrifice to pagan idols, the first time he refused and was beaten. The next time he was suspended from a tree and his flesh torn with iron combs or rakes. Today, Saint Blaise is the patron saint of wool combers and, because he healed the young boy with the fishbone stuck in his throat, he is the saintly patron of diseases of the throat.
Saint Blaise, pray for us!
Nature and dignity 