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Saint Blaise
Died c.316
Also known as:
Blase; Blasius
Memorial: 3 February
Profile
Physician. Bishop of Sebaste, Armenia. Lived in a cave on Mount Argeus.
Healer of men and animals; according to legend, sick animals would come to
him on their own for help, but would never disturb him at prayer.
Agricola, governor of Cappadocia, came to Sebaste to persecute Christians.
His huntsmen went into the forests of Argeus to find wild animals for the
arena games, and found many waiting outside Blaise's cave. Discovered in
prayer, Blaise was arrested, and Agricola tried to get him to recant his
faith. While in prison, Blaise ministered to and healed fellow prisoners,
including saving a child who was choking on a fish bone; this led to the
blessing of throats on Blaise's feast day.
Thrown into a lake to drown, Blaise stood on the surface and invited his
persecutors to walk out and prove the power of their gods; they drowned.
When he returned to land, he was martyred by being beaten, his flesh torn
with wool combs (which led to his association with and patronage of those
involved in the wool trade), and then beheading.
Blaise has been extremely popular for centuries in both the Eastern and
Western Churches. In 1222 the Council of Oxford prohibited servile labor
in England on his feast. He is one of the Fourteen Holy Helpers
Born: Armenian
Died: flesh torn by iron wool-combs, then beheaded c.316
Patronage: against wild beasts, animals, builders, carvers,
construction workers, coughs, Dalmatia, Dubrovnik, goitres, healthy
throats, stonecutters, throat diseases, veterinarians, whooping cough,
wool-combers, wool weavers
Representation: 2 candles; 2 crossed candles; candle; hermit tending
wild animals; iron comb; man healing a choking boy; man with two candles;
wax; wool comb
Readings
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.
-blessing of Saint Blaise
Saint Ansgar
801 - 865
Also known as: Amschar; Anschar; Ansgarius; Anskar; Apostle of the
North; Scharies
Memorial: 3 February
Profile
French nobility. Benedictine monk at Old Corbie Abbey in Picardy, and New
Corbie in Westphalia. Studied under Saint Adelard and Saint Paschasius
Radbert. Accompanied the converted King Harold to Denmark when the exiled
king returned home. Missionary to Denmark and Sweden. Founded first
Christian church in Sweden c.832. Abbot of New Corbie c.834. Archbishop of
Hamburg. Papal legate to the Scandinavian countries. Established the first
Christian school in Denmark, but was run out by pagans, and the school was
burned to the ground. Campaigned against slavery. Archbishop of Bremen.
Converted Erik, King of Jutland. Great preacher, a miracle worker, and
greatly devoted to the poor and sick. Sadly, after his death most of his
gains for the Church were lost to resurgent paganism.
Born: 801 at Amiens, Picardy, France
Died: 3 February 865 at Bremen, Germany; relics at Bremen, Hamburg,
and Copenhagen
Patronage: Denmark, Scandinavia, Sweden
Representation: wearing a fur pelisse; holding the Cathedral of
Hamburg
Readings
If I were worthy of such a favor from my God, I would ask that he grant me
this one miracle: that by His grace He would make of me a good man.
Saint Ansgar to a parishioner who was praising him for being a miracle
worker
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