![[Saint Blaise holy card]](saintb04.jpg "26kb jpg Saint Blaise holy card, artist unknown; if you have information on this image, please email me; please do not write to ask about the image")
Biagio Blase Blasius
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 labour in England on his feast. He is one of the Fourteen Holy Helpers
against coughs against goitres against throat diseases against whooping cough against wild beasts Anguillara Sabazia, Italy animals Bovolone, Italy builders Camastra, Sicily, Italy carvers Cassano allo Ionio, Italy Castellania, Italy construction workers Dalmatia Doues, Italy Dubrovnik, Croatia healthy throats Militello, Sicily, Italy Montecatini Val di Cecina, Italy Palombara Sabina, Italy Pietrasanta, Italy Sacrofano, Italy stonecutters veterinarians wool-combers wool weavers
Prayer I to Saint Blaise Prayer II to Saint Blaise Novena in honor of Saint Blaise
wool comb hermit tending wild animals candle iron comb man healing a choking boy man with two candles two candles two crossed candles wax
Goffine's Devout Instructions Golden Legend, by Jacobus de Voragine Google Directory Lives of the Saints, by Father Alban Butler New Catholic Dictionary Turismo Parma Book of Saints, by the Monks of Ramsgate Our Sunday Visitor's Encyclopedia of Saints, by Matthew Bunson, Margaret Bunson, and Stephen Bunson- blessing of Saint Blaise