Readings at Mass Today
1/2/2026
Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time
St Blaise and the Blessing of Throats on his feast day
This Tuesday the Church remembers St Blaise, Bishop and Martyr. He was bishop of Sebaste in Armenia and was put to death under the Emperor Licinius and the prefect Agricolaus in the early 4th century. Whilst he was being persecuted he hid in a cave and blessed sick or wounded animals. Once, a woman brought him a boy who was in mortal peril due to a fishbone that was stuck in his throat. Blaise healed the boy. When he was imprisoned, the same woman brought Blaise food and candles. Hence, we have the tradition of blessing throats on the feast of St Blaise. Throats are blessed with two candles bound with a red ribbon, touching the neck and with the priest (or deacon) saying the following words:
“Through the intercession of St Blaise, bishop and martyr, may God deliver you from every disease of the throat and from every other illness. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.”
This blessing will be offered to parishioners after the 7.30 am Mass (Convent) and 12 noon Mass (OLSG) on Tuesday of this week.
We may well wonder whether this tradition has any connection with Candlemas day, which falls the day before. On this fortieth day after Christmas we light candles and walk in procession at the beginning of Mass, whilst singing the Song of Simeon concerning the Christ Child, who is ‘A light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to your people Israel’ (Luke 2).
These candles, including those to be used for the blessing of throats the next day, will be blessed for their sacred use. We give thanks for the richness of our Catholic heritage and customs. These are great gifts to us from our forebears and we do well to cherish them and make good use of them. With my prayers,
Father Daniel
Offertory and Special Collections
