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What he said
On the feast of Saint Blaise, a special blessing of the throat is offered in many parishes: "Through the intercession of Saint Blaise, bishop and martyr, may God deliver you from ailments of the throat and from every other evil."
What the world was like
The Roman empire was the most powerful force in the world during the time of Saint Blaise. Its territories included most of Europe, the Middle East, and North Africa. Since the empire was so large and communication was difficult, it was often divided into smaller parts so it could be managed more efficiently.
The Romans accomplished many feats of engineering. They built amphitheaters for entertainment, aqueducts to carry water into the cities, and roads. Some of these works were so well constructed that they can still be seen today.
Roman citizenship was available only to men. A boy was considered a full citizen when he was between the ages of 14-17. A father had complete control over the lives of his wife, children, and slaves, even the power of life and death. Women managed the household, which involved overseeing meals and maintenance, and also the education of her children and the supervision of slaves.
The Roman empire relied heavily on slaves. These slaves were often prisoners captured in war. They carried out most of the everyday tasks from cleaning and cooking to hairdressing and caring for children. Many doctors, teachers, and musicians were educated slaves who were purchased to carry out these tasks within the household. Slaves also participated in the Roman army, and as gladiators.
Who he was
Saint Blaise lived on the edge of the powerful Roman empire. He was a bishop in the city of Sebaste, which is part of Armenia today.
During Blaise's life, there were periods in which Christians were persecuted by the Roman government. Some of the Romans were suspicious of the Christian faith. Because they did not understand the beliefs and practices of Christians, they viewed them as a threat to the empire. Many Christians were arrested and killed if they refused to give up the faith. It took a lot of courage to be a Christian!
Blaise would have known Christians who had suffered for their faith. With other Christians, he honored the memory of the martyrs and prayed for the courage to keep the faith too. Yet Blaise also knew he could not live in fear. As bishop, he was responsible for encouraging the people of his diocese. When Licinius, the Roman emperor, ordered a new persecution of Christians, Blaise escaped from the city. He lived quietly in a cave until Roman soldiers found and arrested him. Blaise was thrown into prison. He was given the opportunity to give up his faith and worship the Roman gods, but he refused. He was tortured and beheaded.
While Blaise was in prison, he is said to have performed a miraculous healing. A woman had a son who was choking on a fish bone. She brought the boy to Blaise and asked him to help her son. Blaise prayed that God would heal the child, and suddenly, the bone became dislodged and the boy could breathe again! Blaise reminded the people who had witnessed the miracle to thank God for this sign of his love. As a result of this story, people pray to Saint Blaise for healing of all illnesses of the throat.
What this saint means to us
Blaise always cared about the physical and spiritual well-being of others. Even as he faced terrible suffering, he offered to God the prayers and concerns of the people who came to him.
Since we were all created by God, we too should care for and respect ourselves and each other.
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