Blessing of the Throats
Encyclopedia
The Blessing of the Throats is a ritual prescribed and authorized by the Roman Catholic Church, usually observed on the feast day
of Saint Blaise
(February 3). It is also observed in many parishes of the Anglican Communion on the same day, February 3, as a commemoration.
by prayer
of two candle
s, which are crossed and held over the heads or against the throat
s of the people being blessed
. Another is to dip the wick of a candle in consecrated oil, and to touch the throats with the wick.
The following blessing is usually given: "Through the intercession of St. Blaise, may God preserve you from throat troubles and every other evil", sometimes followed by "In the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit" as the priest makes the sign of the cross
over the recipient.
The ordinary Anglican (Episcopal) version of this prayer is: "Through the intercession of Blessed Blaise, Bishop and Martyr, may you be delivered from all illnesses of the throat and any other ailments. + In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen."
Calendar of saints
The calendar of saints is a traditional Christian method of organizing a liturgical year by associating each day with one or more saints and referring to the feast day of said saint...
of Saint Blaise
Saint Blaise
Saint Blaise was a physician, and bishop of Sebastea . According to his Acta Sanctorum, he was martyred by being beaten, attacked with iron carding combs, and beheaded...
(February 3). It is also observed in many parishes of the Anglican Communion on the same day, February 3, as a commemoration.
Background
One variation is the consecrationConsecration
Consecration is the solemn dedication to a special purpose or service, usually religious. The word "consecration" literally means "to associate with the sacred". Persons, places, or things can be consecrated, and the term is used in various ways by different groups...
by prayer
Prayer
Prayer is a form of religious practice that seeks to activate a volitional rapport to a deity through deliberate practice. Prayer may be either individual or communal and take place in public or in private. It may involve the use of words or song. When language is used, prayer may take the form of...
of two candle
Candle
A candle is a solid block or cylinder of wax with an embedded wick, which is lit to provide light, and sometimes heat.Today, most candles are made from paraffin. Candles can also be made from beeswax, soy, other plant waxes, and tallow...
s, which are crossed and held over the heads or against the throat
Throat
In vertebrate anatomy, the throat is the anterior part of the neck, in front of the vertebral column. It consists of the pharynx and larynx...
s of the people being blessed
Blessing (Roman Catholic Church)
Blessing in Roman Catholicism, in the narrow liturgical sense, is a rite consisting of a ceremony and prayers performed in the name and with the authority of the Church by a duly qualified minister by which persons or things are sanctified as dedicated to Divine service or by which certain marks of...
. Another is to dip the wick of a candle in consecrated oil, and to touch the throats with the wick.
The following blessing is usually given: "Through the intercession of St. Blaise, may God preserve you from throat troubles and every other evil", sometimes followed by "In the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit" as the priest makes the sign of the cross
Sign of the cross
The Sign of the Cross , or crossing oneself, is a ritual hand motion made by members of many branches of Christianity, often accompanied by spoken or mental recitation of a trinitarian formula....
over the recipient.
The ordinary Anglican (Episcopal) version of this prayer is: "Through the intercession of Blessed Blaise, Bishop and Martyr, may you be delivered from all illnesses of the throat and any other ailments. + In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen."