On Feb. 3, the Catholic Church celebrated the Feast of St. Blaise, bishop and martyr. It is said the governor of Cappadocia imprisoned St. Blaise in a cave outside Sebaste. A mother came to the bishop, asking him to cure her son, who was choking on the fishbone, stuck in his throat. St. Blaise saved the boy with his prayer and with the sign of the cross. Therefore, St. Blaise is known as the patron saint of throat illnesses, wool combers, and animals. Many churches celebrate the feast day with a blessing of the throats. Parishioners and students at Our Lady of Mercy Church and School in Baton Rouge received the blessing after the day’s Masses.
Photo by Debbie Shelley | The Catholic Commentator