Brooke Martin
The candles used in the blessing of St. Blaise are blessed on Candlemas, February 2, or on St. Blaise's memorial on February 3. The blessing of the throat ritual has been practised since the 15th century. The candles are blessed by a priest, deacon, or lay minister, who holds two candles in the form of an X and touches them to the neck of the person receiving the blessing. The blessing is accompanied by a prayer to St. Blaise, invoking his intercession for protection against throat ailments and other diseases.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date | 2nd February (Candlemas), 3rd February (Western Church), 11th February (Eastern Church) |
| Who blesses the candles | Priest, deacon or lay minister |
| Who the blessing is for | Parishioners desiring a blessing of their throats |
| Where the blessing takes place | At the front of the church |
| What the priest does | Holds two blessed candles tied with a red ribbon in the form of an X and touches them to each side of the person's neck |
| What the priest says | "Through the intercession of St. Blaise, bishop and martyr, may God deliver you free from every disease of the throat, and from every other disease. In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit." |
| What the candles represent | Martyrdom of St. Andrew |
| What the red ribbon represents | Blood of martyrs |
Explore related products
What You'll Learn
Candles are blessed on February 2nd, the day before St Blaise's feast day
Candles are blessed on 2 February, the day before St Blaise's feast day. This day is known as Candlemas, which occurs 40 days after Christmas. Candlemas celebrates the Presentation of the Lord in the Temple, when Mary and Joseph brought the baby Jesus to the temple for the first time.
On this day, families bring a supply of candles for the year to Mass, where they are blessed by a priest. The candles are also sprinkled with holy water. The blessing of the candles is followed by the blessing of the throats, which takes place on St Blaise's feast day.
The blessing of the throats is a sacramental of the Roman Catholic Church, celebrated on 3 February, the feast day of Saint Blaise of Sebaste (modern-day Sivas, Turkey). Saint Blaise was a fourth-century bishop in Armenia who died as a martyr. He is known for miraculously healing a boy who was choking on a fish bone, and as a result, he is invoked for protection against ailments of the throat.
During the blessing of the throats, the priest uses two blessed candles tied together in the shape of a cross and holds them against the person's neck while reciting a prayer. The blessing of the candles and the blessing of the throats are beautiful and meaningful traditions that have been handed down through the centuries in the Catholic Church.
Gold Canyon Candles: Soy-Based or Not?
You may want to see also
Explore related products
The candles are blessed by a priest or the head of a household
The Blessing of the Throats is a Roman Catholic Church sacramental, usually celebrated on 3 February, the feast day of Saint Blaise of Sebaste. Saint Blaise was a fourth-century bishop in Western Armenia and is believed to have miraculously cured a boy who was choking on a fish bone. As a result, he is now invoked for protection against choking and other throat ailments.
The blessing of the throats involves the use of candles, which are blessed by a priest. The faithful are invited to bring their candles to church to be blessed, so that when they are used for prayer, they remind the faithful of the light of Christ. The candles are typically blessed on Candlemas, which occurs on 2 February, the day before the feast of Saint Blaise. During the blessing, the priest may say the following prayer:
> God, almighty and all-mild, by your Word alone you created the manifold things in the world, and willed that the same Word by whom all things were made take flesh in order to redeem mankind; you are great and immeasurable, awesome and praiseworthy, a wonder of marvels.
If the candles cannot be brought to Mass, they can be blessed at home by the head of the household using holy water. The prayers for blessing the candles can be found online or in a printable PDF booklet.
During the blessing of the throats, the priest holds two blessed candles tied together in the shape of an X against the throat of each parishioner while saying:
> 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.
Sonic Candle Setup Simplified: Easy Installation Guide
You may want to see also
Explore related products
The candles are blessed with holy water
The Blessing of the Throats is a Roman Catholic Church sacramental that is usually celebrated on 3 February, the feast day of Saint Blaise of Sebaste. Saint Blaise was a fourth-century bishop in the city of Sebaste, Western Armenia, and died as a martyr. He is also believed to have been a physician.
The blessing of the throat ritual involves the use of candles, which are blessed with holy water. These candles are often blessed on Candlemas (2 February), the day before the feast of St. Blaise, or during the St. Blaise memorial. The blessing of the candles is accompanied by a prayer:
> "God, almighty and all-mild, by your Word alone you created the manifold things in the world, and willed that the same Word by whom all things were made take flesh in order to redeem mankind; you are great and immeasurable, awesome and praiseworthy, a worker of marvels. Hence, in professing his faith in you, the glorious martyr and bishop, Blaise, did not fear any manner of torment but gladly accepted the palm of martyrdom. In virtue of which you bestowed on him, among other gifts, the power to heal all ailments of the throat. And now we implore your majesty that, overlooking our guilt and considering only his merits and intercession, it may please you to bless and sanctify and impart your grace to these candles. Let all men of faith whose necks are touched with them be healed of every malady of the throat, and being restored in health and good spirits let them return thanks to you in your holy Church, and praise your glorious name which is blessed forever; through Christ our Lord."
During the blessing of the throats, parishioners proceed to the front of the church where the priest holds two blessed candles tied with a red ribbon in the form of an X. The priest then touches the candles to each side of the person's neck and says:
> "Through the intercession of St. Blaise, bishop and martyr, may God deliver you free from every disease of the throat, and from every other disease. In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit."
The candles used in the blessing of the throats are believed to originate from the story of Saint Blaise, where an old woman brought him food and candles to bring light to his dark prison cell after he saved her pig from a wolf.
Explore the Power of Wishing Candles
You may want to see also
Explore related products
The candles are blessed with a prayer
The Blessing of the Throats is a Roman Catholic Church sacramental, celebrated annually on 3 February—the feast day of Saint Blaise of Sebaste. Saint Blaise was a fourth-century bishop in Western Armenia and is believed to have been a physician with the power to miraculously heal ailments of the throat.
The blessing of the candles is an integral part of the celebration. The candles are usually blessed by a priest, deacon, or lay minister during Mass. The candles are then used to touch the throats of those seeking Saint Blaise's intercession for healing. The blessing of the candles is accompanied by a prayer, such as the one from the Roman Ritual:
> "God, almighty and all-mild, by Your Word alone You created the manifold things in the world, and willed that the same Word by whom all things were made take flesh in order to redeem mankind; You are great and immeasurable, awesome and praiseworthy, a wonder of marvels."
Another version of the prayer for the blessing of the candles is as follows:
> "We humbly beg of Your majesty that, not considering our offenses, but rather his merits and prayers, You would, in Your wonderful goodness, be so kind as to bless and make holy these candles which You have made, and pour Your grace upon them. Grant that all who shall in lively faith have their throats touched with them may by his suffering and merits be freed from every illness of the throat. May they, healthy and happy, return thanks to You in Your Church and praise Your glorious name, which is blessed forever and ever, through our Lord, Jesus Christ, Your Son, who lives and is King and God with You in the unity of the Holy Spirit, forever and ever. Amen."
After the candles are blessed, they are used to perform the Blessing of the Throats. The priest, deacon, or lay minister touches the candles to the throats of those seeking Saint Blaise's intercession, forming an X over their throats. The minister then says a prayer for healing, such as:
> "Through the intercession of Saint Blase, 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."
The blessing of the throats with candles is a beautiful tradition that combines the divine and natural worlds, reminding us of the light of Christ and the power of prayer and intercession.
Candle Science: The Secret Behind Burning Candles
You may want to see also
Explore related products
The candles are then used to bless the throats of parishioners
The Blessing of the Throats is a Roman Catholic Church sacramental that is often celebrated on February 3, which is the feast day of Saint Blaise of Sebaste. It is also observed in some Eastern Catholic Churches and Anglican Communion parishes.
Saint Blaise was a physician and the Bishop of Sebaste in Armenia during the fourth century. He was martyred for his faith and is known for his association with miraculous healing, particularly a story in which he saves a boy choking on a fish bone.
The use of candles in the blessing of throats is said to stem from the candles brought to Blaise by an old woman whose pig he had rescued from a wolf. The woman brought him food and candles to provide light in his dark prison cell.
During the blessing, parishioners proceed to the front of the church where a priest holds two blessed candles, tied with a red ribbon, in the form of an X. The priest touches the candles to each side of the person's neck and says:
> Through the intercession of St. Blaise, bishop and martyr, may God deliver you free from every disease of the throat, and from every other disease. In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
The red ribbon symbolises the blood of martyrs, while the candles held in the shape of an "X" represent the martyrdom of Saint Andrew, who is said to have been crucified on an X-shaped cross.
How Microgravity Transforms Candle Flames
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
The candles for St. Blaise are blessed on February 2, the Feast of Candlemas, the day before St. Blaise's feast day.
The candles are blessed and then crossed over the throat to symbolise St. Blaise's healing powers.
The candle blessing dates back to the 8th century and is believed to have originated from St. Blaise's miracle of saving a boy from choking on a fish bone.
The priest holds two blessed candles tied together in the shape of an X and touches them to the sides of the person's neck while reciting a prayer.
