On February 3rd is the memorial of Saint Blaise who is a patron saint of throat illnesses. St. Blaise lived in Armenia during the fourth century. Like many other Christians of his time, Blaise was rounded up in a persecution. On his way to jail, a woman whose son was choking on a fishbone placed the boy at Blaise’s feet, and the boy was miraculously cured. That’s why, people line up every St. Blaise Day to have a priest hold two crisscrossed candles above their heads or around their throats, asking protection from iness. We will have throat blessing offered at the conclusion of all masses next weekend February 3/4.