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Show STBLASE. Holy Church honors on the 3rd of February one of her noble champions in the nerson of St. Blase, who suffered 'death for the faith of Christ, thus becoming be-coming a martyr. He was Bishop of Se-baste, Se-baste, in Armenia. In his time the j I l nrtstians suffered many persecutions, from which the holy Bishop did not escape. That his life might be saved to bin flock, the Saint withdrew to a grotto in Mount Aaeua Here he spent his time in penanca and prayer and preparing his soul for the great crown of martyrdom. Whilst there the animals ani-mals of the forest became his friends. They allowed him- to carees them and followed him about wherever he went. One day a hunter accidentally came upon the Saint in the midst of these animals. The hunter reported him to the governor, who sent officers to apprehend ap-prehend the man of God. The Saint cordially met them at the door of his cave and siaid: "You are welcome, for now I see that God haa not forgotten me." When, the soldiers took him away the animalsi followed. The soldiers sol-diers became terrified, but St. Blase reassured re-assured them, and said: "Be not afraid, they will do you no harm," and then he ordered them to go back. They obeyed him and! looked adly after him until he was out of sight. While In his way to prison many of the people came to the roadside to bid him farewell and ask his last blessing. Among them was a poor woman who ceried a child in her arms. A fish bone had stuck in the child's throat, and the poor mother was inconsolable, fearing that the child j ' I would chAke to death. She b-rtgged the Saint tr have pity on her and cure her child. The Saint knelt down, praved, blessed the child with the sign of thi or. .-. and it was immediately cured. When brought before the governor, the Saint wars ordered to sacrifice to tha pods. H fusing to do so, he was bea ten with clubs, thrown into prison anl n-ai!y n-ai!y bchead.-J. The Church venerates thic-i Saint as having special power over ', ri is iv. res of thf throat. Oil his i'tae-t day the Srd of February it ;& a c-astom in many pl.wts for the Priests t't bU'SS tha throats -t' the people, and to ask God . to cure th:;i if they have any throat trouble, or to beei.-h God t protect thorn from ;u,y isac'i evils. The ceremony cere-mony :i-ri'rir...-.l by the rrit holding hold-ing crnsswiHo tv burning canrlle-'. touching the i:--, k .it' the faithful and saying the f l!oving prayer: "Through the intcrct sision of the holy Bishop and martyr. St. Bias,., may the Lord preserve pre-serve you from very d:t:ea.-e of the throat, in the nan of the Father, and of the Son. and of the Holy Ghett. Amen." The Soda!ii-;t. |