Saint's of the Week

Saint Blaise

Feast Day: 3rd February

Virtue: Goodness

Early in life, Blaise studied philosophy and afterward he became a physician. He was

 ordained to the priesthood and made Bishop of Sebaste in Armenia. There he was seized and carried off to prison by Agricolous, the Governor. On his way to prison, a worried mother whose child was suffering from a disease of the throat implored Blaise to help.

At his intercession, the child was cured. Since that time, Blaise's aid has been sought in similar cases.

After cruel tortures, the Saint was beheaded in the year 316. Through his intercession, many have been cured of throat diseases or protested from them.In giving the blessing of St. Blaise today, the priest holds two candles in the form of a Cross touching the throat. He then prays that through the intercession of St. Blaise the person blessed may be delivered from throat diseases and from every evil.

Saint Valentine

Feast Day: 14th February

Virtue: Charity

Valentine was a Roman priest and may have been a Bishop. Together with St Marius and

 his family, Valentine assisted the martyrs who suffered during the reign of Emperor

 Claudius in the third century.

In time, Valentine was arrested and placed in custody of a judge who had a daughter who was blind. Valentine cured her blindnesso the judge and all his family became Christians.

Because of this Valentine was sent to the Prefect of Rome who commanded that the holy man should be beaten with clubs and afterward beheaded. Valentine suffered martyrdom about the year 270.

Today it is the custom to send Valentines to those we love on the feast day of St Valentine. The origin of this custom is not known with certainty.

One explanation given is that the custom began during the Middle Ages because of the belief that birds begin to mate on February 14. Hence people began to send cards on this day. Since it was St Valentine’s feast day, his name came to be associated with the custom.