Prayer:Prayer to St. Blaise
Stored: Prayer to St. Blaise
| Prayer to St. Blaise | |
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| Author | Unknown |
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| Language | English |
| Approval | None |
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| Added on | 2026-08-13 |
Introduction
St. Blaise, Bishop of Sebaste in Armenia and a martyr of the early fourth century, is among the most beloved of the Fourteen Holy Helpers — a group of saints venerated in the Catholic Church for their powerful intercession in times of bodily and spiritual need. According to pious tradition, Blaise miraculously healed a young boy who was choking on a fish bone, an act that became the foundation of his enduring patronage over afflictions of the throat and all matters of physical health. His feast day, celebrated on February 3, is one of the most widely observed minor feast days in the Catholic world, particularly known for the ancient rite of the Blessing of Throats.
The Prayer to St. Blaise reflects the double dimension of his intercession: bodily healing and spiritual fortitude. As a bishop who suffered martyrdom for his faith during the persecution of Licinius around 316 AD, Blaise stands as a figure of courage, charity, and pastoral care. Devotion to him spread rapidly from the Christian East to Western Europe throughout the Middle Ages, where his veneration became firmly embedded in popular Catholic piety.
This traditional prayer invokes St. Blaise not only for physical protection — particularly of the throat — but also for the deeper graces of a living faith and fervent charity. It unites concern for bodily wellbeing with the greater desire for eternal salvation, making it an ideal devotional prayer for the faithful throughout the year, and especially on his feast day.
The Prayer
O glorious St. Blaise, who by thy martyrdom didst leave to the Church a precious witness to the faith, obtain for us the grace to preserve within ourselves this same faith with all its vigor and purity.
Preserve in us, likewise, the flame of charity which Jesus Christ came to enkindle upon earth, so that we may love God above all things, and our neighbor as ourselves.
Protect us in our bodily necessities and give us health of soul and body, that we may better serve God and work out our eternal salvation.
Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
History and Background
St. Blaise was a physician before becoming Bishop of Sebaste in Cappadocian Armenia, and his dual identity as healer and shepherd of souls deeply shaped the character of devotion addressed to him. During the persecution of Emperor Licinius, Blaise was arrested and imprisoned. It was during this period, according to hagiographic accounts preserved in the Golden Legend and other medieval sources, that he performed numerous miraculous healings — most famously restoring a child who was near death from a fish bone lodged in his throat. He was subsequently tortured and beheaded, his martyrdom occurring around the year 316 AD.
His veneration spread through the Byzantine world before taking firm root in the Latin West, particularly following the translation of his relics to the Abbey of Saint-Maur-des-Fossés in France in the ninth century. By the High Middle Ages, his cult was widespread throughout Europe. He was enrolled among the Fourteen Holy Helpers — saints whose intercession was considered especially efficacious for specific physical ailments — with his patronage assigned specifically to throat diseases, as well as wool combers and wild animals.
The Blessing of Throats, administered by holding two crossed and blessed candles against the throat of the faithful while invoking St. Blaise's intercession, remains one of the most recognizable and beloved sacramentals in Catholic practice. Performed on or near February 3, it is accompanied by the formula: 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. The Prayer to St. Blaise complements this rite and extends its spiritual fruits throughout private devotional life.
The traditional text of this prayer draws upon Thomistic and Augustinian theological themes — the ordering of charity toward God and neighbor, the value of bodily health as subordinate to the health of the soul, and the ultimate orientation of life toward eternal salvation. It is a well-rounded intercessory prayer that situates physical healing within a framework of authentic Catholic spirituality.
How to Pray / Devotional Use
The Prayer to St. Blaise may be prayed at any time throughout the liturgical year, but it holds special significance on February 3, the feast day of St. Blaise, particularly in connection with the Blessing of Throats. The faithful are encouraged to incorporate this prayer into their Februrary devotions as a way of personally extending the graces sought through the sacramental blessing.
During Illness: This prayer is especially appropriate when one is suffering from throat ailments, respiratory difficulties, or any illness affecting speech or swallowing. It may be prayed daily during a time of sickness, asking for St. Blaise's intercession alongside the use of proper medical care, in keeping with Catholic teaching that prayer and medicine work together for healing.
As Part of Morning Prayer: The prayer's petition for "health of soul and body" makes it suitable as part of a morning offering, asking God — through St. Blaise's intercession — to preserve one's physical wellbeing and spiritual integrity throughout the day.
For Others: The prayer may be offered on behalf of those who are ill, particularly those suffering from throat cancer, choking disorders, tonsillitis, or any condition affecting the head and neck. It is a fitting intercessory prayer for parents to offer on behalf of sick children.
Novena Use: The prayer may be incorporated into a nine-day novena concluding on February 3, or offered for nine days during any period of illness. It may be combined with the Litany of the Saints or other prayers to the Holy Helpers.
Suggested Practice: Before praying, make the Sign of the Cross. Recite the prayer slowly and with intention. Conclude with one Our Father, one Hail Mary, and one Glory Be in honor of the Holy Trinity, asking that St. Blaise's intercession be granted according to God's will.