• St. Ansgar (865). Bishop, Patron or Patroness. Patron of Scandinavia. (Current)
• St. Blaise (316). Bishop, Martyr, Patron or Patroness. Patron of those with throat diseases. (Current, Traditional)

ST. BLASE devoted the earlier years of his life to the study of philosophy, and afterwards became a physician. In the practice of his profession he saw so much of the miseries of life and the hollowness of worldly pleasures, that he resolved to spend the rest of his days in the service of God, and from being a healer of bodily ailments to become a physician of souls. The bishop of Sebaste, in Arminia, having died, our Saint, much to the gratification of the inhabitants of that city, was appointed to succeed him. St. Blase at once began to instruct his people as much by his example as by his words, and the great virtues and sanctity of this servant of God was attested by many miracles.

From all parts the people came flocking to him for the cure of bodily and spiritual ills. Agricolaus, Governor of Cappadocia and the lesser Armenia, having begun a persecution by order of the Emperor Licinius, our Saint was seized and hurried off to prison. Whilst on his way there, a distracted mother, whose only child was dying of a throat disease, threw herself at the feet of St. Blase and implored his intercession. Touched at her grief, the Saint offered up his prayers, and the child was cured; and since that time his aid has often been effectually solicited in cases of a similar disease. Refusing to worship the false gods of the heathens, St. Blase was first scourged; his body was then torn with hooks, and finally he was beheaded in the year 316.

REFLECTION: There is no sacrifice which, by the aid of grace, human nature is not capable of accomplishing. When St. Paul complained to God of the violence of the temptation, God answered, “My grace is sufficient for thee, for power is made perfect in infirmity.

WORD OF THE DAY

SALVIFIC WILL. The desire of God that all humankind be saved. God’s general or universal will is the salvation of humanity on condition that a person dies in the state of grace. It is called God’s antecedent and conditioned salvific will. His special or particular will considers the moral state of each person at the time of death. Here God unconditionally desires the salvation of all those who depart this life in the state of grace. It is called God’s consequent and absolute salvific will. This coincides with predestination. Insofar as the consequent, unconditional will of God refers to the expulsion of a person from heavenly happiness, it is called reprobation.

Modern Catholic Dictionary, Fr. John Hardon SJ (Get the real one at Eternal Life — don’t accept an abridged or edited version of this masterpiece!)