Berkeley, Sunday, January 25, 2026 11:55 PM
Just before the deadline of day one.
Novena to Saint Blase, Bishop and Martyr.
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Feast day: February 3.
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Day 1 and Day 2: Tuesday 27, 2026 0:24 AM
Although, the devotion of writing this is not about me, I need to dedicate at least a few paragraphs to ponder if I continue log in here, to write something, particularly to write on a daily basis about a Saint.
It is a beautiful thing to do.
OK. Complaints probably for another time.
I will write everyday, a bit of something I read.
I need to be realistic that is hard to know something on a superficial level, or dedicating a few minutes, to learn a bit about their lives or writing over the course of about 9 days.
On the other hand, it is good to learn about the human beings who has been called by the Lord of Host, and have given their lives to keep or fulfill His Will on earth.
Here a but of accounts to what I have learned.
Saint Blaise was martyrized around the year 316.
He was a bishop, or the Bishop of Sebasteia, Armenia. Currently, the place is call Sivas in Turkey. I wonder if there is a church in his honor there (Read this at some point)
Recalling from memory, from some skimming a day ago, I recalled he went to the woods to live in a cave. When thee was some persecution, some solders were surprised to see wolves and other wildlife sitting calm next to him, listening to him.
There is an anecdote, which I will coreect in the next days, but not delete this first draft, so check below. I believe a woman brought his infant to him, because the child had fish bone in his throat. (trapped)
Saint Blaise made the miracle of healing the boy.
I have seen I believe the blessing of throats. I believe I saw fr. Ivan to do that in Newman Hall at Berkeley once. But not fully sure. It consisted on the priest having to candles tied and forming an x. The priest place the candles or the x on your shoulders which is the blessing of the throat.
I just recall I did not go to the resurrection mass around Abril, last year 2025. It might a few things tougher. Though not necessarily.
Who knows the reason of Blaise Pascal given first name. But Saint Blaise was probably was the first saint with that name.
Wow. The beauty of learning or reading a bit. I learned that Saint Blaise is San Blas. There is a church in Cuenca in his honor.
Day 2. Cont’d
Oh, and it is true as well. There is a a harbor (muelle) in Mexico called San Blas. The city is San Blas. It has a famous song by the Mexican Rock band Mana.
Miles de lunas pasaron. Y ella estaba en el muelle, esperando. Smart lyrics.
Day 3. January 28.
I will continue feeding the prayer below.
Another idea, although, it would add some complexities, it is to add a story map with the saints. It creates additional distraction, but it helps to know where they lived.
But I will stick to see where they lived only once. And in general, reference a book written about them.
Wild beast used to come to Saint Blaise cave to be healed. Once a group of hunters following the beast found St. Blaise in the cave surrounded by beasts. Those beast did nothing to him. The hunters were amazed, but regardless they seized St. Blaise and brought him to the authorities. On the way to the authorities, while caught by the hunters, they passed next to an afflicted woman whose pig was being captured or was on the mouth of a wolf. The wolf released the pig under St. Blaise command. That woman brought food to St. Blaise while he was in prison. The story to healing the child who had a fish bone on his throat also was on the way to prison. I explained that above. This is what I recall from memory from reading Buttler’s lives of the Saints.
Day 4. January 29. Continue with the prayer below to San Blas.
Day 5. January 31. Say the prayer below.
But also. Saint Blaise: you secluded, but under persecution did not renounce to your faith.
That is not the point here. I might be learning a little bit about you and about the saints. At the end one does not live for the self.
Any relationship is broken and even could end up in speculations when the truths are not told on the face. This might be about you, but also as a follower of Jesus, as an instrument of God, as a Saint, as having also as an example to John the Baptist. Please guide my life to spit more, to tell the truth, to get the fire of the Holy Spirit, to not hold nor hide anything regardless of consequences of circumstances. I understand that through life many people who spoke your truth oh Lord, where beheaded or cancelled. Well, that is not the goal. At the end You decide Lord what is our path. But please guide me to have the fire and the living water fervent and flowing again. Help me to witness your grace. To put myself last. To serve. To honor Your name and creation in every action of my life.
Prayer:
From the Liturgy of the Hours Book. Catholic Publishing.
“Lord,
Hear the prayers of your martyr Blaise.
Give us the joy of your peace in this life
and help us to gain the happiness that will never end.
Grant this through our Lord Jesus Chirst, your son, who lives and reins with you and the holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever.”
https://www.wordonfire.org/articles/the-extraordinary-tale-of-st-blaise/
https://www.loyolapress.com/catholic-resources/saints/saints-stories-for-all-ages/saint-blase/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Blaise
https://www.newadvent.org/cathen/02592a.htm
http://www.saintsinrome.com/2013/08/st-blaise.html
Novena: https://www.devocionario.com/santos/blas_2.html
Thurston, Herbert S.J. and Donald Attwater. 1963 Butler’s Lives of the Saint. Complete Edition. Edited, revised and supplemented by Herbert Thurston, S.J. and Donald Attwater. PJ Kenedy & Sons. New York.
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