Saint Blaise was the bishop of Sebastea and a doctor. The first known record of the saint's life comes from the medical writings of Aëtius Amidenus, where he is recorded as helping with patients suffering from objects stuck in their throat.
Saint Blaise is believed to begin as a healer then, eventually, became a "physician of souls." He then retired to a cave, where he remained in prayer. People often turned to Saint Blaise for healing miracles.
In 316, the governor of Cappadocia and of Lesser Armenia, Agricola, arrested then-bishop Blaise for being a Christian. On their way to the jail, a woman set her only son, who was chocking to death on a fish bone, at his feet.
Blaise cured the child, and though Agricola was amazed, he could not get Blaise to renounce his faith. Therefore, Agricola beat Blaise with a stick and tore at his flesh with iron combs before beheading him.
On the day of his feast the blessing of St. Blaise is given: two candles are held in a crossed position by a priest over the heads of the faithful or the people are touched on the throat with them. At the same time the following blessing is given: "Through the intercession of Saint Blaise, bishop and martyr, may God deliver you from every disease of the throat and from every other illness".
Choral Vespers is sung evening prayer led by our praish choir. It is a beautiful liturgy that includes the lucernarium (lighting of candles), the singing of psalms, a short reading, a singing of the Magnificat (during which the Altar is incensed), intercessions, and the Lord's Prayer.
Vespers on this evening will be multilingual. Some of the liturgy will be sung in Latin (the language of the Roman Church); most of the liturgy, however, will be chanted in English and Spanish. The chanting of psalms will alternate between English and Spanish by verse. A bilingual worship leaflet will be provided so that everyone will be able to understand and participate in the prayers.
It is our hope that this multilingual Vespers liturgy will bring our wonderfully diverse community together in prayer. Everyone is invited to the parish hall after the liturgy for refreshments.