Saint Blase

An Armenian bishop, Blase suffered martyrdom during the persecution of Licinius, in the early 4th century. According to legend, he performed a miraculous cure on a boy who was choking to death. Blase has long been associated with cures for afflictions of the throat, and the blessing of throats may take place on this day in memory of St Blase. He is the patron of wild animals, woolcombers and of all who suffer from afflictions of the throat.

Saint Ansgar

Ansgar was born about 801 of a noble family near Amiens. He was sent to study at the nearby monastery of Old Corbie and decided to become a monk in order to preach to the pagans. He moved to the Benedictine monastery of New Corbie and began to exploit his extraordinary talent for preaching. He engaged in missions to Denmark and Sweden with great success, winning many converts. In 831, he was made abbot of New Corbie and first archbishop of Hamburg. After his work was destroyed by pagan invaders from the north, he returned and won Denmark back to the faith. Known as the Apostle of the North, he died in 865, greatly venerated for his charity and sanctity. He is a patron of Denmark, Germany and Iceland.©2011 Living with Christ, Novalis - Bayard Press Canada Inc., http://www.livingwithchrist.ca/. Reprinted with permission.