(Optional)
Memorial of Saint Blaise, bishop and martyr
(II Samuel 15:13-14.30.16:5-13; Mark 5:1-20)
A priest from Latin America was about to say his first
mass in the U.S. on February 2. He
expected to see a crowd in church as the Presentation of the Lord is a popular
feast day in his country. But he was disappointed
when only a few people arrived for mass.
In his homily he criticized Americans for being so lax in their faith. The next day, February 3, he was assigned the
mass at the same hour as the day before.
This time, however, the church had a crowd which made the priest feel
that his preaching was effective. Entering
the sacristy after mass, he learned that the numbers had nothing to do with his
homily. The sacristan presented him with
a set of candles and told him to bless the throats of the people. The priest, who had never heard of the tradition
of blessing throats on St. Blaise day, received a lesson on American Catholic
culture.
In the order of holy things the Presentation of the Lord --
when we meditate on Jesus as the light of the world -- deserves much greater attention
than the blessing of throats. During the
Eucharist of the Presentation we encounter the Lord in his resurrected glory so
that we might say with Simeon, “Lord, now you can let your servant go in peace.”
We mean, of course, that we are prepared
to die because we know that Jesus will give us his eternal care.
On the other hand, the blessing of throats, which might
be done with the same effect on any day of the year, is a sacramental. It is meant to remind us of Jesus’ action in
the world to save us from sin. It still is
beneficial to have our throats blessed, but it is far better to attend mass and
receive the body and blood of Christ.
