Thursday, February 3 is the Memorial of St. Blaise, Bishop and Martyr. The customary blessing of throats will be offered at the 9:00 AM Mass and 7:00 PM Mass. This goes back to the tradition that while St. Blaise was in prison for refusing to renounce his faith, he cured a boy who was choking to death on a fish bone. It is a great day to ask the Lord’s healing for sicknesses, especially diseases of the throat.