So how did St. Blaise become the patron saint of throats? St. Blaise lived in Armenia in the 3rd and 4th centuries. At this time, Christians were still being persecuted by Roman authorities. St. Blaise was a physician who became Bishop of Sebastea. In 316, the Roman governor began a persecution of Christians during which St. Blaise was arrested and beheaded. This is what the historical record tells us of St. Blaise. But additional information is found in the Acts of St. Blaise, written about 400 years later.
According to the Acts of St. Blaise, as St. Blaise was being led to jail, he encountered a mother who begged him to help her son. You see, her son had swallowed a fish bone which was caught in his throat. Unless he received help, he was going to choke to death. Moved by the mother's pleas, St. Blaise prayed for the boy and he was saved. It is because of this story that St. Blaise has earned his place as patron of throats.
This story was well-known during the Middle Ages and St. Blaise's fame spread throughout Europe. This was aided by his inclusion as one of the Fourteen Holy Helpers. These helpers were fourteen saints who were often venerated together, in part because they were believed to be particularly effective in preventing and curing various diseases. Beginning in the fourteenth century in the Rhineland region of Germany, these saints were often depicted together. Although the list varies depending on location, the most common list of saints and their patronages include:
- St. Agathius - Invoked against headaches
- St. Barbara - Invoked against fever and sudden death
- St. Blaise - Invoked against illnesses of the throat and for protection of domestic animals
- St. Catherine of Alexandria - Invoked against sudden death
- St. Christopher - Invoked against Bubonic Plague and dangers while traveling
- St. Cyriacus - Invoked against temptation on the death-bed
- St. Denis - Invoked against headaches
- St. Erasmus (St. Elmo) - Invoked against intestinal ailments
- St. Eustace - Invoked against family discord
- St. George - Invoked for the health of domestic animals
- St. Giles - Invoked against plague, for a good confession, and for cripples, beggars and blacksmiths
- St. Margaret of Antioch - Invoked during childbirth, and escape from devils
- St. Pantaleon - Invoked for physicians and against cancer & tuberculosis
- St. Vitus - Invoked against epilepsy, lightning and for protection of domestic animals.
Each of these saints, except St. Giles, are considered martyrs.