3 February.  SEE: St Blaise is said to have cured a young boy choking on a fishbone. From that a tradition grew up around a blessing of throats particularly of those suffering from diseases of the chest and lungs. Diphtheria and TB were life-threatening diseases in their day, TB and HIV/AIDS are still so today and COVID included respiratory problems. Blessings and prayers about certain conditions remind us of God’s care and concern for us in sickness. We do our bit by protecting ourselves and trust in God for the rest.

JUDGE, reflect and share.  Scripture:  Jesus said to his disciples, “Go out into the whole world and preach the gospel. In my name. “They will cast out demons, they will speak in new tongues, they will lay hands on the sick and heal them”.   Mk 16:15-20. Pope Francis: Jesus is the physician who heals with the medicine of love, for he takes upon himself our sweorld’s uffering and redeems it.  We know that God can understand our infirmities, because he himself has personally experienced them. From Jubilee of sick and suffering.  “Suffering and illness have always been among the world’s greatest problems.  Christians feel and experience pain like all other people. Part of the plan laid out by God’s providence is that we should fight against sickness and carefully seek the blessings of good health, so that we may fulfil our role in human society and in the Church” Catechism 1622.   Pope Leo: During the plague in Carthage St Cyprian reminded Christians of the importance of caring for the sick.   “This pestilence, which seems so horrible and deadly, searches out the righteousness of each one and examines the minds of the human race, to see whether the healthy serve the sick, whether relatives love each other with sincerity, whether masters have pity on their sick servants, whether doctors do not abandon the sick who beg for help. This is not simply philanthrophic behaviour but ecclesial action through members touching the suffering face of Christ.  DT 48

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