Snowdrop. _Galanthus Nivalis_
Dedicated to the _Purification of the Virgin Mary_.
~February 3.~
Holiday at the Exchequer.
_St. Blase._ _St. Anscharius_, A. D. 865. _St. Wereburge_, Patroness
of Chester. _St. Margaret_, of England.
_St. Blase._
This saint has the honour of a place in the church of England calendar,
on what account it is difficult to say. All the facts that Butler has
collected of him is, that he was bishop of Sebaste in Armenia, receiver
of the relics of St. Eustratius, and executor of his last will; that he
is venerated for the cure of sore throats; principal patron of Ragusa,
titular patron of the wool-combers; and that he was tormented with iron
combs, and martyred under Licinius, in 316.
Ribadeneira is more diffuse. He relates, that St. Blase lived in a cave,
whither wild beasts came daily to visit him, and be cured by him; “and
if it happened that they came while he was at prayer, they did not
interrupt him, but waited till he had ended, and never departed without
his benediction. He was discovered in his retirement, imprisoned, and
cured a youth who had a fish-bone stuck in his throat by praying.”
Ribadeneira further says that Ætius, an ancient Greek physician, gave
the following
_Receipt for a stoppage in the throat_:
“Hold the diseased party by the throat, and pronounce these
words:--BLASE, _the martyr and servant of Jesus Christ, commands thee to
pass up or down_!”
The same Jesuit relates, that St. Blase was scourged, and seven holy
women anointed themselves with his blood; whereupon their flesh was
combed with iron combs, their wounds ran nothing but milk, their flesh
was whiter than snow, angels came visibly and healed their wounds as
fast as they were made; and they were put into the fire, which would not
consume them; wherefore they were ordered to be beheaded, and beheaded
accordingly. Then St. Blase was ordered to be drowned in the lake; but
he walked on the water, sat down on it in the middle, and invited the
infidels to a sitting; whereupon threescore and eight, who tried the
experiment, were drowned, and St. Blase walked back to be beheaded.
The “Golden Legend” says, that a wolf having run away with a woman’s
swine, she prayed St. Blase that she might have her swine again, and St.
Blase promised her, with a smile, she should, and the wolf brought the
swine back; then she slew it, and offered the head and the feet, with
some bread and a candle, to St. Blase. “And he thanked God, and ete
thereof; and he sayd to her, that every yere she sholde offre in his
chirche a candell. And she dyd all her lyf, and she had moche grete
prosperyte. And knowe thou that to thee, and to all them that so shal
do, shal well happen to them.”
It is observed in a note on Brand, that the candles offered to St. Blase
were said to be good for the tooth-ache, and for diseased cattle.
* * * * *
“Then followeth good sir Blase, who doth a waxen Candell give,
And holy water to his men, whereby they safely live
I divers Barrels oft have seene, drawne out of water cleare,
Through one small blessed bone of this same holy Martyr heare:
And caryed thence to other townes and cities farre away,
Ech superstition doth require such earnest kinde of play.”
The origin of St. Blase’s fame has baffled the inquiry of antiquaries;
it seems to have rolled off with the darkness of former ages, never to
be known again. To the _wool-combers_ this saint is indebted for the
maintenance of his reputation in England, for no other trade or persons
have any interest in remembering his existence; and this popularity with
a body of so much consequence may possibly have been the reason, and the
only reason, for the retention of his name in the church calendar at the
Reformation. That it is not in the wane with them, is clear from a
report in the _Leeds Mercury_, of the 5th of February, 1825. The article
furnishes the very interesting particulars in the subjoined account:--