Using  two crossed, blessed, unlit candles the minister touches the throat of each person using the following prayer of blessing:

Through the intercession of St Blaise, Bishop and Martyr,

may the Lord preserve you from aliments of the throat and every other illness.

In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen

Very  few facts are known about Saint Blaise. It is believed that he was a  bishop of Sebastea in Armenia who was martyred under the reign of  Licinius in the early fourth century.

The legend of his life that sprang up in the eighth century tell us  that he was born in to a rich and noble family who raised him as a  Christian. After becoming a bishop, a new persecution of Christians  began. He received a message from God to go into the hills to escape  persecution. Men hunting in the mountains discovered a cave surrounded  by wild animals who were sick. Among them Blaise walked unafraid, curing  them of their illnesses. Recognizing Blaise as a bishop, they captured  him to take him back for trial. On the way back, he talked a wolf into  releasing a pig that belonged to a poor woman. When Blaise was sentenced  to be starved to death, the woman, in gratitude, sneaked into the  prison with food and candles. Finally Blaise was killed by the governor.