Belfast Telegraph
January 31, 2009 Saturday
First Edition

The blessings of St Blaise

by EDDIE McILWAINE

Next Tuesday is St Blaise’s Day, I am advised by Sharon McComb of
Comber who informs me it is an anniversary the late Queen Mother must
have known well.

You see, this Blaise was an Armenian bishop to whom a few miraculous
deeds were attributed including saving from death a fellow who was
choking on a fishbone.

In her time the Queen Mum was known on at least two occasions to have
choked on similar bones.

Mind you, I think it was her doctor who saved this Royal and not this
saint, but in her day she enjoyed reading about the Blessing St Blaise
asked in his lifetime for God’s protection against afflictions of the
throat.

Sharon also reveals that St Blaise is the patron saint of wool combers
and one of his emblems is a comb.