Today, February 3, we will celebrate St Blaise, martyred in Armenia in AD 316. He was a bishop and we hear a good one who was focused on the health of spirituality of his people. Freedom of worship was in its infancy then and so he did have to flee to the woods where he was alone with God and in prayer.
He became friends with the wild animals of the area – even the lions and bears, much to the surprise of some hunters who found him there surrounded by them. The hunters took him back to town and he remained in prison until not once but twice refusing to give up his faith. He was savagely attacked and then beheaded, but never gave up his faith.
Martha L Shaw - Poet, Writer, Author, Artist 