First Saturday
IV class
White
Commemoration of St. Blaise, Bishop and Martyr
The First Saturday votive Mass may be said: “one Mass of the Immaculate Heart of the Blessed Virgin Mary, on the first Saturday of each month, in churches and oratories in which special devotions are held on that day in honor of the Immaculate Heart of Mary” (Rubricæ generales, 385c).
The blessing of throats is traditionally done today, on St. Blaise’s Day. It can be done also on other days such as on the following Sunday, for the benefit of the faithful who were unable to attend Mass on St. Blaise’s day. For notes about the blessing, see Reminder below; they are included also in the notes for the Season of Septuagesima, accessed by clicking the Season icon at the bottom of the page.
First Saturday votive: (White) Mass of August 22, Gloria, no Credo, commemoration of St. Blaise, preface of the BVM with Et te in veneratione.
OR
Mass of St. Blaise: (Red) Mass Sacerdotes Dei, Gloria, no Credo.
OR
Mass of the ferial day: (Violet) Mass of preceding Sunday (Septuagesima) with commemoration of St. Blaise, no Gloria, no Credo, omit Tract, common preface.
Office of Our Lady on Saturday
Matins: Invitatorium Ave Maria; Saturday antiphons, psalms and verse, 1st and 2nd scripture lessons of Saturday in the week of Septuagesima, 3rd lesson of February Christus virgo in the Common, Te Deum.
Lauds: Saturday psalms and antiphons of the 1st scheme, remainder from the Common.
Hours: Saturday psalms and antiphons, remainder from the Common.
I Vespers: Of Sexagesima Sunday, Proper antiphons, Saturday psalms.
Compline: Of Saturday. Antiphon of the BVM Ave Regina Coelorum.
– The blessing of throats takes place today. If the throats are blessed immediately before or after Mass and the celebrant does not depart the sanctuary, he may simply remove the maniple and remain in Mass vestments to bive the blessing. If the blessing is given apart from Mass, the priest wears a surplice and red stole.
– Only candles blessed with the proper form given in the Ritual for the blessing of candles on the feast of St. Blaise may be used to give the blessing of throats. The candles are customarily joined with a red ribbon so that they form a cross shape (more akin to St. Andrew’s Cross: X). Once the candles are blessed, they may be stored in the sacristy and used for the blessing of throats each year. It is not necessary to re-bless St. Blaise candles each year.
– The throats are blessed thus: the faithful kneel at the altar rail (servers at the footpace). There, the priest with surplice and red stole, or the Mass vestments sans maniple holds the unlighted candles against the throat of the person with his left hand, using his right hand to make the sign of the cross in the blessing.
– The blessing of throats is: Per intercessionem Sancti Blasii, Episcopi et Martyris, liberet te Deus a malo gutturis et a quolibet alio malo. In nomine Patris + et Filii, et Spiritus Sancti. Amen.
– The blessing of throats with these blessed candles may be done also on other days of the year, such as on the following Sunday for the benefit of the faithful who were not able to attend Mass on St. Blaise’s day.