The 2nd of February marks 40 days after Christmas, the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord Jesus in the Temple. This feast is also known as Candlemas Day in acknowledgement of the ceremony of blessing candles and a procession at the beginning of the Mass of this day. The Gospel is the story of the Presentation and Simeon’s prophecy that Jesus is the Light to the Nations.
The 3rd of February is the memorial of Saint Blaise, the patron saint protecting against ailments of the throat. The bishop and martyr was renowned for saving a boy choking on a fish bone. The Church keeps the tradition of blessing throats using two of the candles blessed on Candlemas Day.
Because of the number of people attending weekend Mass, the blessing of throats will be given all at once to the entire congregation as the Solemn Blessing before the Dismissal.