During the 14th century, the Catholic Church established an auxiliary of 14 saints to protect the plagued masses. One of the 14, St. Blaise, was known for his healing abilities of throat maladies. It became wide practice at this time that on February third, devotees would have their throats blessed by a pair of crossed candles. Cainites active in the Church found it particularly ironic that those same blessed throats would provide a sacred meal for vampires.