Naples, September 19, 2016
The so-called “miracle of St. Januarius,” known since the end of the fourteenth century, once again occurred on Monday in the Naples cathedral during a solemn Mass, reports RIA-Novosti.
That the dried blood of the Naples patron, sealed in a special capsule, again turned to liquid Cardinal Crescenzio Sepe announced. The liquefaction of the dried liquid occurred at 10:38 local time.
Thousands of faithful, gathered in the church, met the good news with exuberant applause.
The dried blood, considered the blood of the patron saint of Naples, as the Church affirms, becomes liquid three times a year: September 19, when believers glorify the martyr; December 16, when the Neapolitans mark the anniversary of the miraculous deliverance from the 1631 Vesuvius eruption by the saint’s intercessions, and finally, on the Saturday before the first Sunday of May, when the numerous relocations of the holy relics are commemorated. Sometimes the “miracle” occurs immediately, but sometimes it requires a few days of prayer.
A number of scientific theories have been put forth to explain the phenomenon, but Neapolitans themselves believe in the miracle and hope in St. Januarius to never leave the city residents in times of trouble.
St. Januarius is a hieromartyr of the late third-early fourth centuries, honored by both the Orthodox Church and Catholic communities. He suffered for preaching Christ during the reign of Roman emperor Diocletian.
