Celebrating St. Januarius on September 19th
On September 19th, the Roman Rite celebrates the feast of St. Januarius, the bishop of Benevento, a city in southern Italy about 33 miles northeast of Naples. This day marks the anniversary of his martyrdom. However, Naples also honors its patron saint with two additional feasts.
The Three Feasts of St. Januarius
1. Translation of His Relics
On the Saturday before the first Sunday of May, the faithful commemorate the translation of his relics from Pozzuoli, where he died during the persecution of Diocletian around 305 AD.
2. The Miracle of 1631
On December 16th, Naples celebrates a miracle attributed to St. Januarius when he stopped a powerful lava flow from Mt. Vesuvius, saving the city’s winter grain supply.
St. Januarius: Martyrdom and Legacy
During the persecution under Emperor Diocletian, prominent Christians from the Bay of Naples were arrested, including a deacon named Sosius from Misenum, a close friend of St. Januarius. Concerned for his friend, Januarius visited the prisoners and was arrested alongside two clerics.
The governor of Campania sentenced them to be thrown to wild beasts in the amphitheater in Pozzuoli, a common punishment for Christians at the time.
Divine Intervention in the Face of Persecution
Stories of martyrdom often include miraculous interventions, where nature seems to defy the persecutors. Such was the case with St. Januarius and his companions, as the wild animals refused to harm them. The persecutors, forced to act themselves, beheaded Januarius and his companions near Pozzuoli. Their bodies were then buried in the town.
The Relics of St. Januarius and Their Significance
By the early 5th century, the Church had been at peace for nearly a hundred years. The relics of other saints were returned to their native places, but St. Januarius’ relics were not taken to Benevento, where he had been bishop. Instead, they were brought to Naples, giving rise to the belief that he was originally from there.
The Chapel of St. Januarius
Today, his relics are housed in a special chapel attached to the cathedral of Naples. This chapel is one of the most richly decorated sacred spaces in all of Italy. For centuries, St. Januarius has been revered as the principal patron of Naples, especially when the city is threatened by the nearby Mt. Vesuvius.
The Miracle of the Blood of St. Januarius
The fame of St. Januarius rests primarily on a remarkable miracle associated with his relics. Among the treasures in his chapel is a glass vial containing what is believed to be his blood. This vial is presented on his three feast days and, when brought near his skull, the blood inside often liquefies.
The Mystery of the Liquefaction
What makes this phenomenon extraordinary is its unpredictability. The substance inside the vial does not always behave the same way. Sometimes, it liquefies quickly, even in cold weather. Other times, it remains thick and sluggish, or fails to liquefy altogether, despite warm temperatures.
Skepticism and Unexplained Phenomena
The miracle has attracted attention from skeptics, some of whom claim the relic is a fraud. Others have attempted to create chemicals that mimic the behavior of the blood, but no one has successfully reproduced its irregular nature. No one has been able to make a substance that stubbornly refuses to liquefy or behaves with such unpredictability.
The Omen of Non-Liquefaction
A complete failure to liquefy is considered by many in Naples and beyond as an omen of impending disaster. However, the Church rejects this belief as superstition, noting that disasters have occurred whether or not the blood liquefies.
