Together with his deacons Socius and Festus, and his lector Desiderius, Januarius, bishop of Beneventum, was subjected to most atrocious torturing during the Diocletian persecution (about 304). Nevertheless, with God’s aid they were preserved unmaimed. The wild animals let loose upon them would not attack. Beheaded at Puteoli, their bodies were reverently interred in the neighboring cities. Eventually the remains of St. Januarius became the prized possession of the city of Naples, of which he is the patron saint.

“Even to the present time the blood of the saint that is preserved in a glass vial will become fluid shortly after it is brought close to the head of the saint; then it bubbles up in a remarkable manner, as if it had just been shed”. The “miracle of Januarius” has world-wide fame. At least three times a year—on his feast day, and the first Sunday of May—the sealed vial with congealed blood of the saint liquifies, froths and bubbles up. This miraculous event has occurred every year, with rare exceptions. Popular tradition holds that the liquefaction is a sign that the year will be preserved from disasters. (In 1939, the beginning of World War II, the blood did not bubble up.)

Cardinal Schuster makes this statement in his Liber Sacramentorum (vol. 8, p. 233): “The author has seen the marvel of the blood liquefaction at closest range and can give witness to the fact. Taking into consideration all the scientific investigations that have been made, he would say that a natural explanation of the phenomena does not seem possible.”

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10 COMMENTS

  1. This is a true miracle, he is remembered all the time, and lives on even after his death. It is my prayer that, all Christians, especially Catholics will pick lessons from His life

  2. Thank you for all the miracles around us. Please pray for my family. I humbly ask for your intercession in the matter regarding my husband. Please protect our son.
    AMEN

  3. This is the first time I have read about this Saint, and just watching the video with Pope Francis, gives me more faith in believing in the Catholics beliefs and humbly asking St Janiuarius to please protect Samoa from all Natural disasters, and restore faith in all Catholics around the World especially here in our country.

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