St Januarius (4th century) invoked against volcanic eruptions
Three times a year - on his feast, on the day of the translation of
his relics and on the day he saved Naples from an eruption on Mount
Vesuvius - the blood of St Januarius is said to liquefy.
Fourth century martyr at Naples
Fourth century martyr at Naples
Januarius was a
4th century bishop of Beneventum, who with his companions suffered
martyrdom in the persecution of Diocletian at Naples. It is said he was
first thrown into a fiery furnace and remained unscathed. Then thrown to
the lions in the arena, they refused to touch him. Finally he was
beheaded. The Christian women collected his blood in a glass vial and
placed it in his tomb.
Liquefaction of his blood
The first recorded
liquefaction of his blood was recorded in the year 1389 and since then
countless pilgrims have witnessed this unexplained occurrence. The
phenomenon has been the subject of intense dispute and scientific
examination for centuries. The Church has never made any official
declaration that it is a supernatural event. But even sceptics admit
that something happens.
What is involved is a dark solid mass held in a glass vial kept in
the treasury chapel of Naples cathedral. Three times a year a priest
brings it out with a reliquary said to contain the saint's skull, holds
it up and turns it as the people pray. After a period of anything from
two minutes to an hour, it appears to become red and to bubble - or not.
If it does, the priest proclaims the miracle and all sing the Te Deum in thanksgiving. If not, this is taken as a kind of prophetic warning.
Invoked against volcanic eruptions
In 1631 an
eruption on nearby Mount Vesuvius threatened. The people prayed to St
Januarius to spare them. The flow of lava abated and the city was saved.
Ever since, St Januarius has been invoked against volcanic eruptions.
He is also the patron saint of blood banks.