Saint's Blood Liquefies - Good Omen for the World

Reuters ^ | 09/20/2001 | Reuters

[Cultural Jihad]

Thursday September 20 7:22 AM ET

Saint's Blood Liquefies - Good Omen for the World

NAPLES, Italy (Reuters) - Thousands of Neapolitans crammed into the city's cathedral Wednesday to witness the liquefaction of their patron saint's blood -- a good omen for Naples and the world, according to the faithful.

After an hour of prayer, Archbishop Michele Giordano held aloft the silver and glass vial purported to contain the dried blood of Saint Gennaro and thousands craned their necks to see if the blood had indeed liquefied.

The substance usually turns to liquid twice a year -- on September 19, the saint's feast day, and on the first Saturday in May. In the past, disaster has struck when the blood has remained dry.

``This is an important sign of hope not only for the city but also for the United States following the attacks,'' Antonio Bassolino, the head of the Campania region which includes Naples, declared after the ceremony.

``Like all Neapolitans, I hoped deeply that a good sign would come quickly. It is always a very emotional moment, but this year it was particularly so, given the difficult times for the city and international events,'' he said.

Naples was struck by flash floods last week which left two people dead and more than $150 million in damage.

The ceremony, which Neapolitans revere as a miracle, was also attended by the American consul to Naples, Clyde Bishop, who leant forward and kissed the vial after it was shown the blood had liquefied.

During the prayers, Archbishop Giordano called on Saint Gennaro for protection ``for America, Italy, and the whole world,'' and asked the congregation to think particularly of those Neapolitans who live in New York.

Some Neapolitans, traditionally very superstitious, fear disaster may strike the city if the blood of the fourth-century martyr does not turn to liquid.

Disaster has struck at least five times after the blood failed to liquefy, including in November 1980 when some 3,000 people died in a massive earthquake that struck southern Italy.

Scientists have confirmed the substance inside the closed vial is blood but cannot explain why it turns to liquid.

[eastsider]

Much more sensitive measurement techniques -- such as molecular absorption, fluorescence spectrometry, and raman scattering -- exist but the Church has so far refused to allow the relic to be tested.

I'm all in favor of testing, but I'm not so sure about your "but the Church has so far refused" comment, which sounds of cynicism more than fact. I may be totally off base here, but I would think the local bishop would have jurisdiction for the testing, not the Vatican.

[JMJ333]

I agree with the "bean out of own eye" comment. However, my point to Illbay was that it is rude to get on threads and trash someone else's faith. He would be in a snit if someone were deriding mormonism the way he's deriding Catholicism. I have more respect for other freepers than to belittle their personal religious beliefs. Call me crazy.

[JMJ333]

Catholicism a la Italiana is often a freak show .

Yeah, you're right. Us Catholic Italians are freaks.

[A.J.Armitage]

Was anyone involved reincarnated?

[sinkspur]

Moreover, by asking the question: "How many times has the blood liquified?" or by making the statement "I don't see this event as a predictor of..." implies that you believe in the liquification,

No. The liquification of the blood can be accomplished a couple of different ways besides miraculous occurrence.

I don't necessarily believe or disbelieve the liquifaction.

But the liquification has led this community in Naples to tie it to good luck.

That's superstition, which is, I'm afraid, what this whole liquification is, since the Vatican, in 600 years, has not verified the validity of this as a miracle.

[LarryLied]

Then again, they have a reputation for emptying the soda machines at work, and if true is really such a slight infraction.

Heck...they go to Costco and buy the whole store out of whatever they need. My first experience with Mormons was as I related. Neighbor in an RV park in Vegas came in with his pick-up truck filled with soda. Naturally, I was curious. And he didn't see what I found odd about what he was doing with all that pop either. So we were even. Learned a little more when I bought commerical property in a Mormon town in AZ. Can't say we didn't have our rough spots but once I found out what the deal was, and how it was much like the New England town I was raised in (which kept out Catholics and Jews), we got along fine.

[rockfish59]

if they're psychics, then why do they need telephones?

[Cultural Jihad]

St. Bernadette

She was the oldest of six children in the very poor family of Francois and Louise Casterot.

On 11 February 1858, around the time of her first Communion, she was gathering firewood with her sisters when a beautiful lady appeared to her in a cave. She appeared a total of 18 times.

During the apparitions Bernadette was persecuted by the authorities and also by her family. Before the last apparition the Lady said to her " I am the Immaculate Conception" ,she asked her to pray for sinners and to have a Chapel built near the grotto.  After the last apparition a spring  of miraculous waters sprang from the ground.

A great basilica was built in that place, where millions of pilgrims honor Our Lady every year.

Bernadette became a nun and died at the age of thirty six, her body remains incorrupt.

The Work of God Apostolate
www.theworkofgod.org

[eastsider]

I understood sinkspur to be questioning the miraculous nature of the liquefaction, not the liquefaction per se. Enough people seem to have witnessed the event for one to believe it occurs, but until the data are examined, no one can rule out chicanery.

[JMJ333]

That's superstition, which is, I'm afraid, what this whole liquification is, since the Vatican, in 600 years, has not verified the validity of this as a miracle.

There are many miracles which aren't officially approved by the church but are nonetheless worthy of belief. For example, the apparitions at Medjugorie aren't official, yet the faithful are encouraged to make a pilgimage to receive grace. There is a book by Joan Carroll Cruz entitles Relics and it has a chapter about the liquification phenonmenon. The book contains the Nihil Obstat and Imprimitur, which are official declarations that the contents are free from doctrinal error and the faithful can choose to believe or not.

[rockfish59]

i see the religious posts draw in the texas dumbasses!

[eastsider]

Thank you for a better look at the saint's incorrupt remains. She is stunningly beautiful.

[Rome2000]

while a group of poor women, known as the "zie di San Gennaro" (aunts of St. Januarius), make themselves specially conspicuous by the fervour, and sometimes, when the miracle is delayed, by the extravagance, of their supplications.

That sounds like a sight not to be missed.

Must be awe inspiring.

[Cultural Jihad]

if they're psychics, then why do they need telephones?

Hehehe. If Madame Cleo can guess my credit card number and expiration date, she is welcome to use it. ;)

[Cultural Jihad]

She is stunningly beautiful.

How much more beautiful must be the Creator of beauty than beauty itself!

[sinkspur]

For example, the apparitions at Medjugorie aren't official, yet the faithful are encouraged to make a pilgimage to receive grace.

I can receive grace praying to the Blessed Mother in my living room.

I'm sure the faithful ARE encouraged to go to Medjugorie.

By the residents of Medjugorie. Tourists are good for business.

Excuse my cynicism, but I witnessed one of these "unofficial" miracles out in Lubbock, Texas. Seven thousand Mexicans gathered daily for two weeks to witness the Blessed Mother in the sun.

YOu ever looked directly at the sun? You might imagine you're seeing all kinds of things.

The Bishop of San Angelo, Bishop Michael Sheehan (now Archbishop of Santa Fe and a personal friend) endured untold abuse because he wouldn't go out to the field and sanction the event as a miracle.

BTW, an imprimatur can be given by any bishop, any where.

[Cultural Jihad]

That sounds like a sight not to be missed. Must be awe inspiring.

There's always next September 19th. Let us know what you see. ;)

[A.J.Armitage]

She's been dead over a hundred years.