Posted on 09/19/2011 8:46:56 AM PDT by Pyro7480
The Miracle of San Gennaro was repeated on Monday when the blood of Naples' patron saint liquefied at 9.30am.
The event was announced to the thousands packing the city's cathedral and square outside, who cheered and let off firecrackers.
A visibly moved Cardinal Crescenzio Sepe, the Archbishop of Naples, held up a phial containing the blood of the 3rd-century saint while a traditional white handkerchief was waved.
Cardinal Sepe took the opportunity to reject government plans to cancel a number of saints' days, saying: "Naples cannot be cancelled from history".
Mayor Luigi de Magistris, elected in May, was among the politicians who paid homage to the saint by kissing the phial for the first time.
"Some people thought they could get rid of the feast of San Gennaro, because the government is on the way out," he said.
"But all of Naples is here, beyond political credos and religious convictions"....
The miracle takes place on the anniversary of the martyrdom of San Gennaro (St. Januarius) in September 305 AD.
The dried blood of the saint is preserved in two glass phials and traditionally liquefies three times a year, the Church says, thanks to the devotion and prayers of the faithful....
...The ritual's success is a good omen for the city while its failure is a sign of impending disaster.
In fact, disaster has struck on at least five occasions when the blood failed to liquefy, including in 1527 when tens of thousands of people died from the plague and in 1980 when 3,000 people were killed in an earthquake which devastated much of southern Italy....
A group of Italian scientists has analysed the contents of the phials, establishing that they do contain blood, but have been unable to explain the phenomenon....
(Excerpt) Read more at ansa.it ...
Catholic ping!
Really? Really??
I think the transformation that interests me today is whether the people of Naples are better people for having repeatedly observed this phenomenon? Without fruit of the Holy Spirit, it is just a curiosity.
Anybody know the people of Naples?
Not a single one. However, my mom has been to Pompeii more than once.
San Gennaro miracle recurs (St. Januarius's blood liquefies) (Catholic Caucus)[2011]
Naples: The Miracle of St. Januarius Happens on Time this Year. 2010
San Gennaro Miracle Recurs (Catholic/Orthodox Caucus)
Naples hails annual miracle of liquefying blood (San Gennaro) [St. Januarius] [2007]
San Gennaro (St. Januarius): New Miracle [2006]
Miracle of San Gennaro Repeated (St. Januarius) [2005]
Sept. 19: St. Januarius, Bishop & Martyr, and His Companions, Martyrs (Gueranger)
The Life Of St. Januarius
Saint's Dried Blood Liquefies in 'Miracle' [2002]
Saint's Blood Liquefies - Good Omen for the World [2001]
I’ve been up for hours searching Catholic blogs trying to find the confirmation of the liquefaction this year. Should have known to check FR first! Thank you so much for posting!!!
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