Today September 19

Today is the feast of St. Januarius (died 305 AD), more famous for the miracle attributed to his blood than for his life itself! He was a bishop of Naples and though free, he chose to visit four Christians in prison and was thus arrested, interrogated, put to the torture, thrown to the lions (who inexplicably refused to devour him) and then beheaded. His relics, including his blood, were carefully collected and kept, first in Naples, then in Benevento, then in the abbey at Monte Vergine, and finally back in the church named San Gennaro (Januarius) in Naples. Each year when the normally black and solid mass of his blood (kept in a phial) is brought out and put near his head (in a silver reliquary by the altar), it liquefies. This can happen at any temperature -- as high as 86 degrees F or as low as 15 -- and in the presence of skeptics and believers alike. It has been measured and studied, poked and prodded, all to the unanimous determination that there is NO natural explanation for it. It is not held in hot hands, but placed upside down on the reliquary and on the feast days (there are three: today, the feast of the translation [Saturday before the first Sunday in May], and the anniversary of the saving from a volcano eruption [Dec. 16th]) -- and only on these days does the miracle happen. Or, shall we say, does the "unexplained event" happen. It is followed by devout and happy prayer, a singing of the Te Deum, and veneration. It has been a symbol of the omnipotence of God for thousands of Neapolitans all these many years. Who can say what is at work here? I think if we were talking respectfully about a primitive people, we would be charmed and delighted by their faith. Why it seems to rile some Westerners -- who look so critically on their own people -- I don't know. I think it's wonderful. The only miracles which are articles of faith are those in the Scriptures, the others since then, if miracles they be, are just gravy. St. Januarius, pray for us.