#januarius

Andrea Appiani (scope of) St. Sebastian, St. Antony Abate, St. Januarius and another Holy Bishop

THE DESCRIPTION OF SAINT JANUARIUS The Patron of Blood Banks and Against Volcanic Eruptions Feast Day: September 19

Saint Januarius hailed from a rich patrician family. He became a priest and later the Bishop of Benevento. As he went about his duties he met Deacon Sossius who impressed him so much with his singing and befriended him.

When Emperor Diocletian started the Christian persecutions Deacon Sossius was arrested and put in prison. Bishop Januarius visited him there and unfortunately, he was also arrested.

Later, Bishop Januarius, Deacon Sossius and several other Christians were sentenced to be thrown to wild bears in the Flavian Amphitheater at Pozzuoli but the bears failed to devour them. The sentence was changed to beheading.

After beheading, Saint Januarius's blood was collected and taken to Naples where it is now preserved in two glass vials as a relic in the cathedral of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Naples.

Saint Januarius' body remains are preserved in the crypt beneath the cathedral of the Archdiocese of Naples. His blood is also preserved there in two glass vials.

Saint Januarius that was preserved usually miraculously melts three times per year: on September 19 (the day of his martyrdom), on December 16 (during the celebration of his patronage of Naples and the archdiocese of Naples), and on the Saturday before the first Sunday of May (when his skull was reunited with the rest of the body).

Indicative of the passion of the people on the 15th of April, 1865 Good Friday was the day    Of the prodigy and crime, When they killed him in his pity,    When they killed him in his prime Of clemency and calm—         When with yearning he was filled         To redeem the evil-willed, And, though conqueror, be kind;    But they killed him in his kindness,    In their madness and their blindness, And they killed him from behind.

             There is sobbing of the strong,                   And a pall upon the land;              But the People in their weeping                                    Bare the iron hand:              Beware the People weeping                   When they bare the iron hand.

He lieth in his blood—    The father in his face; They have killed him, the Forgiver—    The Avenger takes his place, The Avenger wisely stern,         Who in righteousness shall do         What heavens call him to, And the parricides remand;    For they killed him in his kindness,    In their madness and their blindness. And his blood is on their hand.

                   There is sobbing of the strong,                        And a pall upon the land;                    But the People in their weeping                                    Bare the iron hand:                    Beware the People weeping                        When they bare the iron hand.

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The Martyr

Herman Melville

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Francesco Solimena St. Januarius visited in Prison by Proculus and Sosius

Workshop Of Mattia Preti The Beheading of Saint Januarius

Andrea Vaccaro The Ascension of St. Januarius