St. Januarius or San Gennaro

St. Januarius, or San Gennaro in Italian, is the patron saint of Naples. He was bishop of Benevento in the third century, and his bones and blood are preserved in the Naples cathedral as relics. He is believed to have been martyred during the Christian persecution of Emperor Diocletian. The liquefaction of St. Januarius' blood happens at least three times per year: the saint's feast day of Sept. 19, the Saturday before the first Sunday of May, and Dec. 16, which is the anniversary of the 1631 eruption of Mount Vesuvius.

The Latest

St. Januarius and the miracle of the liquefaction of his blood contained in a relic.

St. Januarius’ blood miraculously liquifies again in Naples

Dec 18, 2023

By Eduardo Berdejo

The Archdiocese of Naples, Italy, announced that the miracle of the liquefaction of the blood of St. Januarius was repeated... Read more

Archbishop Domenico Battaglia holds up the reliquary with the liquefied blood of St. Januarius on the martyr bishop's feast day Sept. 19, 2023. The announcement that the blood had liquefied was made at the start of Mass in the Naples Cathedral by Abbot Vincenzo De Gregorio.

Blood of St. Januarius ‘completely liquefied’ on feast day

Sep 19, 2023

By Hannah Brockhaus

The blood “is not an oracle to consult and even less a city horoscope whose function is to predict misfortune... Read more

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Blood of St. Januarius liquefies in Naples on feast day

Sep 19, 2022

By Courtney Mares

The blood of St. Januarius liquefied on Monday at a Mass in Naples, where the archbishop sharply condemned the city’s... Read more

Archbishop Domenico Battaglia leads a procession in honor of St. Januarius in Naples, Italy, on April 30, 2022.

St. Januarius’ blood liquifies for first time in 2022

May 3, 2022

By Courtney Mares

The liquefaction traditionally happens at least three times a year. Read more

The reliquary of St. Januarius at Mass in Naples Cathedral, Italy, Dec. 16, 2021.

St. Januarius’ blood liquefies (eventually) for third time in 2021

Dec 16, 2021

By CNA Staff

The blood changed its state after a day of intense prayer. Read more

The reliquary of St. Januarius is held by the celebrant at Mass in Naples Cathedral, Italy, Dec. 16, 2021.

St. Januarius’ blood fails to liquefy at start of December anniversary

Dec 16, 2021

By CNA Staff

The blood of St. Januarius, patron of the Italian city of Naples, has so far remained solid on Thursday, after... Read more

Archbishop Domenico Battaglia holds a reliquary containing St. Januarius’ liquefied blood in Naples Cathedral, Italy, Sept. 19, 2021.

St. Januarius’ blood liquefies for the second time in 2021

Sep 19, 2021

By CNA Staff

Naples Archbishop Domenico Battaglia said: “We thank the Lord for this gift.” Read more

Pope Francis and Cardinal Sepe hold relic of St. Januarius' blood in Naples cathedral March 21, 2015.

Everything you need to know about the miracle of liquefaction of the blood of St. Januarius

Sep 18, 2021

By CNA Staff

On Sept. 19, the Catholic Church celebrates the feast of St. Januarius, bishop, martyr, and patron saint of Naples, Italy.... Read more

Cardinal Crescenzio Sepe views the reliquary with the blood of St. Januarius in 2009.

Blood of St. Januarius liquefies in Naples

May 3, 2021

Naples archdiocese announced that the miraculous event took place at 5.18 p.m. local time on May 2. Read more

Cardinal Crecscenzio Sepe views the reliquary with the blood of St. Januarius in 2009.

Blood of St. Januarius fails to liquefy on December feast

Dec 16, 2020

By Hannah Brockhaus

In Naples, the blood of St. Januarius remained solid Wednesday, after having liquefied both in May and September this year.  Read more

Cardinal Crecscenzio Sepe views the reliquary with the blood of St. Januarius in 2009.

St. Januarius' blood liquifies in Naples

Sep 19, 2020

By Hannah Brockhaus

The blood of early Church martyr St. Januarius liquified in Naples Saturday, repeating a miracle dating at least to the... Read more

The Archbishop of Naples blesses the city with St. Januarius' liquefied blood.

Blood of St. Januarius liquefies in Naples under lockdown

May 3, 2020

By Courtney Mares

The liquefaction of the blood of the early Church martyr St. Januarius occurred Saturday amid the coronavirus lockdown, leading the... Read more

Cardinal Crescenzio Sepe of Naples speaks with CNA in Rome, Feb. 13, 2015.

Cardinal 'blanches' while celebrating recurring miracle of saint's liquefied blood

Sep 19, 2018

By Mary Farrow

Cardinal Crescenzio Sepe of Naples usually does not faint at the sight of blood.  Read more

Last year, Pope Francis and Cardinal Sepe hold relic of St. Januarius' blood in Naples cathedral March 21, 2015.

San Gennaro's blood didn't liquefy--so pray anyway, abbot says

Dec 19, 2016

Prayer was the response to a rare failure of a saint’s blood to liquefy in Naples, an occurrence some believe... Read more

Pope Francis and Cardinal Sepe hold relic of St. Januarius' blood in Naples cathedral March 21, 2015.

Saint's relic with miraculous tendencies does it again for Pope Francis

Mar 21, 2015

While Pope Francis was giving some advice to the religious, priests and seminarians of Naples on Saturday, a miracle occurred:... Read more