THE LIQUEFACTION OF THE BLOOD OF ST. JANUARIS.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 2665, 10 August 1889, Page 6 (Supplement)

THE LIQUEFACTION OF THE BLOOD OF ST. JANUARIS.

A special correspondent oE the Liverpoal Catholic Times, of May 17th, writes: This wonderful event takes piuco three different times each year. One of these occasions is tho Saturday before the first Sunday in May, when the blood of the holy martyr is carried iu procession from the Cathedral dedicated iu his honour to the Church of St. Claire. This procession, which passes through the principal streets of Naples, is the most gorgeous religious ceretuouy that can he witnessed in any part of the world. Fifty life-size busts, representing so many illustrious saints, are carried on men's shoulders to the church in which the miracle is to take place. These bursts are of solid silver, glittering with precious stones. The Cardinal is carried in tho rear under a canopy, holding in his hands a vessel iu the shape of a remonstrance, which encloses the phial containing some of the Martyr's blood. On the last occasion tho procession left the Cathedral at 4 o'clock iu the afternoon, and at six o'clock his Eminence Cardinal Sanfelice, Archbishop of Naples, deposited the vase containing: the solid mass of blood of dark clay like colour on the altar in tho Church of St. Clare. The prayers prescribed were recited by the Cardinal find responded to by all present. His Eminence then showed the vase, which is circular and übout tho size of an ordinary watch, to tho people, when it was seen that no change had, as yet, taken place. The "Miserero" was then recited and some of the other prayers repeated. At seven o'clock tho vase was 1 again presented to the people's view, and this time, to the delight of all, it was soon that although the mass was still solid it had assumed the natural colour of blood. A medical doctor who stood at the right of his Eminence saw distinctly some drops of blood falling into the neck of the phial, which was turned downwards. Immediately afterwards the whole mass was changed into liquid like the blood that courses in our veins It bubbled up and filled in every part the vessel iu which it was contained. The organ pealed forth in joyous strains and exclamations of delight went up from the thousands present, amongst whom were some who arn still able to trace relationship with the saint. Around the altar were educated men of every shade of opinion, who saw distinctly everything that took place, and all left the Church of St. Clare convinced that they had witnessed a great miracle. In tho little town of Pozzuoli, outside Naples, where St. Januaris was martyred, there can still be seen a few traces of his blood on a stone that is guarded with zealous care. This blood also liquifies at the same moment as the miracle takes place in Naples.