St. Januarius

St. Januarius Biogrpahy

St. Januarius (also known as Saint Gennaro) was a Christian martyr who lived in the 3rd century A.D. He was the bishop of Benevento, a city in southern Italy, and was known for his faith and devotion to the Christian community there.

It is believed that Januarius was born in Benevento and was a devout Christian from a young age. As an adult, he became a priest and later was appointed as bishop of Benevento. During his time as bishop, he is said to have performed many miracles, including healing the sick and raising the dead.

Januarius and several companions were arrested during the persecution of Emperor Diocletian. They were tortured and eventually beheaded, becoming martyrs for their faith.

After his death, St. Januarius became a popular saint in the region and his cult spread throughout Italy. His tomb was located in the Catacombs of San Gennaro in Naples where his relics remained, and he is still celebrated and venerated there to this day.

One of the most famous events associated with St. Januarius is the liquefaction of his blood. Each year on September 19th, the day of his martyrdom, a vial of his dried blood is brought out for a special ceremony in the Cathedral of Naples. According to legend, the blood in the vial liquefies and starts to boil, showing the Saint’s blood and spirit are still alive and active. This event is seen as a miracle by the faithful and has been observed for centuries.

Additionally, the Saint is considered to be a protector of Naples and his relics are highly venerated by the locals. The city has many churches, chapels and other places dedicated to him, specially the Cathedral of San Gennaro.

Furthermore, St. Januarius has also been considered a patron saint of the poor, prisoners and against volcanic eruptions due to his strong association with the city and its history. There are many miraculous legends and stories linked to St. Januarius and his life and his devotion to Christianity.

St. Januarius continues to be a beloved figure in the Catholic Church and his feast day is celebrated on September 19th. His story is a testament to the strength of faith and devotion, even in the face of persecution.

The Life of St. Januarius

It was during the persecution of Diocletian, in 305, that St. Januarius, who was Bishop of Benevento, Italy, and other loyal Christians suffered martyrdom for the Faith. Upon learning that Sosius, Deacon of Misenum, Proculus, Deacon of Pozzuoli, and some prominent laymen had been imprisoned for professing their Faith, Januarius determined to go to see them in order to give them comfort and encouragement.

The inquisitive keepers reported that an eminent person from Benevento had visited the Christian prisoners. Timothy, who governed that district, ordered that Januarius, whom he found to be the visitor, should be arrested and brought before him at Nola. The Bishop’s Deacon, Festus, and Desiderius, who were visiting the Bishop at the time, were also apprehended and shared in Januarius’ sufferings. Soon afterwards, when Timothy went to Pozzuoli, these three confessors, loaded with irons, were obliged to walk before his chariot to that town. They were cast into the same prison where some other loyal Christians were being detained; they had been condemned by the Emperor to be thrown to the wild beasts and where awaiting execution of the sentence.

Surviving Wild Animals

The day after St. Januarius and his companions arrived all were exposed in the amphitheater, but not one was harmed by the wild animals. The people, amazed, attributed their preservation to magic. The Martyrs were then condemned to be beheaded, and the sentence was executed near Pozzuoli. About the year 400 the relics of St. Januarius were translated to Naples, which city honors him as its patron Saint. The people give him credit for delivering them from the plague in 1497, and for saving their city on several occasions when it was in danger of destruction from the eruption of Mount Vesuvius.

Three times a year-on his Feast day September 19, December 16, and on the first Sunday in May-a sealed phial which contains the congealed blood of St. Januarius, when placed near the Martyr’s head, liquefies and bubbles up. This miraculous event has occurred, with rare exceptions, ever since the translation of the Saint’s body to Naples.

 

Popular St. Januarius Medal and St. Januarius Rosary

Prayers to St. Januarius

Oh St. Janarius, brave of faith in Jesus Christ, glorious patron of Catholic Naples, looks upon us benignly and accepts our vows, that today we lie at your feet with total confidence in your powerful patronage.
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How many times have you run to help your fellow citizens, now stopping in the path of the destructive lava of Vesuvius, and now saving us from plague, earthquakes, famine and many other divine punishments that terrify us.
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The perpetual miracle of the liquefaction of your blood is a sure and extremely eloquent sign that you live among us, that you know our needs and that you protect us in a singular way.
Oh, we pray you to pray for us, sure that we will be answered; and saved from all the evils that oppress us from all directions.
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Save us from unbelief, and you will see that the faith, by which you have generously sacrificed your life, always, always produces fertile fruits of saints made among us. Amen!

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Prayer to St. Januarius

O Glorious Saint Januarius,
model of fortitude and love,
by the power of thy intercession
before the throne of Almighty God,
I implore thee to obtain for me the grace
to overcome the temptations of the world,
the flesh and the devil,
and to persevere unto the end
in the practice of virtue.
Through thy merits, may I be delivered from
the fires of purgatory and attain
the joys of everlasting life.

O Saint Januarius, pray for me.
Amen.

St. Januarius’ Prayer for Protection

O St. Januarius, patron saint of Naples,
you were known for your love of God and your miracles.
I come to you today seeking your intercession
for protection and guidance in my life.
Help me to trust in God’s loving plan
and to have the courage to follow His will.
Grant me the grace to persevere in the face of trials
and to remain steadfast in my faith.

Watch over me and guide me on my journey
as I strive to live a life that is pleasing to God.
Protect me from harm and keep me safe.

I ask this through Christ our Lord.
Amen.

St. Januarius’ Novena Prayer

O St. Januarius,
beloved patron saint of Naples,
I come to you with a grateful and contrite heart.
You have been a faithful friend and protector
to all those who call upon you in times of need.
Through your intercession, may I receive
the grace I need to live a holy and virtuous life.

I pray that your example of courage and perseverance
will inspire me to face life’s challenges with hope and joy.

Please hear my prayer and grant me the favors I ask
(mention your request here).
Through your powerful intercession, may I be granted
the blessings of peace and happiness in this life
and the eternal joys of heaven in the life to come.

I make this novena with confidence in your love
and your power to help those in need.
Amen.

 

St. Januarius: Patron Saint of Naples

St. Januarius is the patron saint of Naples, Italy. He is also known as San Gennaro in Italy. He was a bishop of the city during the 4th century and was martyred for his faith.

Januarius was known for his miracles and for the famous “”miracle of the blood,”” where three vials of his dried blood are said to turn back into liquid form three times a year, which is believed by many to be a sign of his intercession with God.

Due to this phenomenon, St. Januarius has been honored as the patron saint of Naples, and his feast day, September 19th, is a public holiday in the city. He is also the patron saint of blood banks, blood donors, and those suffering from blood disorders.

Through his devotion and miracles, St. Januarius has become a symbol of faith, hope, and healing for the people of Naples, and for all those who seek his intercession.

Reflection on the feast day of St. Januarius

The feast day of St. Januarius is celebrated on September 19th.

St. Januarius, also known as San Gennaro, was a bishop who lived in the 3rd century AD and is the patron saint of Naples, Italy. He was martyred during the Diocletianic Persecution, and his blood is said to liquefy annually in a vial that is kept in the Cathedral of Naples.

On the feast day of St. Januarius, we remember his sacrifice and devotion to his faith. He serves as a powerful example of how one can remain strong and steadfast in their beliefs, even in the face of persecution and death.

One of the things that stands out about St. Januarius is his devotion to God and his willingness to die for his beliefs. He reminds us that our faith is not something to be taken lightly or kept hidden away, but something that should be lived and shared openly with others.

As we celebrate the feast day of St. Januarius, let us take inspiration from his example of devotion and sacrifice. Let us be reminded that, as followers of Christ, we are called to stand up for our beliefs and to be willing to make sacrifices for our faith.

In addition, let us also remember St. Januarius as the patron saint of Naples and his role in the city’s history. Let us take this opportunity to reflect on the role of saints in our lives and how their examples can inspire us to live more fully for God.

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Saints Similar to St. Januarius

You may also be interested in reading the Biography of St. Jerome and the Biography of St. John Chrysostom. St. Januarius and St. Jerome both lived during the early Christian period. St. John Chrysostom, another early Christian saint, shares the historical context and devotion to the Church Fathers. Next up: Biography of St. Jason

 

Also check out our handmade St. Januarius Medal and St. Januarius Rosary and St. Januarius Rosary Bracelet .