Blood of San Gennaro liquefies once again in Naples this September 19

The blood of Saint Gennaro liquefied once again todayday of his liturgical memory, before the Mass presided by Mons. Domenico Battaglia, Archbishop of Naples (Italy). “The blood of Bishop Gennaro, let us never forget, always points to the blood of Christ, both that of Christ and that of the poor and the last in whom Christ lives,” the archbishop stated in his homily.

During the entrance procession of the Eucharistic celebration, which took place in the Cathedral of Naples, Bishop Battaglia carried with him the vial containing the blood of the 4th century martyr, showing it to the parishioners present who, among expressions of joy, confirmed the miracle that usually occurs three times a year: every September 19 (anniversary of his martyrdom), the Saturday before the first Sunday in May (in memory of the transfer of his remains to Naples) and every December 16 (anniversary of his intervention to avoid the effects of an eruption of the Vesuvius volcano in 1631).

The archbishop emphasized that “every drop of this blood tells us about the love of God, the love that is God.” In that sense, he pointed out that the saint’s death was “a consequence of his fidelity to the Gospel” and due to “a love that is stronger than death, than violence, than any power.”

Despite the extraordinary nature of the recurring miracle, Bishop Battaglia called on those present not to put their hope in physical manifestations, but in Jesus, who calls us to take care of the most vulnerable.

“I beg you, we should not worry if the blood of this relic liquefies or not, but we should worry if the blood of the dispossessed, the marginalized, the last, the innocent flows through our streets and in our world. “The blood of Bishop Gennaro, let us never forget, always points to the blood of Christ, both that of Christ and that of the poor and the last in whom Christ lives,” he noted.

“Any other way of interpreting this sign, of approaching this relic, perhaps looking for future omens, would lead us astray, distancing us from the path that our martyr has drawn for us and that for centuries has continued to point to our Church and our land, the path that leads to salvation, a path that has the perfume of the absolute and of salvation, that awakens the awareness of the thirst of the soul, which is a thirst for God, but at the same time it is a hunger for justice, a desire for unity, communion, fraternal solidarity,” added the Italian archbishop.

On occasions when the blood does not liquefy, as was the case on December 16, 2020, it is common among the inhabitants of Naples to take it as a sign of bad omen.

The head of the Archdiocese of Naples asked not to lose focus on what is essential: the teachings of the Gospel that are the “necessary compass to live, to live fully, facing with our heads held high and with courage the challenges that each era brings with it, challenges that challenge our humanity, our faith, the life of our city and the entire human community.”

In the image of the city’s patron saint, he indicated that life only has meaning when it is given to God and others, even at the risk of losing it. “Only a life given to the end for love and in love is worth living,” he commented.

Finally, Bishop Battaglia assured that Christians are not called “to great gestures or extraordinary works” but to form a heart capable of “seeing what is essential each day and acting accordingly.”

“Saint Gennaro reminds us of the importance of those who care, fight and hope, from the daily gestures that generate authentic social revolutions. Naples, my beloved city, never forget to start from what is essential: solidarity, mutual care, and politics understood as an act of love for the common good. From there, continue building a more just and peaceful future, where good prevails over evil. And, San Gennaro, never abandon us. Amen”, concluded the archbishop.