A Phenomenon Awaited by the Community
On December 16, in the Chapel of the Treasure of Saint Januarius in Naples, the miracle of the liquefaction of the patron saint’s blood has repeated. The announcement was made by Monsignor Vincenzo De Gregorio, abbot of the chapel, at 9:13 AM, and was met with applause by the faithful and tourists gathered at the site. The ampoule containing the substance, which was in a ‘semi-liquid’ state when removed from its urn, thus began a process that tradition considers miraculous.
Commemoration of a Historical Event
The date of December 16 holds particular significance, as it celebrates the anniversary of Saint Januarius’ intercession in 1631, when, according to belief, prayers directed to the saint saved Naples from a threatening eruption of Mount Vesuvius. As is tradition, the so-called ‘parenti’ of Saint Januarius chanted litanies to invoke the miracle before the start of the celebration.
A Ceremony with Authorities and Reflections
The event was attended by civil authorities, such as the Tourism Councilor of the Naples City Council, Teresa Armato, delegated by Mayor Gaetano Manfredi, and Prince Emanuele Filiberto of Savoy. During his address, Monsignor De Gregorio reflected on the city’s history, mentioning its past sufferings like plagues and wars, and urged against a reductionist approach to Neapolitan identity. «The risk of Naples being reduced to pizza, mandolin, and Saint Januarius is always great, so let’s set aside all fetishism,» he stated.
Proclamation of the Miracle and Exposition to the Faithful
The ampoule was carried in procession inside the chapel so that all present could observe it. At the end of the religious celebration, at 10:05 AM, Monsignor De Gregorio announced the complete liquefaction of the blood. As per protocol, the representative of the Deputation, the lay institution that guards the treasure, waved a white handkerchief to communicate the fact to the faithful waiting outside. The urn containing the relic will be exposed for veneration by the faithful starting at 4:00 PM, and after the mass, it will be returned to the armored chamber where it is kept.
Original source: www.ildenaro.it (published on December 16, 2025)
Photo: Raf Reyes on Unsplash
