There is a very unique relic connected to the feast of Januarius, a vial of the saint’s blood, which has dried. However, several times a year, including today, his feast day, the relic is brought out for public veneration, and the blood liquefies. This miracle has been occurring for over 600 years and it’s one of the most scientifically studied religious phenomenon in the world. Scientists have been unable to explain this miracle.
This feast is celebrated with great festivity in Naples where he is called “San Gennaro” and many towns in southern Italy. Over a million people will gather in the Little Italy section of New York today for festivities. Italians in San Francisco have also begun to hold annual festivals for Gennaro.
Januarius was a bishop of the early church who was martyred. in the last major persecution by the Roman Empire, that of Emperor Diocletian. In the year AD 305, were thrown to the lions. But according to legend, the lions were so astonished by their faith and they did not attack them. So they were beheaded for refusing to worship pagan idols.
When we consider the martyrs, we remember their courage, for we live now in another age of martyrdom. There were more martyrs in the 20th century than in all the previous centuries combined. Martyrdoms in Spain, Poland, Germany, Pakistan, Uganda, and Mexico. And martyrdom continues in this 21st century in places like Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Indonesia, and recently Father Jacques Hamel, a priest murdered by ISIS loyalists while he was celebrating Mass.
At the Mass honoring Father Hamel, Pope Francis said, “Persecution against Christians is worse today than in the early days of the Church…Today, there are Christians murdered, tortured, imprisoned, beheaded because they don’t deny Christ.”
A Pew Research Center Study in this decade showed Christians were harassed either by the government or social groups in 102 of 198 countries. There’s been a 309 percent jump in attacks on Christians in Africa, Asia, and the Middle East.
When the World Trade Center was destroyed, America proclaimed “Never Forget!” “Never forget those who died on American soil” Not to belittle that terrible tragedy, but Christians are being killed now, in 2016. We must not only “never forget” we must become aware of the great suffering our brothers and sisters are experiencing NOW.
We do well to pray for those who are persecuted, to fast and do penance in solidarity with their sufferings, and to meditate on the suffering and courage of the martyrs, that when we are called to witness to Christ we may be faithful for the glory of God and salvation of souls.
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