September 19 2023 - St. Januarius - Courage in the Dark Valleys

 There is a very unique relic connected to the feast of Januarius, a vial of the saint’s blood, which has dried up.  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”. Over a million people will gather in the Little Italy section of New York City today for festivities. This year is the 97th annual San Gennaro festival in New York.  Italians in San Francisco have also begun to hold annual festivals for San Gennaro. 

Januarius was a bishop of the early church in Benevento, Italy, the home town of Bishop Pilla’s family, and not too far from where my own grandparents families were from.  Januarius was martyred in the last major persecution by the Roman Empire, that of Emperor Diocletian.  

It is said, the Bishop was arrested while visiting a fellow Christian who had been imprisoned for his faith and was awaiting execution. Can you imagine? This holy bishop, walking into a prison, to comfort and encourage a fellow Christian was would be killed for the faith!

Christians cannot live in fear of the worldly powers that can end our earthly lives. We cannot allow fear to silence our preaching of the Gospel, standing for truth amidst the errors of the world. It is not the logic of our argumentation that will win most souls, but the courage the animates us in standing against the powers of darkness. 

There are dimensions of each of our lives where we are tempted to recoil in fear—fear of speaking truth, fear of sharing faith, fear of reaching out in love. The first step of growing in courage is admitting your fears, admitting them to yourself and to God. And once you’ve admitted your fears, you can begin to stand against them, and to allow the Lord to lead you through those dark valleys. 

“Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I shall fear no evil, for you are at my side.”

May the holy martyrs encourage us in our share of the mission of the Gospel, emboldening us to seek out souls lost in the darkness, in facing the darkness in our own souls, for the glory of God and the salvation of souls.

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That Pope Francis and all Bishops and Clergy may humbly and faithfully pass on the Gospel of Christ in all its fullness. 

That young people may be kept safe from the poisonous attitudes of the world and that they and their families may be kept in close friendship with the Lord Jesus and his Church.

For the conversion of hardened sinners, those who have fallen away from the Church, and for an increase in virtue for all peoples.

 

For the sick and afflicted, the homebound, those in nursing homes and hospitals, for victims of natural disaster and inclement weather, those who suffer from war, violence, and terrorism, for the mentally ill, those with addictions, the imprisoned, the unchaste, for the comfort of the dying and the consolation of their families. 

For the deceased members of our families, friends, and parish and all the poor souls in purgatory, for deceased priests and religious, and for those who have fought and died for our freedom. We pray.

Incline your merciful ear to our prayers, we ask, O Lord, and listen in kindness to the supplications of those who call on you. Through Christ our Lord.