September 19 2025 - St. Januarius - Why Miracles?

St. Januarius was a bishop of the early church in Benevento, Italy, not too far from where my own maternal grandparents families were from.  Januarius was martyred in Roman Empire’s last major persecution of the Church, that of Emperor Diocletian.  

It is said, that Bishop Januarius was arrested while visiting a fellow Christian who had been imprisoned for his faith and was awaiting execution.

Januarius is a saint beloved by the people of Naples who call him San Gennaro. And due to the large number of Napoletani in New York, a large multi-day festival is held each year. This year is the 99th annual San Gennaro festival in New York.  

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 crusty, dried up blood liquefies.  This miracle has been occurring for over 600 years and it’s one of the most scientifically studied miracles in the world. Scientists have been unable to explain this miracle.  

Why does God perpetuate this miracle? Perhaps because it reminds the world that He is God of awe and wonder and awesome works and strange ways. The miracles of the saints show us that God is at work in human history. 

Miracles also humble us, reminding us that not all things can be explained by science.  Science is not the great savior of the world. There are limits to human reason, things which we must accept by faith. 

This miracle also reminds us that the blood of the martyrs continues to have power. The blood of Januarius, spilled for Christ, encourages us, and reminds us that God sees and treasures our sufferings for the Church. Their blood inspires us and encourages us to work for the Gospel with the same fervor, to seek to love God with the same love that filled their hearts.

Our efforts for God’s glory are precious in His eyes. Every drop of martyr’s blood, every ounce of suffering for the sake of goodness, for the kingdom has value—our fasting, our penance, our mortification, the mockery we endure for the faith—our venturing out of our comfort zones to help people, like St. Januarius visiting the imprisoned—it means something to God—our sufferings will be remembered for eternity and will be rewarded.

May the sufferings of Januarius and the martyrs continue to speak powerfully to our fallen world. May their blood continue to work the great miracle of the transforming our hardened hearts to love God more fully and to serve him more devotedly for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

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That religious indifference in our country and around the world may be transformed to radical commitment to the Gospel of Christ.

For the transformation of all attitudes which lead to war, violence, racial hatred, and religious persecution.

That Christians who are persecuted for their faith may be sustained by God’s love and the encouragement of the Body of Christ.

That the love of Christ, the divine physician, may bring healing to the sick and comfort to all the suffering. 

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.

O God, you know that our life in this present age is subject to suffering and need, hear the prayers of those who cry to you and receive the prayers of those who believe in you. Through Christ our Lord.