The announcement was greeted with long applause by the many faithful gathered in the Cathedral, who consider the periodic liquefaction to be a good omen for the city and for the region of Campania.
The dried blood of the saint is preserved in two glass phials and traditionally liquefies three times a year, the Church says, thanks to the devotion and prayers of the faithful.
Aside from the anniversary of the martyrdom of San Gennaro (St. Januarius) in September 305 AD, the miracle also takes place on December 16 to commemorate the 1631 eruption of Mt. Vesuvius, believed to have been halted by the saint’s intervention, and again on the Saturday before the first Sunday in May.
On this occasion, there is a procession through the city’s streets to recall the many times the relics have been moved over the centuries.
The liquefaction process sometimes takes hours, even days, and on occasions fails to happen at all.
When the miracle does not occur, it is seen as a sign of impending disaster.
A group of Italian scientists has analysed the contents of the phials, establishing that they do contain blood, but have been unable to explain the phenomenon.
ANSA
