San Gennaro, the patron saint of Naples who "melts the blood"

September 19th is the feast of San Gennaro, the patron saint of Naples and like every year the Neapolitans await the occurrence of the so-called "miracle of San Gennaro", inside the Cathedral.

San Gennaro is the patron saint of Naples and one of the most revered saints in all of Italy. His life and works have been the subject of many stories and legends, but what makes him especially famous are his miracles, which continue to inspire wonder and devotion among worshipers around the world.

Who was San Gennaro

The life of San Gennaro is shrouded in mystery, but we know that was born in Naples in the XNUMXrd century AD and was consecrated bishop of the city. Based on the information available to him, it seems that he dedicated a large part of his life to preaching the Gospel and fighting heresy.

This saint is a martyr, that is, a man who died because he did not want to renounce the Christian faith. His martyrdom takes place at the beginning of the XNUMXth century AD, during the persecutions desired by the emperor Diocletian.

Legend has it that after his death, his blood it was collected in a vial and kept in a sacred place. From how this blood is told, which is still preserved today in the Cathedral of Naples, liquefies three times a year: on the first Saturday in May, on 19th September (the saint's feast day) and on 16th December.

The liquefaction of San Gennaro's blood is considered a miracle and is interpreted as a sign of protection and blessing for the city of Naples.

Besides the liquefaction of blood, there are numerous other miracles attributed to this saint. One of the most famous is what happened in 1631, when the city of Naples was hit by a violent eruption of Vesuvius.

It is said that the faithful, frightened by the fury of nature, carried the vial with the saint's blood in procession through the streets of the city, imploring his help. At the end of the procession, Vesuvius calmed down, and the city was spared further damage.