St Januarius-19thSeptember

Saint Januarius is the patron of Naples. He was the holy bishop of Benevento who, with two companions, suffered martyrdom in the year 305. It was during the persecution of Diocletian, and the three martyrs were cast to the lions in the amphitheater; but those ravenous beasts reverently refused to touch their helpless prey, and the tyrant was forced to order the bishop and his companions to be beheaded. The holy relics of Saint Januarius have been preserved in Naples from remote ages; and their presence and exposure during times of peril, pestilence, and threatened destruction from the eruptions of Mount Vesuvius have frequently delivered that city from danger. At stated periods the blood of Saint Januarius, preserved in a glass vial, becomes liquified at Naples in the presence of innumerable pilgrims.

From every eye He wipes the tear,
All sighs and sorrows cease;
No more alternate Hope and Fear
But everlasting Peace!
– Mother Elizabeth Bayley Seton

St. Januarius (San Gennaro)

Feast Day: September 19
Patron of: Naples, blood banks, and those facing volcanic eruptions (especially Mt. Vesuvius).

Life

St. Januarius (Italian: San Gennaro) was a bishop of Benevento in southern Italy during the early 4th century.
He lived during the time of Diocletian’s persecution of Christians.
Arrested for his faith, he was condemned to death. Tradition says he was thrown to wild beasts, but they would not harm him. Eventually, he was beheaded around 305 AD.

The Miracle of His Blood

The most famous sign linked to St. Januarius is the liquefaction of his blood.
A vial of what is believed to be his dried blood is kept in Naples Cathedral.
On his feast day (and sometimes other occasions), the blood miraculously liquefies, becoming fresh and flowing.
The people of Naples see this as a sign of his continued intercession and protection.
When the blood fails to liquefy, it is often taken as a warning of coming troubles for Naples.

Devotion

St. Januarius is one of the most beloved saints in southern Italy, especially in Naples, where his feast day is celebrated with great processions, prayer, and festivity.
He is often invoked against plagues, disasters, and volcanic eruptions, since Naples lives under the shadow of Mt. Vesuvius.

🙏 St. Januarius shows the courage of Christian martyrs and reminds us that God gives signs of His care through the saints.

St Januarius

“The love of God is stronger than death, violence, or any power.”

“The blood of the martyrs is the seed of the Church”

“In St. Januarius, we see the courage of faith that triumphs over death.”

https://youtube.com/shorts/aLaAgNdWVXg

PRAYER TO SAINT JANUARIUS

Oh Gennaro, brave of faith in Jesus Christ, glorious patron of Catholic Naples, looks upon us benignly and accepts our vows, that today we lie at your feet with total confidence in your powerful patronage.
How many times have you run to help your fellow citizens, now stopping in the path of the destructive lava of Vesuvius, and now saving us from plague, earthquakes, famine and many other divine punishments that terrify us.
The perpetual miracle of the liquefaction of your blood is a sure and extremely eloquent sign that you live among us, that you know our needs and that you protect us in a singular way.
Oh, we pray you to pray for us, sure that we will be answered; and saved from all the evils that oppress us from all directions.
Save us from unbelief, and you will see that the faith, by which you have generously sacrificed your life, always, always produces fertile fruits of saints made among us.
Amen.

COLLECT PRAYER

O God, who grant us to venerate the memory of the Martyr Saint Januarius, give us, we pray, the joy of his company in blessed happiness for all eternity. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, forever and ever.

COLLECT

Look upon us, O God, Creator and ruler of all things, and, that we may feel the working of your mercy, grant that we may serve you with all our heart. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, forever and ever.
Amen.

Saint Januarius Chaplet Prayers

On the Medal Pray
Oh Gennaro, brave of faith in Jesus Christ, glorious patron of Catholic Naples, looks upon us benignly and accepts our vows, that today we lie at your feet with total confidence in your powerful patronage.
How many times have you run to help your fellow citizens, now stopping in the path of the destructive lava of Vesuvius, and now saving us from plague, earthquakes, famine and many other divine punishments that terrify us. The perpetual miracle of the liquefaction of your blood is a sure and extremely eloquent sign that you live among us, that you know our needs and that you protect us in a singular way.
Oh, we ask you to pray for us, sure that it will be answered; and saved from all the evils that oppress us from all directions. Save us from unbelief, and you will see that the faith, by which you have generously sacrificed your life, always, always produces fertile fruits of saints made among us.

On the first bead of each set, Pray the Our Father
Our Father, Who art in Heaven, Hallowed be Thy name. Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done on Earth as it is in Heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us, and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
Amen.

On the second bead of each set, Pray the Hail Mary
Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with Thee. Blessed art Thou among women and blessed is the fruit of Thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death.
Amen.

On the third bead of each set, Pray the Glory Be
Glory Be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be; World without end.
Amen.

On the Crucifix Pray
O God, who grant us to venerate the memory of the Martyr Saint Januarius, give us, we pray, the joy of his company in blessed happiness for all eternity. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.
Amen.

PRAYER

O God, who grant us to venerate
the memory of the Martyr Saint Januarius,
give us, we pray, the joy of his company
in blessed happiness for all eternity.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, forever and ever.
Amen.

Prayers to St. Januarius

Oh St. Janarius, brave of faith in Jesus Christ, glorious patron of Catholic Naples, looks upon us benignly and accepts our vows, that today we lie at your feet with total confidence in your powerful patronage.
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
How many times have you run to help your fellow citizens, now stopping in the path of the destructive lava of Vesuvius, and now saving us from plague, earthquakes, famine and many other divine punishments that terrify us.
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
The perpetual miracle of the liquefaction of your blood is a sure and extremely eloquent sign that you live among us, that you know our needs and that you protect us in a singular way.
Oh, we pray you to pray for us, sure that we will be answered; and saved from all the evils that oppress us from all directions.
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Save us from unbelief, and you will see that the faith, by which you have generously sacrificed your life, always, always produces fertile fruits of saints made among us.
Amen!