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BROUGHT TO YOU BY-SANDAL BHARDWAJ Assistant ProfessorDept. of Hispanic and Italian StudiesEFL University Hyderabad
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BLOOD MIRACLE OF ST.GENNARO-
AN ONGOING MIRACLE OF THE CHURCH
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SAN. GENNARO
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The liquefaction is the process of becoming liquid of the blood of St Januarius(Gennaro) .
LIQUEFAC
TION
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It is an extraordinary miracle of the Church that has been occurring up to 3 times each year for the past 600 years in Naples, Italy.
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The practice of gathering blood for religious practice.
Common in the days of persecution.
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Early Christians collected blood shed by martyrs in flasks to keep as devotional items.
In the catacombs the flasks were buried with the dead.
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Liquefaction of Blood
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History of San Gennaro
The persecution of Roman Emperor Diocletian in early fourth century made martyrs of innumerable Christians, including San Gennaro.
His body was taken lastly to Naples where it was entombed in the main church of the city, with two vials of his blood.
Around this tomb the great cathedral was constructed.
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Phenomenon of Liquefaction
In 1389, this phenomenon of liquefaction of the blood of San Gennaro started: saint's coagulated blood began to liquefy.
Since then this phenomenon occurs 3 times each year: on the first Sunday in May and the eight days following on the feast of the saint; September 19, and on December 16 which is the anniversary of the eruption of Vesuvius in 1631.
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Saint's relics Four divisions of the saint's relics:
- Bones are kept separately .
- Head is enclosed with a magnificent silver bust
- Relics of blood are enshrined at distance.
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Vials of Blood The blood is kept in
two vials: - The smaller
contains only a trace of blood.
- The larger measures four inches in height and about two inches in diameter .
- It is usually a little more than half filled with coagulated blood.
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The flasks are sealed and are solidly fixed side by side within a ring of silver and crystal.
This is kept in the main altar of the Chapel of the treasury in the Cathedral of Naples.
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Ceremony On the feast days of the
silver bust of the Saint that contains the head is taken in procession.
The priest holds the reliquary of blood.
After an interval the mass is seen to liquefy, frequently bubbling and frothing.
The vials are brought to the faithful for their veneration.
The cardinal then announces, "The miracle has happened," words that cause great joy and the chanting of the 'Te Deum' rendered as "Thee, O God, we praise".
Contradictions The miracle is contrary to every
physical law: Frequently presents a variation in
volume: at times it decreased while at other times it almost doubles s size or returns to its original volume.
There is often an increase in weight when the mass actually decreases, or a decrease in weight when the volume increases. 15
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Scientific Explanations & Evidences The substance contained in
the vials is true blood. It is verified by the scientific
research in 1902 when Professor Sperindeo was permitted to pass spectroscopic beams of light through the liquefied material.
This test yielded the distinctive lines of the spectrum of blood with definite characteristics of hemoglobin.
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Neapolitan Folklore The people of Naples pray to him for
protection from fire, earthquake, and eruptions of Vesuvius; for preservation from plagues and droughts, in short, for all the favors and blessings they need or desire.
Neapolitans believe this annual liquefaction is essential to their city and its well being. When it does not happen, tragedy and catastrophe are thought to be near.
