St Januarius

Martyr. Patron of Naples. This early saint was Bishop of Benevento when the Emperor Diocletian turned his fury on Christians. One day Januarius visited some deacons and lay people who had been thrown into a dungeon for their faith. The jailers informed the authorities and he was arrested and tried with two others, Festus and Desiderius, who were guests at his home.

Draconius, the pagan governor of the city of Nola, made the three walk in heavy chains before his chariot as he rode from Nola to Pozzuoli. They were then thrown into the cell of the Christians that Januarius had been visiting. The group were later killed by wild animals, in about 305.

A cult grew around the relics of St Januarius which is popular to this day. A vial said to contain his blood appears to liquefy on certain feast days and other (somewhat unpredictable) events.

It occurred during the visit of Cardinal Cooke in 1978. The phenomenon failed in the year Naples elected a Communist mayor. It is said to have liquified in March 2015 during a visit by Pope Francis.