Failure historically portends impending disaster…
NOT THIS TIME:
Italians Alarmed as St. Januarius’ Blood Fails to Liquefy
UPDATE 22-DEC-16 14:10 UTC:
Supervolcano Campi Flegrei near Naples showing signs it could erupt (click)
UPDATE 19-DEC-16 21:09 UTC:
Video of Miracle Non-Occurrence added to end of post (scroll down)
In the very early fourth century, Saint Januarius, bishop of Beneventum in Italy, died a martyr during the bloody persecution of Emperor Diocletian. A relic of his dried blood has been preserved to this day and is kept in the cathedral of the diocese of Napoli (Naples), whose patron saint he is. On three separate occasions each year, the blood liquefies on its own in what appears to be a miracle: on the Saturday before the first Sunday in May; on September 19, which is the feast of St. Januarius; and on December 16. When on rare occasions the blood fails to liquefy, this has historically been the harbinger of impending calamity. This past Friday, on December 16, 2016 — for the first time in over 36 years — the blood did not liquefy.
Radio Vatikan, the German-speaking branch of Vatican Radio, reports as follows:
For the first time in more than three decades the so-called blood miracle did not take place in Naples. The dried blood of St. Januarius did not liquefy in the city’s cathedral, according to reports by Italian media (on Saturday). Neapolitans consider the non-occurrence of the miracle to be a bad omen. The guardian of the reliquary, Mgr. Vincenzo de Gregorio, urged the faithful waiting in the cathedral not to panic. “We must not think of catastrophes or disasters”, the churchman said. He called on them to keep praying.
According to the tradition, the city patron’s coagulated blood, which is kept in a glass vial, has turned liquid every December 16 for centuries. December 16 marks the commemoration of a warning before the eruption of Vesuvius in 1631. Other days [when the blood liquefies] are the saint and early Christian martyr’s feast day, September 19, as well as the Saturday before the first Sunday in May. On September 19 of this year, the miracle had once again taken place on time.
The last time the miracle failed to occur was 1980. The citizens of Naples associated this with the earthquake of Irpinia, when 2,900 people died in the worst natural disaster in Italian post-war history [i.e. since 1945]. Prior to that, it was in 1973 when Neapolitans waited in vain for the blood to liquefy. That year, Naples was visited by a cholera epidemic.
Attempts have been made to provide a natural explanation for the phenomenon of liquefaction, which [attempts], however, are not universally accepted. According to the tradition, Januarius (“San Gennaro” in Italian) was beheaded during the time of Christian persecution under the Roman emperor Diocletian, on September 19, 305.
(“Italien: Blutwunder in Neapel ausgeblieben”, Radio Vatikan, Dec. 17, 2016; our translation.)
This year, Italy had already been rattled by a number of earthquakes, centered around Norcia (Nursia), the birthplace of St. Benedict, the father of Western monasticism. The last such earthquake destroyed the basilica built over the spot where the saint and his twin sister, St. Scholastica, are believed to have been born.
The earthquake of November 23, 1980 — the year when the dried blood of St. Januarius had failed to liquefy on September 19 — was devastating, as the following links show:
- Earthquake in Irpinia, Italy, 1980 (Video)
- The Shock that Changed Italy (Video)
- Nov. 23, 1980: Southern Italy Rocked by Earthquake (This Day in History)
Just a few months ago, Naples was added to the list of cities at risk from being affected by an eruption of Mount Vesuvius, which is considered to be the world’s most dangerous volcano. Since December 16 is historically tied to St. Januarius and the volcanic outbreak of Vesuvius in 1631, as mentioned in the news report above, the failure of the blood miracle to occur on this very day this year may indeed be a bad omen for the city.
As far as the ceremony surrounding the habitual liquefaction of the saint’s blood is concerned, the 1910 Catholic Encyclopedia describes what transpires as follows:
What actually takes place may be thus briefly described: in a silver reliquary, which in form and size somewhat suggests a small carriage lamp, two phials are enclosed. The lesser of these contains only traces of blood and need not concern us here. The larger, which is a little flagon-shaped flask four inches in height and about two and a quarter inches in diameter, is normally rather more than half full of a dark and solid mass, absolutely opaque when held up to the light, and showing no displacement when the reliquary is turned upside down. Both flasks seem to be so fixed in the lantern cavity of the reliquaryby means of some hard gummy substance that they are hermetically sealed. Moreover, owing to the fact that the dark mass in the flask is protected by two thicknesses of glass it is presumably but little affected by the temperature of the surrounding air. Eighteen times in each year, i.e. (1) on the Saturday before the first Sunday in May and the eight following days, (2) on the feast of St. Januarius (19 Sept.) and during the octave, and (3) on 16 December, a silver bust believed to contain the head of St. Januarius is exposed upon the altar, and the reliquary just described is brought out and held by the officiant in view of the assembly. Prayers are said by the people, begging that the miracle may take place, while a group of poor women, known as the “zie di San Gennaro” (aunts of St. Januarius), make themselves specially conspicuous by the fervour, and sometimes, when the miracle is delayed, by the extravagance, of their supplications.
The officiant usually holds the reliquary by its extremities, without touching the glass, and from time to time turns it upside down to note whether any movement is perceptible in the dark mass enclosed in the phial. After an interval of varying duration, usually not less than two minutes or more than an hour, the mass is gradually seen to detach itself from the sides of the phial, to become liquid and of a more or less ruby tint, and in some instances to froth and bubble up, increasing in volume. The officiant then announces, “Il miracolo é fatto”, a Te Deum is sung, and the reliquary containing the liquefiedblood is brought to the altar rail that the faithful may venerate it by kissing the containing vessel. Rarely has the liquefaction failed to take place in the expositions of May or September, but in that of 16 December the mass remains solid more frequently than not.
(The Catholic Encylopedia, s.v. “St. Januarius”)
For what it’s worth, this year December 16 marked also the day prior to blasphemous Antipope Francis‘ 80th birthday.
Speaking of Francis, there was a freak occurrence involving the blood of St. Januarius on March 21, 2015, the feast of St. Benedict, while “Pope” Francis visited the cathedral of Naples and kissed the relic: The dried blood liquefied unexpectedly but only partially, which, having been noted by “Archbishop” Crescenzio Sepe, caused Francis to exclaim: “The bishop just announced that the blood half-liquefied. We can see the saint only half loves us.” Some media outlets later reported, tongue-in-cheek, that Francis had performed “half a miracle”:
- Blood of St Januarius liquefies during Francis’s visit to Naples (Catholic Herald)
- Pope Blood ‘Half-Miracle’: Pontiff’s Kiss Partially Liquifies Dried Sample (Newsmax)
- Neapolitan bishop claims ‘half miracle’ while pope is in town (Reuters)
A video of the entire ceremony at Naples cathedral on March 21, 2015, including the “half-miracle” towards the end, can be viewed at this link.
On a side note, we recall that this is the same Francis who habitually refuses to genuflect or kneel before what he believes to be the Body and Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Let us pray to St. Januarius that, whatever the non-occurrence of the blood miracle may mean, people will finally reject Francis’ claim to the papacy and convert to the true Catholic Faith of the ages.
UPDATE 19-DEC-16 21:09 UTC:
Video of the non-occurrence of the miracle at Naples Cathedral is now available:
Image source: youtube.com (fanpage.it; screenshot)
License: fair use
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Yes, let us pray! Amen. The half liquefaction was definitely an odd sign. Maybe the miracle was taking place but the kiss of betrayal from PF (FP) forced the ‘stop sign’. When I read of this sign this morning, (of the non miracle) I certainly felt it to be a significant sign of what is to come. I have read that it is not always natural disasters but wars and unrest for the church/political climate may be signified through the non-occurrence. I feel this disaster will be connected to the Church and will cause much more devastation than we have already seen. God bless+
Archbishops ordaining open homosexual couples to the priesthood, and we are to await an “impending” calamity? Or payback?
perhaps this heralds the year the Vatican will finally be criminally prosecuted for the crimes against children by it’s countless pedophiles.
Those ladies interviewed at the end didn’t seem to care whether it liquified or not.
Cardinal Burke suggests timeline for ‘formal correction’ of Pope Francis
https://www.lifesitenews.com/news/exclusive-cardinal-burke-suggests-timeline-for-formal-correction-of-pope-fr
Popes do not teach error in faith and morals, in fact they cannot – therefore, the only solution is to renounce ALL attachment to Francis who could not more blatantly show he is bent to destroy Catholicism. He and the other occupiers of the Vatican are not representatives of the One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church. “Card” Burke’s only response is sedevacantism during these times. Francis has not met a soul he’s not willing to assist into eternal damnation.
Good for Burke:
“LifeSiteNews: Many have spoken of an atmosphere of intimidation and fear in the Vatican under Pope Francis. Do you sense that such an atmosphere exists, or is there actually a healthy spirit of dialogue in the Vatican? If there is an atmosphere of fear in the Vatican, do you think this may be a reason why more bishops and cardinals have not yet publicly joined in the plea for the Pope to answer the dubia and clear up the confusion in the Church?”
“Cardinal Burke: I can’t speak for others with regard to a possible atmosphere of fear, all I can say is this, that for me, I know what my duty is as a bishop and above all as a cardinal, who is one of the principle advisors of the Holy Father in his office of preserving and promoting the great tradition of the faith, such fear and such intimidation, as it may exist from time to time, simply can’t be a consideration with regard to what I need to do.”
“Card” Burke’s response is not good enough. For the sake of salvation of souls he must separate from the false, claimed Catholic, new religion.
I think this will be a first step to restauration.
What I simply can’t understand is why the miracle has happened all these years under the satanic reign of the conciliar “popes”.
That puzzles me, too, honestly.
It just goes to remind us that God’s ways are not our ways (cf. Is 55:9).
I struggle with that, given our present situation we face as Catholics.
Have Faith! I suppose God is trying His elect by fire. Do we TRULY believe?
Saint’s relics do not lose their power when in the possession of heretics and infidels. Does the Body and Blood of Christ cease to be the Holy Eucharist when in the hands of a Satanist? NO! Don’t let something as simple as this confuse you. Pax Christi
I do not know about St. Januarius’ blood, but Francis sure makes mine boil.
It would appear the Campi Flegrei, a volcano closer to Naples than Vesuvius, and which last erupted in the 1530s, has been showing suspicious activity.
The fact that liquefaction took place at all after the kiss From Pope Francis is a slap in the face for the sedevacantists . To call this a half miracle is dishonest . If it liquified at all at any level , then its a miracle . There is no such thing as a half miracle . In fact the liquefaction at the kiss of the Pope is a sign that God still favours his pontiff and sedevacantism is nothing but the work of satan .
Don’t dismiss whats plain in sight sedevacantists . There is a miracle directly attached to the present Pope , thus utterly refuting the sedevacantists claims in one singular event .
God Bless Pope Francis
Yawn… “For there shall arise false Christs and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders, insomuch as to deceive (if possible) even the elect. Behold I have told it to you, beforehand.” (Mt 24:24-25) Besides, if anything, the “half-miracle” would have been worked by St. Januarius, not “Pope” Francis.
Yawwwwn. Back on you. You are nothing more than fancy pants protestants and victims of the same indictment of tbe scripture you quoted. Where is your church? Who is your visible leadership? Your self-separation has resulted in “popes” in Montana, New Mexico, and Mel Gibson’s church. Ha Stop being cowards and get a back bone to change the Church from the inside. No matter the cost. We faithful trads still fighting on the frontlines will stand strong with Cardinal Burke and others even though it will most likely mean increased persecution. So be it, Deus Vult. You all are welcome back home any time.
Oh man, if only I got a quarter every time someone told me the sedevacantist position is Protestant. Here is a response to that:
http://novusordowatch.org/2015/12/sede-private-judgment/
So, sticking to the issue that enticed you to write in this combox to begin with, I guess you don’t have an answer to what I said, which is why you’re now changing topics.
Sedevacantists, by definition, say there is no Pope. So don’t bring up conclavists. In any case, at least a David Bawden (“Pope” Michael) professes the Catholic faith, something your guy — Jorge — clearly doesn’t do, so you shouldn’t be the one complaining. All the hierarchies in the world won’t help your case one bit if they’re not Catholic. The Anglicans and Eastern Orthodox also have a hierarchy. A non-Catholic hierarchy doesn’t solve anything.
The Catholic Church is eclipsed at this time, much like Our Lord’s Body was when lying in the tomb. Happy are those who remain faithful to Him and do not wander off after false popes or false messiases simply because they cannot endure the eclipse.
If you’re interested in a genuine, substantial discussion on sedevacantism, please do it on a sedevacantist forum, not in the combox here. It really is just supposed to be for commenting on the published posts. Thanks.
Some sede forums:
http://tradcath.proboards.com
http://tedeum.boards.net
Boooring. A)
You are the one who “went there” by implying Pope Francis is a false prophet and implicitly supporting sedes.
B) the forum you cite is as a boring as protestant positions. You can dance all around booms, authors, and squint your eyes all you want at canon law.
Sede and conclavists exist in the same echo chamber as protestants, and the repeated cry is “sola sola” as far as I and Holy Mother are concerned. Who are you or ANY other individual, saints included, to usurp a council’s obedience.
Let’s be clear, I have SEVERE reservations regarding pope Francis. On the aggragate, he is about the median over 2000 years, though. Thats the power of Christ’s Church. But like Athanasius, i will be the last man standing in Rome if need be, even if every bishop and priest apostasizes. I will NOT leave the protection of Holy Mother, no matter how tempting. Period. Obedience. Always. (Except if directed to do evil or sin). Yes. I will most likely be among the last to be standing for tradition INSIDE the church, maybe even I will be sent to death by the very pope or future popes I support as the pontiff. Sobeit.
Robbed from elsewhere:
On resisting a heretical pope and removing that heretical pope from office…. lay people can not decide who is pope and who is not pope. This is the domain of the cardinals. And as to whether Francis is a real pope, i leave that the cardinals, not bloggers.
I deal with cowards like sedes every day in government and military. They are the ones who rather than standing strong to be the door for Christ, run the other way to the safety of virtual, metaphorical caves. They fantasize about moving to other countries like Poland rather than holding the line to convert and comsecrate America to Christ the King.
Sede is a safe form of trad Catholicism. The only risk is in online forums and book sales. Try maintaining a trad position in the real world of the Church. And BTW, it’s not 1980s. Diocese are becoming more open to trads. When we swing this thing around after a few decades of persecution and sedes are welcome back into a trad Church, your grandkids can thank mine ha! I’m saying this lighthearted, btw, with no laxk of charity. Im military so ignore my way of talking.
There’s not much in your post here that requires a response (anyone can make mere assertions), so I will keep it light. I am glad we agree in principle regarding submission to the Pope. Perhaps you are not aware of this, but it is precisely the Catholic teaching on the Papacy that makes us sedevacantists, as opposed to semi-traditionalists like those in the SSPX. I highly recommend our latest podcast, which discusses some of that:
http://novusordowatch.org/2016/12/tradcast-016/
>>> On resisting a heretical pope and removing that heretical pope from office…. lay people can not decide who is pope and who is not pope. This is the domain of the cardinals. And as to whether Francis is a real pope, i leave that the cardinals, not bloggers <<
Please cite your source for the claim that cardinals have the capability of discerning who is or isn't a valid Pope, and that this is something that is lacking in laymen. That is quite a curious claim to make. Are you saying that cardinals are above the Pope? The truth is: The same principles that allow cardinals to discern that a papal claimant is a manifest heretic, also allow anyone else to discern the same thing.
The rest in your post is just hot air.
To be clear: I don't mind discussing this at all, but as I point out to others in our combox as well from time to time, this is not intended to be a discussion forum. Since I ultimately have to refute any errors that are presented here, and I cannot spend all day moderating a combox and responding to posts, we cannot have substantial discussion here. That's why I offered you the two sede forums as alternatives. IF you are interested in discussing this in depth, then please go there. This is not the venue for it. God bless you.
The authority of the Church to teach all nations is the certain rule of faith, way above miracles. I am not saying that this is a counterfeit miracle, but that miracles are only to point to the authority of the Church. We don’t learn the Faith by following miracles. Our Lord specifically warned that there would come a time of great deception, and false signs and wonders would deceive many. Whether this is that time is not my point, but that God can permit false signs and wonders.
The Church cannot change, however, the “post-conciliar church”, as you call it, is a substantially different thing to the Catholic Church on several fundamental points, and so this Novus Ordo sect, as I call it, cannot be the Catholic Church. It’s so simple that it can be difficult to accept.