Little is known of the life of Januarius other than he was born in Benevento to a rich patrician family. At age 15, he became the local Priest of his parish in Benevento, which was pagan. At the age of 20, he became the Bishop of Naples and was a friend of Juliana of Nicomedia and St. Sossius whom he met during his priestly studies.

During the one and a half year persecutions of Christians by Emperor Diocletian, he was said to have hid his fellow Christians and prevented them from being caught. Unfortunately while visiting St. Sossius in jail, he too was arrested. He and his colleagues were condemned to be thrown to the wild bears n the Flavian Amphitheater. The sentence was changed due to fear of a public disturbance, and they were instead beheaded at the Solfatara crater near Pozzuoli. They were then beheaded, and Januarius’ blood ultimately brought to Naples.

What is believed to be Januarius' blood is kept in Naples, as a relic. It liquifies and bubbles when exposed in the cathedral. Scientists have not been able to explain this miracle to date.

It is defined Catholic doctrine that miracles can happen and are recognizable. Problems arise, however, when we must decide whether an occurrence is unexplainable in natural terms, or merely unexplained. We do well to avoid an excessive credulity but, on the other hand, when even scientists speak about “probabilities” rather than “laws” of nature, it is something less than imaginative for Christians to think that God is too “scientific” to work extraordinary miracles to wake us up to the everyday miracles of sparrows and dandelions, raindrops and snowflakes.

Other Saints of the Day

St. Arnulf

St. Emily de Rodat

St. Eustochins

St. Goeric of Metz

St. Maria de Cerevellon