Saint's Dried Blood Liquefies in 'Miracle'

Reuters ^ | September 19, 2002

[nickcarraway]

NAPLES, Italy (Reuters) - The substance many Neopolitans believe is the dried blood of their patron saint liquefied right on cue on Thursday, in a twice-yearly "miracle."

Thousands of faithful crammed into Naples cathedral to see the blood of the fourth century Saint Gennaro turn from powder to liquid, which they see as a good omen for the city and the world. The miracle has been recorded almost without fail for the past 600 years -- on September 19, the saint's feast day, and on the first Saturday in May. When the blood has remained dry, tragedies have followed.

Scientists have confirmed that the substance inside the closed vial is blood but cannot explain why it regularly turns to liquid.

Cardinal Michele Giordano told the congregation this year's miracle was particularly good, because the blood had liquefied in less than an hour.

"It's an extraordinary event, also because you can clearly see that the blood has changed color and there's more of it," Girodano said holding up the glass vial.

Disaster has struck at least five times after the blood failed to liquefy. In 1527 the plague killed 40,000 people and more recently in November 1980 some 3,000 people died in a massive earthquake that struck southern Italy.

[AlguyA]

"I just realised that there is a big cultural gap between us. You see, I see all these types of miracles as a cultural phenomenon. That is, they are big in "Catholic" countries where most of the people don't really read the Bible and just sort of blindly believe what they are told. In places where Catholics actually READ THE BIBLE and have a direct relationship with Jesus, this sort of stuff is played down or tolerated, kind of like the crazy uncle in the cellar. It's pretty big stuff in south and central america and parts of Europe."

Yeah, although I find it fascinating that all those "Catholic" places like south and central america where all those ignorant people who don't read the Bible and lack a 'personal relationship with Jesus, and believe in all this 'weird' miracle stuff, are also the same places where children in their mother's womb still have a better than fifty-fifty shot that they won't be killed before their born. Whereas in cultures where people read their Bibles, have their 'personal relationships with Jesus,' and are oh so much more rational tend to slaughter the unborn.

But, then, I'm sure this is just a coincedence.

[Irisshlass]

Saint Gennaro.."...died a martyr in 305 A.D., during the persecution spearheaded by Emperor Diocletian."

"...he risked the wrath of local pagan officials by visiting the deacons Sosso and Proculo and the laymen Eutichete and Acuzio in jail. The warden observed this stranger trying to comfort the Christian prisioners naturally concluded that he must be Christian. Therefore, he too must be shut up behind bars."

"Shortly afterwards the proconsul Timothey had Gennaro arrested and clapped into jail. Subsequently he underwent various forms of torture, without wavering in his resolution to remain loyal to Christ."

"Shortly afterwards the proconsul Timothey had Gennaro arrested and clapped into jail. Subsequently he underwent various forms of torture, without wavering in his resolution to remain loyal to Christ."

"The proconsul's agents then had the generous confessor of the faith thrown headlong into a furnace, fully convinced that the flames would reduce him to ashes. By the grace of God he came through unscathed. Furious, the agents gave themselves no rest until their victim had been sentenced to be beheaded."

"The bishop's body, and severed head, still dripping blood, were gathered up by an old man who wrapped them reverently in a cloth. A good woman of Naples dried up the blood with a sponge and filled a phial with the precious red liquid. The body of Saint Gennaro is preserved in Naples, where he is honored as the city's principle patron."

[Irisshlass]

Acts..xix, 12..."when face cloths or aprons that touched his skin were applied to the sick, their diseases left them and the evil spirits came out of them."

Acts v, 15, 16. "...so that when Peter came by, at least his shadow might fall on one or another of them. A large number of people from the towns in the vicinity of Jerusalem also gathered, bringing the sick and those disturbed by unclean spirits, and they were all cured."

[God is good]

That makes my day! I guess this is God's way of telling us we'll get those tax breaks this year? Yes Virginia, there must be a Santa Clause.

[God is good]

You know, just because something is supernatural does not mean it's of God. Satan has many supernatural powers, in fact, he is the second most powerful being in the universe at this point. Jesus commanded Christians to test the spirits against scripture and to not be fooled by every whimsical supernatural act. All that one needs to know is that he needs to trust in Jesus Christ alone for eternal security.

[God is good]

And what is meant by test is that anyone (or anything) that says Jesus is the Christ, has come in the flesh, is the Son of God, and is the only way to salvation, is of God; otherwise it's of Satan.

[RobRoy]

That is an interesting story. At least some of it may be true.

Have you ever been a part of an event that made it into the nightly news? The news report usually seems to be the description of some other "similar" event.

Just a thought.

[RobRoy]

Although those are great verses, I don't understand the relevance to this post. I don't know what you are trying to say, other than many were healed by the apostles - which I most definitely believe as well.

[RobRoy]

Quite frankly, I don't know what it is, other than a claim. There's not much info that can really be trusted.

[RobRoy]

Each culture has its own skeletons in the closet. That said, I don't believe it is the Catholics that are killing those babies.

[pegleg]

Unfotunately Catholic Theology is Satanic Theology.

Unfortunately your theology is as bad as your spelling.

[God is good]

Go ahead, run away.

[pegleg]

Go ahead, run away.

I don't think so. Care to back up your blasphemous claim?

[Litany]

"Eternal Father, I offer You the Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity of Your dearly Beloved Son, Our Lord Jesus Christ, in atonement for our sins and those of the whole world."


The Divine Mercy Chaplet as revealed to Saint Faustina (a Catholic nun) by Our Lord Jesus Christ.

DOES THIS SOUND SATANIC TO YOU ?

I pray that the Holy Spirit opens your mind and heart to the Truth.

[Irisshlass]

Acts..xix, 12..."when face cloths or aprons that touched his skin were applied to the sick, their diseases left them and the evil spirits came out of them."

Acts v, 15, 16. "...so that when Peter came by, at least his shadow might fall on one or another of them. A large number of people from the towns in the vicinity of Jerusalem also gathered, bringing the sick and those disturbed by unclean spirits, and they were all cured."


Although those are great verses, I don't understand the relevance to this post. I don't know what you are trying to say, other than many were healed by the apostles - which I most definitely believe as well.

These verses are inreference to "items" of saints"...when face cloths or aprons...their diseases left them"

"...his shadow...and they were all cured."


Miracles..

[Irisshlass]

I posted scripture to refute the notion Catholics don't read the Bible...amazing no one would have a Bible if it not for the Catholic Church that gave it to them...