Saint Januarius and his companions in martyrdom—Saints Festus, Desiderius, Sossius, Proculus, Eutychius, and Acutius—form a difficult hagiographical case, since the surviving accounts of their passion were written long after the events they claim to describe.
Even so, Januarius remains today one of the most venerated saints. Much is debated about his person, the exact period in which he lived, the place, and even the circumstances of his martyrdom. Some suggest he was bishop of Benevento, persecuted by the Arians for his defense of the Nicene faith, later remembered as a martyr. Others hold that he was a Neapolitan martyr from Pozzuoli.
What is certain is the extraordinary devotion attached to the famous relic of his blood, preserved in Naples. The blood, kept in a reliquary of two sealed vials, is usually coagulated, but several times a year it is seen to change volume and weight (normally around twenty-seven grams) and, most remarkably, to liquefy, taking on the bright red color of fresh blood.
The testimonies to this phenomenon—carefully examined over the centuries—are too numerous and consistent to be dismissed. It remains the most thoroughly documented of the so-called “blood miracles.” No natural explanation has yet been found, since the occurrence does not appear to depend on temperature or other environmental conditions.
Whether or not the relic itself is authentic, the miracle has made Saint Januarius immensely beloved among the people. Without doubt, this popular devotion is the reason why he was included in the liturgical calendar—though only as late as 1586.
