the blood of the Patron Saint dissolved at 10.02 am

It takes place “miracle” of San Gennaro in 2023. The blood of Holy Martyrpatron saint of Naples and Campania, was dissolved today, Tuesday September 19, 2023at 10.02 am.

The Archbishop of Naples, Don Mimmo Battagliawho presided over the religious ceremony, rotating the ampoule containing the sacred relics in Cathedral of Naples, announced to the faithful the miracle of the liquefaction of the blood. The blood arrived on the altar already melted, it seems that the miracle occurred at 9.54 am. Don Mimmo’s announcement was greeted by the waving of white handkerchiefs by the Deputation of San Gennaro and of “relatives of San Gennaro”the women, according to legend, descendants of Eusebia, nurse of the Saint.

Manfredi: “For young people in Naples, it’s a difficult time, hope is needed”

Before the celebration, the mayor Gaetano Manfrediwho is also president of the Deputation of San Gennaro, wanted to launch a “message of hope and trust for the young people of Naples. Moments of difficulty and suffering must be faced with control, but also with special attention for young people who need to have perspective.”

For the governor of Campania, Vincenzo De Lucawho spoke on Canale 21, “we are living in a complicated period. We have experienced episodes of violence and blood. San Gennaro is also an opportunity to rediscover fundamental human values. A religious moment of prayer and reflection, but also an opportunity to stop and think about our lives and how complicated it is to live in a world of tension and lack of respect.”

Also at the Cathedral of Naples was Emanuele Filiberto of Savoy

In the Cathedral present, among others, also the Cardinal Crescenzio Sepeformer archbishop of Naples, who was succeeded by Don Mimmo Battaglia, e Emanuele Filiberto of Savoy, owner of the Associazione Calcio Savoia 1908, Real Agro Aversa and Portici. The Nuova Orchestra Scarlatti played in memory of Giovanbattista Cutolo, the 24-year-old horn musician, killed in Piazza Municipio on August 31st.

The ceremony in the Cathedral of Naples, in via Duomo, after two years of restrictions linked to the Covid19 pandemic, in which the access of the faithful had been greatly reduced and regulated, has returned to its pre-pandemic form since last year, without limitations , and with the street procession, previously suspended. Procedure also repeated for the 2023 edition. The celebration is broadcast live on television and in streaming by Canale 21 and on the Archdiocese portal www.chiesadinapoli.it.

The solemnities of San Gennaro 2023

This morning the Cathedral opened its doors to the Neapolitan people at 7.30 am, to remain open the whole day. The Archbishop Don Mimmo Battaglia he arrived at the Cathedral at 9.30 and went to the Treasury Chapel. With the Abbot, Monsignor Vincenzo de Gregorioand the mayor of Naples Gaetano Manfrediopened the safe where the ampoules with the Blood are kept.

The rite requires the ampoules to be placed on a throne, which is then carried on the shoulders by the seminarians to the main altar of the Cathedral where the celebration began at 10am. Solemn Eucharistic Celebrationduring which the miracle was announced to those present with the characteristic waving of the white handkerchief by a manager of the San Gennaro Deputation.

The procedure then provides that the Archbishop, after the announcement, walks along the entire central nave of the Cathedral to then show the ampoules with the dissolved Blood to the people of the faithful in the churchyard and to the City.

The Octave of Thanksgiving will take place until Tuesday 26 September 2023. At 9.00 there will be the celebration of the Holy Mass in the Treasury Chapel, presided over by a Prelate. At the end, the ampoule with the Blood will be brought to the main altar, entrusted to a Canon for the veneration of the people until 12.30. Prayers and veneration will resume at 4.30 pm until 6.30 pm, when there will be the celebration of the Holy Mass.

The vigil rites of Monday 18 September 2023

The vigil rites preceding the Feast of San Gennaro started yesterday, Monday 18 September 2023. This year thevotive oil was offered by blood donors, organized byASL Naples 1directed by Ciro Verdoliva.

At 5.00 pm in the Church of San Giorgio a Forcella with a short Liturgy of the Word the procession began, opened by the Carabinieri fanfare, followed by the managers of the ASL and the blood donors and members of the San Gennaro Diocesan Committee.

At 6.30 pm, the ceremony took place in the Cathedral Vigil rite with the celebration of the first vespers, presided over by the Metropolitan Archbishop of Naples, Don Mimmo Battaglia. Taking part in the introital procession were not only the canons of the Metropolitan Chapter but also the
Prelates of the Chapel of the Treasure of San Gennaro, a delegation of the Committee, with the president Carmineantonio Espositoand the torchbearers of the “relays of faith”, promoted by the Italian Sports Center.

During the celebration the Archbishop delivered the Message for the new year and the pastoral agenda to the diocesan community. Before the conclusion, the votive lamp placed in the Crypt in front of the relics of San Gennaro was lit.

Liquefaction three times a year

The miracle of the melting of San Gennaro’s blood is repeated again three times a year: September 19th, the feast day of the Patron Saint of Naples, the Saturday preceding the first Sunday of May to commemorate the transfer of the saint’s remains and December 16th, in memory of the Vesuvian eruption of 1631. When the blood does not melts the Neapolitans interpret the failed miracle as a bad omen.