On December 16 of this year, just a few days ago, we were in Naples on a trip. While we were visiting the Cathedral, which houses the bones of San Gennaro and two ampoules containing his blood, the abbot of the chapel took an ampoule in his hand and walked among the people standing there.
I was nearby and filmed the scene. Indeed, after a few minutes, the coagulated blood liquefied.
The liquefaction of San Gennaro’s blood takes place only three times a year. I was very lucky to be in Naples on December 16 and witness the miracle up close.
San Gennaro was beheaded in the year 304 during the persecutions ordered by Emperor Diocletian. As he was dying, a little blood was made to flow into two ampoules. These days, one is almost empty, for part of its content was stolen by King Charles of Bourbon who, having become King of Spain, took it with him; the other is more than half full.
Sometimes, San Gennaro’s blood does not liquefy. In this case, something terrible happens. In 1939 and in 1940, coinciding with the outbreak of the Second World War, the blood of San Gennaro did not liquefy.
Are those who believe in miracles gullible? I do not think so. Religion is also made of mystery and miracle. The rational mind is not enough!
Ettore Grillo, author of these books:
– November 2: The Day of the Dead in Sicily (English edition)
– A Hidden Sicilian History (English edition)
– The Vibrations of Words (English edition)
– Travels of the Mind (English edition)
– Una Storia Siciliana Nascosta (edizione in lingua italiana)
– Viaggi della Mente (edizione in lingua italiana)
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