Today's saint I have chosen is Saint Januarius. He was bishop of Benevento, Italy. He was arrested while visiting imprisoned deacons and was martyred with them in the year 304. Other than that, there is not much else known about his life....he was put into a fiery furnace but the flames would not harm him. He was also thrown to wild beasts, but they did not harm him either...he was martyred by beheading. A vile of his blood was saved and now for the past 600 years--since at least 1389--this vile of blood liquefies on his feast day. This is the most studied religious phenomenon.
He is the patron saint against volcano eruptions, blood banks, and Naples, Italy.
Growing up, I had heard about Saint Januarius, but mainly because of the Feast of San Gennaro in NYC...even though I have never been to this feast. Being Italian is a wonderful thing! We have many traditions, religious and food-wise. Many of our family food traditions come from Naples. Even though my brother and I are grown and both live out of the house, we still have Friday night dinner together which are filled with many laughs. I look forward to our Friday nights all week.
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