St. Januarius, Bishop of Benevento & Companions, Martyrs (19 September):Butler's Lives of the Saints

About this sermon

September 19 honors St. Januarius, Bishop and Martyr, together with his faithful companions. This reading from Butler’s Lives of the Saints recounts their courageous witness during the persecution of Emperor Diocletian. When several Christians were imprisoned for the Faith, Bishop Januarius knowingly risked his freedom and life to visit, comfort, and spiritually strengthen them. He and his companions were arrested, tortured, and condemned to be devoured by wild beasts. When the animals refused to harm them, the martyrs were sentenced to beheading. St. Januarius later became the principal patron of Naples, whose people repeatedly invoked his intercession during the terrifying eruptions of Mount Vesuvius. His most famous wonder is the liquefaction of his preserved blood when it is brought near the relic of his head—a phenomenon witnessed and investigated across centuries. Butler concludes with an important Catholic distinction: biblical miracles are revealed truths of faith, while reported miracles outside Scripture must be carefully examined according to evidence and prudence. Authentic wonders should lead us beyond curiosity to adoration, gratitude, conversion, and greater confidence in God. St. Januarius and companions, pray for us! Source: The Lives of the Fathers, Martyrs, and Other Principal Saints by Fr. Alban Butler. 00:00 Introduction 00:16 St. Januarius and the Diocletian persecution 00:38 The imprisoned Christians 01:03 Januarius risks his life to comfort them 01:27 The bishop is arrested 01:44 Festus and Desiderius share his sufferings 02:08 Condemned to the wild beasts 02:24 The animals refuse to harm the martyrs 02:34 Condemnation and beheading 02:52 The translation of their relics 03:15 St. Januarius becomes patron of Naples 03:33 Naples, Mount Vesuvius, and his intercession 05:09 The procession that preceded the eruption’s end 05:39 The miraculous blood of St. Januarius 06:29 When the liquefaction traditionally occurs 07:00 Historical testimony concerning the miracle 07:58 How Catholics should evaluate reported miracles 08:54 Miracles should raise our hearts to God 09:17 Conclusion https://sensusfidelium.com/the-lives-of-the-fathers-martyrs-and-other-principal-saints/september/st-januarius-bishop-of-benevento-and-his-companions-martyrs/ Get Butler's Lives of the Saints here: https://loretopublications.idevaffiliate.com/idevaffiliate.php?id=102&url=1 #SaintJanuarius #SanGennaro #CatholicSaints #LivesOfTheSaints #ChristianMartyrs #CatholicFaith #MountVesuvius #CatholicChurch #CatholicHistory #CatholicTradition #MartyrsOfTheChurch #SaintsOfTheDay #CatholicDevotion #SaintJanuariusMiracle #EarlyChurchMartyrs 🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴 ✝️ SUPPORT THE MISSION 🙏 Donate https://sensusfidelium.com/donate-support/ 📬 Free Catholic Newsletter https://sensusfidelium.com/newsletter/ 📰 Read on Substack https://sensusfidelium.substack.com/ ──────────────────── 📺 WATCH & READ 📺 Sensus Fidelium App https://sensusfidelium.tv/ 📚 Sensus Fidelium Press https://sensusfideliumpress.com/ 👕 Official Merchandise https://sensusfidelium.com/merchandise/ ──────────────────── 🤝 PARTNER WITH US 📣 Advertise on Sensus Fidelium https://sensusfidelium.com/advertise-with-sensus-fidelium/ 🎤 Invite Steve Cunningham to Speak https://sensusfidelium.com/speaking/ ⛪ Parish Formation & Consultation https://sensusfidelium.com/for-parishes/ ──────────────────── 🌎 CATHOLIC COMMUNITY ✝️ Trusted Catholic Businesses https://sensusfidelium.com/catholic-businesses/ 🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴

Topics

• Suffering & Trials