St. Januarius' Blood

     St. Januarius' blood becomes liquid during the every year. St. Januarius is the patron saint of Naples. He was martyred during the Roman emperor - Diocletian. Scientists cannot explain the nature of the blood's behavior.

                                                "In experiments conducted in 1902 and 1904 the reliquary was weighed in a delicate balance. It was discovered that its weight was no more constant than its bulk, that is, its weight might increase as much as 25 grams, thereby defying physical laws. The strangest element is that there is often an increase in weight when the mass actually decreases, and a decrease in weight when the volume increases - this in direct opposition to the laws that dictate an increase in weight with a corresponding increase in mass."

     The blood reminds the faithful that martyrdom is the "seed of the Church". Martyrs were men who tried to live like Christ, and spread the message of the gospel in the face of death.