the Miracle of Saint January’s Blood
The city lived in fear.A looming mountain cast a shadow,not just physically,but upon the hearts of the people. They remembered the fate of Korach, consumed by the earth for his rebellion, and worried the mountain held a similar, terrifying power. This anxiety fueled unrest as the bishop sought to bolster faith with a powerful relic: the preserved blood of Saint January, a martyr beheaded under Diocletian for his Christian beliefs.
The relic, held within a crystal vessel, was carried in solemn procession to the cathedral. The people’s response was one of quiet, almost childlike, sorrow. However, this display of devotion drew the ire of those who clung to the old ways. Pagans, still offering sacrifices to their ancient gods, scoffed at the display, dismissing the miracle as mere kitchen science – warm blood simply liquefying. They pointed to the grand miracles of the Hebrew scriptures – Moses striking the rock, Elijah summoning fire, Joshua halting the sun – and contrasted them with what they saw as a paltry display: “a bottle full of hideous rest.”
Doubt began to spread amongst the faithful. The bishop’s attempt to inspire was faltering.Then, the deacon holding the vessel raised it aloft. The blood within, previously congealed and stone-like, miraculously became fluid again, surging and pulsing within its container. “look here,” the deacon proclaimed, “so your heart is – cold and croaked.”
A especially bold pagan philosopher, identifying himself as “the reasonable one,” demanded a more direct demonstration. He requested to hold the vessel, believing the miracle to be a simple illusion. As soon as he grasped the crystal, it seemed to lighten, lifting as if held by an unseen force. The blood within rose violently, threatening to spill over. Terrified, the philosopher recoiled, falling to the ground and declaring the truth of the Christian God and the falsehood of the pagan deities.
Still,those adhering to the law of Moses pressed for further proof,seeking confirmation that Jesus surpassed their own scriptures. In response, the blood within the vessel divided itself into two distinct halves: one shimmering with the brilliance of gold, the other with the cool radiance of silver. This spectacle revealed, to the understanding of the believers, the core tenet of their faith: Christ, fully God and fully man, two natures united in one being.
A profound silence descended. Then, Sluther Dyke, a renowned preacher from Britannia, stepped forward. With forceful eloquence,he rebuked the doubters,accusing them of masking their stubborn disbelief behind a veneer of reason. He argued that their very questioning was evidence of a mind capable of recognizing truth, and that they were attempting to apply physical explanations to a spiritual phenomenon.
As he spoke, the earth trembled, and Vesuvius emitted smoke. Simultaneously, a radiant angel descended, spreading its wings protectively over the vessel. The angel proclaimed the sanctity of Saint January’s sacrifice,warning that mockery of the blood was mockery of the divine. A dire prophecy followed: should the blood fail to liquefy, the city itself would face destruction.
The pronouncements of the angel had a profound effect. Pagans fell to their knees, weeping and begging for baptism. The bishop, however, cautioned that just as the blood had softened and flowed, so too must their hearts be softened and their faith solidified.
That day, more souls were brought to Christ than could be counted. And to this day, on the 19th of September, when the blood of Saint January liquefies, it is indeed saeid to loosen the grip of doubt upon the world, a testament to the power of faith demonstrated through a small, yet potent, vessel.
