NAPLES – The miracle of San Gennaro was repeated on Thursday as the saint’s solid blood became liquid.  Although this is regarded as a positive sign, Cardinal Crescenzio Sepe used the homily of the church service to deliver a warning about violence in the city.

 “The evil that the killers of hate and violence do to Naples is limitless,” he said.  Cardinal Sepe, who is also Archbishop of Naples, described how hatred and violence shut off possibilities of making a future and building a community oriented toward the common good.

 “It creates fear, insecurity," he said, and favoured "every form of behaviour which goes against the common good.”

 Three times a year, the dried blood of the saint becomes liquid. 

 The liquefaction is considered to be a good omen for Naples, as when the miracle does not occur it is seen as a warning sign of trouble ahead.  As always on the days of the miracle, the cathedral was packed with people, reports Il Mattino.  The day of the patron saint of Naples and Campania, not to mention people curious to see the miracle, had drawn crowds from the start of Mass at 8 a.m.

 “It is a sign of goodness, benevolence, love and mercy for us, for Naples, for Campania, for the Church,” said the cardinal, announcing the liquefaction of the blood to much applause. 

 Despite the good omen of the blood, Naples is increasingly giving cause for concern.  As Sepe highlighted, endemic violence is crippling the city – and it appears to be getting worse.  Local sources report that the discovery of a body in a car boot in the city on September 9 is sparking fears of a new Mafia war.

 Sepe spoke of the need to face the reality of the situation in Naples, and also lent his support to the Whirlpool Napoli protestors who were staging a sit-in, asking for more protection from employers.  The cardinal put himself on their side in his homily, saying that it was “inhuman” to “sacrifice the work and dignity of over 400 workers.”

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