The Litchfield County post. [volume] (Litchfield, Conn.) 1826-1829, 1826-11-14

If ,he city. They have also . tradition
NAT when tl.e saintwas bsheaded, his nurse.
Who was IN the crowd, and approached very
near the place of execution, gathered up
some of his blood, which she most sacredly
preserved in a bottle. "From the mo-
ment she became possessed of this treas
ure," says the story, her house was dis
tinguished ffom all other houses at Patzzu-
oil, the town where he was beheaded, and
it soon spread abroad that she was uRder
the immediate protection Of some superior
power. The people of Benevento, who
had the body of the saint, hearing the won
deTfil stories that were told at PatzzuOli,
were determined TO put the thing to the
proof, and they had the head of the saint
conveyed there; supposing, that if the old
woman's bottle really contained the saints
blood, some sympathy would be manifested
when they were brought together. The
event turned out as they expected; as
soon as the head approached the bottle,the
blood, which was before dry, began tobub-
BILE up with lively joy. A treasure like
this was not allowed to remain in the cot
tage ofan old woman. The city ofNaples
took possession Of il, and to this precious
possession the town owes its preservation
from the destructive fires Of Vesavius. 49,
For this reason St. Januarius was chosen
patron of the city, and longer and more
fervent prayers we're addressed to him than
to any other saint in the calender. On the
day particularly devoted to him, a grand
is formed, and the people assenl-
Bile in the church to witness the liquefying
Of the saints blood, which the people say
is standing miracle, performed expressly
for the purpose of maintaining in its full
vigour the faith of the inhabitants of Ma
plies. An English gentlemen who was on
a visit to Naples in May last, thus describes
the ceremonies. We copy it from his let
ter in the Congregational Magazine for
September -
went to the church of Santa Chiara
Saint Clair on St. Gennaro's or ST. JAM
uarius' day, to see the liquefying Of the
Saints blood, which the people say is a
miracle expressly performed to
in its full vigour the faith of the
of Naples. The sides Of the
church were crowded by the populace when
arrived; but the centre was kept clear
by soldiers, who made way for me, as al
foreigner, to pass up near the altar, where
seats were arranged for the strangers, and
where I found most of the travelling Eng
ish, as well as French, Russians, and Ital-
ans for the provinces. The image of the |
amt, within the silver head of which isl
he real skull was brought from the Ca-l
hedral in the morning, and placed at one
ide of the altar. On the left hand, sepa- |
ated from the rest of the people, were ar
anged about one hundred old women, de-
cendants from the family of the saint, orl
rom his nurse. These are privileged peo-
lie. and claim great share in the ceremo-
". After sitting some time, the music
rom temporary orchestra, began playing
cry sweetly, and there appeared at the
loor the commencement of the procession.
III the monks from all the different monas-
cries in Naples, bearing their different ban
ers, passed with slow and solemn step up
he centre of the church, bowling one and
Il as they approached the image. Then
anne other images Of saints, male and fe-
aale, 70 the amount Of forty, borne on mems
houlders: every one in his turn stoppingI
efore their chief and patron at the altar.
l priest stood on the steps to do homage
each of these worthy silver-wigged per-
onages, and while he shook incense under
heir noses, the old women hailed them
nth screams Of welcome, making dis
ord in the church, which could only bel
ermitted to St. Gennaro's relatives. Then !,
'llowed mobiles and state officers, and all
ne distinguished personages Of the court
nd the city, in their dresses of state, and
ast OF all, atthe end of a procession, which
coupled nearly an hour, came the thing
Which was the heart, and soul, and spirit,
i the whole matter-the thing by which,
md on accountsof which, all the puppets
lad been put in motion--the blood Of the
amt. 1t was carried under a splendidl I
anoPy, and surrounded by every circum-
lance that could make it imposing. Church.
men, noblemen, and plebeans, then fell
lown in humble alteration, as this precious
ellie was paraded before their ewes: Al
present Deity could hardly have. produced
greater sensation. All lengah it reached
me altar, and was placed, by the hands Of
the Cardinal Archbishop, opposite "a. the
image ofthe saint. Some persons, and a.
monst them some English, Of which num-
Der contrivedto be, were admitted with
in the altar and formed crowd close round
the object of all this ceremony. TheNiall
was taken out of the splendidly decorated