A river of people invaded the streets of the historic center of Napoli to witness the monthly miracle of the “miracle of May” of San Gennaro. At the end of the solemn celebration in the Basilica of Santa Chiara, the ampoule containing the blood of the Holy Martyr returned to the Cathedral, where it will be kept in the case of the Treasury Chapel.
The participation in the “miracle of May” was truly extraordinary, both along the procession route and inside the Basilica of Santa Chiara. Faithful from all over Campania and curious tourists from every corner of the world poured into the streets to pay homage to the Patron Saint of Naples.
Among the crowd, special attention was paid by foreign tourists, fascinated by this unique tradition that is deeply felt by the Neapolitan citizens. Many of them immortalized the passage of the religious procession with photos and videos, sharing on social media the emotion of having witnessed such a special event.
During the procession, flower petals were thrown from some balconies as the silver busts of San Gennaro and the patron saints passed by. The large crowd gathered along the route and in the courtyard of Santa Chiara welcomed the procession with thunderous applause, underlining the deep devotion that binds the city to its patron saint.
The prayer of Monsignor Battaglia
In the homily given during the celebration, the Archbishop of Naples, Monsignor Domenico Battaglia, addressed a touching prayer to San Gennaro for peace in the world. “Pray with us and help us to pray without ever tiring so that in this city of yours innocent blood may never flow again, so that our Europe, the Holy Land, and throughout the world fratricidal conflicts, acts of war, terrorist operations may cease, and the sun of peace, the one that pushed you to give your life and that you now contemplate forever, may banish every cloud of violence, dry every tear of pain, disarm with forgiveness every desire for revenge”.
A message of hope
Concluding his homily, Monsignor Battaglia invited the faithful to reflect on the testimony of San Gennaro: “May the testimony of your blood reach us in the prisons of our resigned minds and our hardened hearts and reawaken the souls of all to the certainty that love always wins and that it will be the words of goodness, of beauty, of kindness that will write the end of the story”.
An event that unites faith and tradition
The “miracle of May” of San Gennaro represents an event of great importance for the city of Naples, a moment of deep devotion and sincere popular participation. The procession, with its solemn rites and its atmosphere of meditation, is an opportunity to renew faith and to celebrate the tradition that for centuries has linked Neapolitans to their Patron Saint.
Article published on May 4, 2024 - 20:30 pm
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