St. Januarius, September 19
Bishop of Benevento, Januarius was beheaded near Naples around 305. A vial of his dried blood, kept in Naples Cathedral, is said to liquefy several times a year, an event the city watches closely. He is the patron of Naples.
On the General Roman Calendar, September 19 is an optional memorial: Saint Januarius, bishop and martyr.
Name days on September 19
In countries that keep name days, September 19 is the day for people named Januarius and Gennaro. These names come from the same saint, as variants, nicknames or forms used in other languages.
| Name | Feast day |
|---|---|
| Januarius | September 19 |
| Gennaro | September 19 |
September 19 on the calendar
September 19 is the 262nd day of the year (the 263rd in a leap year), with 103 days left until December 31. Here is the day of the week it falls on in the coming years:
| Year | Day |
|---|---|
| 2026 | Saturday |
| 2027 | Sunday |
| 2028 | Tuesday |
| 2029 | Wednesday |
| 2030 | Thursday |
Keeping September 19
September 19 falls in summer. As an optional memorial, each parish or priest may choose whether to celebrate it. Families who keep name days often mark the day with a card, a candle or a favorite meal, and parishes named after the saint may hold a festival. If you know someone named Januarius and Gennaro, it is a good day to send a note.
Saints of the week around September 19
| Date | Saint or feast |
|---|---|
| September 16 | Sts. Cornelius and Cyprian |
| September 17 | St. Hildegard of Bingen |
| September 18 | St. Joseph of Cupertino |
| September 20 | Sts. Andrew Kim Taegon and Companions |
| September 21 | St. Matthew |
| September 22 | St. Maurice and Companions |
The day before, September 18, is the day of St. Joseph of Cupertino. The day after, September 20, belongs to Sts. Andrew Kim Taegon and Companions. Looking for a name? Try the name day calendar or go back to today’s saint.