Catholic Dictionary

Find accurate definitions of over 5,000 Catholic terms and phrases (including abbreviations). Based on Fr. John Hardon's Modern Catholic Dictionary, © Eternal Life. Used with permission.

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LIQUEFACTION

The miraculous act of liquefying of solid matter, especially congealed blood, as reported of certain relics of saints. The best known liquefaction is that reported of St. Januarius (d. c. 305), Bishop of Benevento. A glass phial containing his dried blood is seen to liquefy in public eighteen times a year. This phenomenon has been recorded for 500 years, and no natural has been given.