A success beyond all expectations for the first edition of the ‘Camillian White Nights’, an appointment forming a part of the celebrations for the fourth centenary of the death of St. Camillus de Lellis. For the whole of last weekend, from 9.00 to 24.00, tourists and visitors were able to discover the treasures of the Church of St. Mary Magdalene in Campo Marzio in Rome (the location of the generalate house of the Camillians) and the adjoining St. Camillus de Lellis Museum, which conserves the relic of the heart of the saint and other valuable objects from his life.

Everyone looked upwards to admire the splendid frescoes of the ceiling, the very refined statues of marble, the valuable inlays in wood, and to listen to the history of St. Camillus, the protector of the sick, health-care workers and health-care institutions.

‘A box of authentic beauty finally open the whole day’, observed the Romans, many of whom had never crossed the threshold of this church. ‘A treasure that does not always form a part of the traditional cultural circuits’, added tourists who were present who came from all over the world.

Especially appreciated were the new commemorative urn for the holy remains of the saint, the work of Maestro Alessandro Romano, and the picture of Our Lady Salus Infirmorum, which was the subject of constant prayer by the visitors.

Very many faithful (and others) chose not to halt at the Church of St. Mary Magdalene but to continue their visit at the St. Camillus de Lellis Museum where there is also the Cubiculum, the former infirmary of the house and the place where St. Camillus died on 14 July 1614.

Adults and children, in addition, appreciated the ‘Camillian gadgets’ that accompanied the weekend: books, calendars, pens, key rings and a great deal of other material produced specifically for the fourth centenary of the death of St. Camillus de Lellis.

The traditional prayer for the sick, lastly, generated great emotion. As takes place every Sunday, this was held after Holy Mass at 19.00.

To sum up: if we were to assess the ‘Camillian White Nights’ we would say that it was a completely successful experiment which will certainly be repeated over the following months.

[Galleria fotografica]

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