On 25 May, the anniversary of the birth of St. Camillus, the Camillians will commemorate their ‘martyrs to charity’: religious, fathers, brothers, students and novices who from the birth of the Order until today have engaged in the extreme sacrifice of the fourth vow of helping sick people to the point of giving their lives. There are about 300 Camillian martyrs who died because of pestilences and infectious diseases in various circumstances.

Near to this commemorative day, we want to remember the letter which in 1994 the then Secretary of State of the Vatican, Cardianal Angelo Sodano, sent to the Superior General of the Camillians to express his appreciation and that of Pope John Paul II for this initiative.

‘It is important’, the letter reads, ‘that in today’s Church, as well, the Camillian charism continues to shine forth in all its splendour’. These dead brothers ‘outlined a journey which, in addition to constituting a reason for glory for this most worthy Institute, also offers a very eloquent witness to authentic ministry at the service of physical health and the spiritual salvation of man’.

The Cardinal also invited the Camillians to celebrate the Day ‘without reducing it to a simple moment of re-evocation’, but, rather, ‘by drawing upon the memory of these brothers to have a renewed enthusiasm which animates, every day of the year, a ministry exposed to the foreseen or unpredictable risks of care for those who suffer’.

Read here the complete text of the letter

Look here at the press information