30th Day of the Martyrs of Charity: a message from the CADIS Director

Dear Friends,

Health and peace!

The heroic offering of life, inspired and sustained by charity, expresses a true, complete, and exemplary imitation of Christ. (Pope Francis)

We take a fourth vow with which we consecrate ourselves to the service of the sick, both in hospitals and elsewhere, even at the risk of life, imitating the Good Samaritan and following the example of St. Camillus who considered the sick as his "lords and masters". (Const. art. 28)

The words of Pope Francis and our Constitution remind us of the great Camillian witnesses of Christ's merciful love towards the poor sick whom they served and walked with, full of joy until their last breath. They are the Camillian Martyrs of Charity who embraced the fourth vow.   

On May 25 we will remember the heroic offering of life of the Camillian Martyrs of Charity and the 474th birthday of St. Camillus de Lellis. This day invites us to remember, celebrate, and imitate their authentic witness of Christ's merciful love in a meaningful way before the sick and the most vulnerable. 

"With great courage, many of them lost their lives to put that fourth vow into action. Throughout the history that has been handed down to us, the Camillians, in the Church and in the world, have always honored that "talent so precious that our Lord has placed in our hands" and which we too profess and live as one of the most important treasures of our Order [...] It must be safeguarded and transmitted with the necessary enrichments specific to our time, just as we have received it. This belongs to the conviction, responsibility, and generous witness of each of us who, 'moved by the Spirit and believing in the love of God, embrace the charism of mercy towards the sick,' according to our formula of profession". (Pedro Tramontin MI, Message of the Superior General 2024).

We invite you to remember, celebrate, and imitate their witness in our respective communities. We strongly recommend the following initiatives.

1. You can begin to pray the Novena to the Camillian Martyrs of Charity starting from May 16. Copies of the novena in five languages are available below. 
2. You can participate in the CADIS25 emergency fund campaign. To learn about the campaign mechanisms, follow the link to our new website (https://cadisinternational.org/campagne ). 
3. You can start an activity that promotes ecological conversion. (For more information: https://laudatosiactionplatform.org/suggested-actions/ ). 

Fraternally yours,

Aris D. Miranda, MI

Director