Pampanga hosts heart relic of healing saint

This heart relic of St. Camillus de Lellis is scheduled for public viewing and veneration at the Metropolitan Cathedral of the Archdiocese of San Fernando in Pampanga on March 23 to 24. The saint is the patron of the sick, doctors, nurses and other health workers. (Photos from the Camillian congregation)

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO — The heart relic of St. Camillus de Lellis will be up for public viewing and veneration at the Metropolitan Cathedral of the Archdiocese of San Fernando in this Pampanga capital on March 23 to 24.

This is the second time the relic was brought to the Philippines since 2013. It has been taken to various hospitals and parishes since it arrived last Feb. 2.

The saint is the patron of the sick, doctors, nurses and other health workers.

This heart relic of St. Camillus de Lellis is scheduled for public viewing and veneration at the Metropolitan Cathedral of the Archdiocese of San Fernando in Pampanga on March 23 to 24. The saint is the patron of the sick, doctors, nurses and other health workers. (Photos from the Camillian congregation)

Since 1974, Camillians have taken active ministries in hospitals and hospital chaplaincy, parishes, pastoral centers, homes for the aged, lepers, community-based health and rehabilitation centers, HIV/AIDS centers, and other healthcare centers.

“The visit of St. Camillus’ heart relic provides a perfect opportunity for all of us to give importance to the humanization of health care in the country, to place our sick brothers and sisters at the center of care and not leave them on the margins, and for all healthcare providers and carers of the sick to renew their dedication and commitment in loving and serving the sick,” Fr. Dan Vicente Cancino Jr,. chair of the second journey of the relic said in a statement.

According to the congregation, the heart of St. Camillus was taken an hour after his death on July 14, 1614, and has been enshrined at the Church of St. Mary Magdalene in Rome, Italy, where he was buried.

The relic is contained in a crystal glass in the shape of a heart.

Present in 42 countries, Camillians work in Quezon City, Makati, Marikina, Pasig, Antipolo and Baguio City in Luzon; Calbayog and Balugo, Dumaguete in the Visayas; and in Davao City and Mati, Davao, Oriental in Mindanao.