St. Camillus heart relic Ailing devotees seek saint's help

CEBU, Philippines — As hopeless as it may seem, Ma. Eluna Algadipe, 46, desires for her ill son “Monmon” to be cured from cerebral palsy.

If medicine is unable to treat her son, she believes her faith will never fail her.

This brain damage is incurable and makes his son disabled and underdeveloped.

As nothing beats a mother’s love, Algadipe, from Dumlog, Talisay City, carried his son as they travelled to Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral where the incorrupt heart relic of St. Camillus de Lellis from Rome had a visit yesterday.

She was determined to get her son near the religious relic in the hope that a miracle will make his son’s health turn to normal condition - a scene which many admired at the church.

Monmon is her youngest son of three children and he will be turning nine years old this March 27. The child though grew in size but seems shrank in shape. He also has problems in his vision and speaking.

Algadipe hopes that through the intervention of St. Camillus, who is the patron saint of the sick, God will answer her long-time prayers and cure her son.

“Akong pangayo ni St. Camillus nga maayo siya ug hatagan siya sa iyang gikinahanglan kada adlaw… Akong pangayuon sa Ginoo nga iya untang hatagan og taas nga kinabuhi si Monmon,” said the teary-eyed Algadipe. (I ask St. Camillus to heal my son.  I ask God to give Monmon long life.)

“Dili sad ko pasagdan sa Ginoo. Iya ko hatagan pirmi og kalig-on ug kusog aron makalahutay ko og atiman sa iyaha kay ako ra man pirmi moatiman sa iyaha,” she said. (I hope God will give me strength so that I can take care of him.)

The 404-year-old heart relic arrived at the Cathedral on Wednesday shortly before noon.

It was enshrined at the side of the cathedral where devotees flocked to have a chance to venerate at the relic which is deemed as miraculous and has granted favors from petitioners.

The relic has been journeying different towns and cities across the country since February 2. The relic was from Calbayog City in Samar and after the Cebu City visit, it will then be transported to Tagbilaran City in Bohol.

Camillian priest Dan Cancino, chairman of the visits and the executive secretary of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines’ Commission on Healthcare, said this is the second time already for the relic to visit the country and Cebu after the 2013 pilgrimage.

He said St. Camillus dedicated his life for the care of the sick, especially to the incurables.

“His heart is a symbol of God’s love and mercy especially for the sick,” he said during a press conference on Wednesday.

He cited three reasons for the relic’s visit - to remind people of God's compassion and faithfulness; to move people to "humanize" the healthcare system; and to renew the commitment and concern of people for the sick.

Bishop Oscar Jaime Florencio said religious relics are recognized by the Church since these are reminders of the people who once lived a virtuous and heroic life that is worthy of emulation to the living.

And very timely on yesterday’s observance of Ash Wednesday, Florencio said the visit of the heart relic calls on people for conversion and transformation as people journey towards the Christian season of Lent.

Ash Wednesday, a day of prayer, fasting and abstinence, signals the beginning of the Lenten season, the 40-day preparation for Easter.

The ashes should remind people that "from dust to dust we shall return," meaning people will depart from the earthly life, thus people are called to reflect and repent so that they can also experience everlasting life, said Florencio. — MBG (FREEMAN)