A native of Messina, Sicily, Giovanni Battista Marapodio joined the Order of St. Camillus when he was around sixteen years of age in 1606, and took his vows on Christmas Day two years later. Serving in the houses of his Order across Rome, Messina, Florence, Gaeta, Milan and Genoa, it was ultimately at Borgonovo Val Tidone in the Province of Piacenza, that his charities and deep observation to the Rule of Saint Camillus, draw the attention of many. When a severe plague outbreak hit this area, claiming some 5,000 lives, Padre Giovanni Battista, as superior of the local house of the Camillians, faced numerous hardships assisting the afflicted.
Ultimately stricken by the disease himself, although reduced to the extremes, he continued labouring among the victims up to his very last day, when after assisting several plague stricken across the city, he dragged himself to a church, opened the Tabarnacle, consumed the sacred hosts, and died on his knees in an ecstasy of love and self-sacrifice on September 10, 1630. In this same position he was found a few hours later by his fellow Camillians who were returning from ministry to plague stricken elsewhere. This event went down in history marking Padre Marapodio as a glorious splendor of Christian charity and ultimate love to the Holy Sacrament of the Altar.
Ultimately stricken by the disease himself, although reduced to the extremes, he continued labouring among the victims up to his very last day, when after assisting several plague stricken across the city, he dragged himself to a church, opened the Tabarnacle, consumed the sacred hosts, and died on his knees in an ecstasy of love and self-sacrifice on September 10, 1630. In this same position he was found a few hours later by his fellow Camillians who were returning from ministry to plague stricken elsewhere. This event went down in history marking Padre Marapodio as a glorious splendor of Christian charity and ultimate love to the Holy Sacrament of the Altar.
A native of Messina, Sicily, Giovanni Battista Marapodio joined the Order of St. Camillus when he was around sixteen years of age in 1606, and took his vows on Christmas Day two years later. Serving in the houses of his Order across Rome, Messina, Florence, Gaeta, Milan and Genoa, it was ultimately at Borgonovo Val Tidone in the Province of Piacenza, that his charities and deep observation to the Rule of Saint Camillus, draw the attention of many. When a severe plague outbreak hit this area, claiming some 5,000 lives, Padre Giovanni Battista, as superior of the local house of the Camillians, faced numerous hardships assisting the afflicted.
Ultimately stricken by the disease himself, although reduced to the extremes, he continued labouring among the victims up to his very last day, when after assisting several plague stricken across the city, he dragged himself to a church, opened the Tabarnacle, consumed the sacred hosts, and died on his knees in an ecstasy of love and self-sacrifice on September 10, 1630. In this same position he was found a few hours later by his fellow Camillians who were returning from ministry to plague stricken elsewhere. This event went down in history marking Padre Marapodio as a glorious splendor of Christian charity and ultimate love to the Holy Sacrament of the Altar.
Ultimately stricken by the disease himself, although reduced to the extremes, he continued labouring among the victims up to his very last day, when after assisting several plague stricken across the city, he dragged himself to a church, opened the Tabarnacle, consumed the sacred hosts, and died on his knees in an ecstasy of love and self-sacrifice on September 10, 1630. In this same position he was found a few hours later by his fellow Camillians who were returning from ministry to plague stricken elsewhere. This event went down in history marking Padre Marapodio as a glorious splendor of Christian charity and ultimate love to the Holy Sacrament of the Altar.
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