On January 31st 1983, a visibly suffering homeless woman was not given aid for four long hours at the Termini Station in Rome, because she was too dirty. She died before she could reach an hospital. Modesta Valenti was 71 years old. A difficult life brought her from Friuli to Roma.
Since then, every year, the Community of Sant'Egidio has made memory of Modesta and, with her, of all those who live on the street and, too often, die there. A litury in memory of Modesta and of all those who died in the street in the last years, will be celebrated in Rome in the basilica of Santa Maria in Trastevere on 1 Febraury at h.12.00 a.m.. During the celebration, which has taken place for 21 years, each one who died of cold, illness or loneliness in the street is remebered by name. |