| Interview with Mario Marzucchi, chief of the Misericordia in Siena
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10 April, 2001
  Siena
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The New Era interviews the Provveditore of the Arciconfraternita of Misericordia in Siena, one of the oldest humanitarian
associations in the world.
Founded in 1250 in Siena, with the purpose of giving aid to sick people, in particular poor people.
The oldest Confraternity of Misericordia, explains Mr Mario Marzucchi, was founded in Florence just a few years before in 1244.
Today the Arciconfraternita has 13,000 members in Siena, and 600 voluntary assistants, who make themselves available for different
types of assistance.
"To serve GOD in the suffering neighbour"!
This is the motto of the Confraternity, and in the past the members wore the "buffa", a hood that hid the face of the
soccourers, because help was and is a free gift.
At the end of the help both the soccourer and the person who was assisted said (for different reasons): "may you be rewarded for it!
(obviously by GOD).
Enthusiasm, friendship but first of all the personal mystery of loving GOD and one's neighbour are the secrets of this ancient
humanitarian association.
Thank you Mr Mario Marzucchi.
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