Camillus de Lellis facts for kids
Quick facts for kids SaintCamillus de Lellis M.I. |
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Patron saint of the sick
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| Priest and religious founder | |
| Born | May 25, 1550 Bucchianico, Chieti, Kingdom of Naples |
| Died | July 14, 1614 (aged 64) Rome, Papal States |
| Venerated in | Catholic Church |
| Beatified | 1742, Rome, Papal States, by Pope Benedict XIV |
| Canonized | 1746, Rome, Papal States, by Pope Benedict XIV |
| Major shrine | Church of Santa Maria Maddalena, Rome, Italy |
| Feast | 14 July 18 July (General Roman Calendar, 1762-1969; still in the United States) |
| Attributes | A Catholic priest holding a sick person |
| Patronage | sick; hospitals; nurses; physicians |
Saint Camillus de Lellis (born May 25, 1550 – died July 14, 1614) was an Italian Catholic priest. He started a special group called the Camillians (M.I.). This group was dedicated to taking care of sick people.
Pope Benedict XIV declared him a saint in 1746. Saint Camillus is known as the patron saint of the sick, hospitals, nurses, and doctors. People also ask for his help against problems like gambling.
Contents
The Story of Saint Camillus
His Early Life and Challenges
Camillus de Lellis was born on May 25, 1550, in a town called Bucchianico, in what is now Italy. His mother was almost 50 when he was born. His father was a soldier and was often away from home.
Camillus had a strong temper, like his father. His mother found it hard to control him as he grew up. She passed away when he was only 12 years old. After her death, other family members took him in, but he felt neglected.
When he was 13, he started traveling with his father to military camps. At 16, Camillus joined the army himself. He fought in a war against the Turks.
A New Path
After several years, his army group was disbanded in 1575. Camillus went to a hospital in Rome, called San Giacomo Hospital, for treatment. He had a leg wound from his time in the army that would not heal. But he was asked to leave the hospital because he was often arguing.
Camillus had gambled away all his money. He found work as a laborer at a Capuchin friary in Manfredonia. His leg wound kept bothering him and doctors said it couldn't be cured. Even though he had a difficult personality and gambled a lot, the leader of the friary saw good in him. He kept trying to help Camillus.
Finally, in 1575, Camillus had a big change of heart. He decided to join the Capuchin friars. However, his leg wound was still a problem, and he was not allowed to join their order.
Helping the Sick in Rome
Camillus then moved back to Rome. He returned to the San Giacomo Hospital, but this time he worked there as a caregiver. He wanted to pay for his stay and help others. He eventually became the Superintendent, which means he was in charge.
He started making improvements at the hospital. He noticed that the sick people were not getting enough attention from the staff. Camillus invited a group of religious men to help care for the patients. He felt called to start a special community for this purpose.
His spiritual guide, a priest named Philip Neri, supported his idea. A kind person gave him money to study to become a priest. Camillus was ordained as a priest when he was 34 years old, in 1584.
Founding the Camillians
Camillus de Lellis then started his own religious group. It was called the Order of Clerks Regular, Ministers of the Infirm (M.I.). Today, they are better known as the Camillians.
Because of his own experiences in wars, he wanted to create a group of healthcare workers. These workers would help soldiers who were wounded on the battlefield. The Camillians wear a large red cross on their clothes. This red cross is still a symbol of their group today. It has become a universal symbol of helping others.
In 1585, his friends rented a big house for the group. There, Camillus taught them the basics of nursing care. In 1586, Pope Sixtus V officially recognized the group. He gave them the Church of St. Mary Magdalene in Rome, which they still use.
Camillus cared deeply about how the sick were treated, even at the very end of their lives. He knew that sometimes people were buried too quickly. So, he told his Brothers to wait 15 minutes after a patient seemed to have died. This was to make sure no one was buried alive by mistake.
Growing the Order
In 1588, Camillus was invited to Naples. He and 12 companions started a new house there. When ships with the plague were not allowed into the harbor, the Camillians went on board to help. Two of their members died from the sickness. Camillus showed the same kindness in Rome when a bad fever spread and when there was a severe famine.
In 1591, Pope Gregory XV made the Camillians an official Order. They added a special fourth promise, or vow, that was unique to their group. This vow was "to serve the sick, even if it meant risking one's own life."
In 1594, Camillus led his group to Milan. There, they cared for the sick at the Ca' Granda, which was the city's main hospital.
During a battle in 1601, Camillians were helping the wounded. Their tent, where they kept all their supplies, was completely destroyed by fire. Everything was lost except for the red cross from one of the Camillian's religious clothes. The Camillians saw this as a sign that God approved of their Red Cross symbol.
Throughout his life, Camillus suffered from his own illnesses. But he never let anyone wait on him. He would even crawl to visit the sick if he couldn't stand or walk. People say that Camillus had special gifts of healing and prophecy.
He stepped down as the leader of the Order in 1607. But he continued to serve as a Vicar General. By this time, the Camillian communities had spread across Italy and even to Hungary. He died in Rome in 1614 and was buried at the Church of St. Mary Magdalene.
Honoring Saint Camillus
Pope Benedict XIV declared Camillus a blessed person in 1742. Four years later, in 1746, he was declared a saint.
In 1886, Pope Leo XIII named him the patron saint of all hospitals and the sick. In 1930, Pope Pius XI named him a co-patron, along with Saint John of God, of nurses and nursing groups. People also ask for his help if they have problems with gambling.
His body is located in the altar at the Church of St. Mary Magdalene in Rome. Some of his other special items, called relics, are also there. You can also see a cross that supposedly spoke to Camillus. It asked him, "Why are you afraid? Do you not realize that this is not your work but mine?" This phrase has become a motto for Camillus and for healthcare workers inspired by him.
Many other religious groups and organizations were later started because of Camillus's spirit and way of life. These include the Daughters of St. Camillus and the Lay Camillian Family.
Saint Camillus's feast day is celebrated on July 14. In the U.S.A., it is celebrated on July 18. He is often shown helping sick people.
Places Named After Saint Camillus
Many places are named in honor of Camillus, including:
- San Camillo de Lellis, a church in Rome, Italy
- The Camillians religious order, and the Daughters of St. Camillus
- The town Saint-Camille, Quebec in Canada
- The town and village of Camillus, New York in the USA
- St Camille Association, which helps people with mental illness in West Africa
- St. Camillus College of Manaoag in the Philippines
- Camillian Hospital, a hospital in Bangkok, Thailand
- St. Camillus Health Center, a nursing home in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA
See also
In Spanish: Camilo de Lelis para niños
- Scapular of Help of the Sick
- Saint Camillus, patron saint archive
