St. Camillus de Lellis
Feast day: July 18
Camillus was born in Italy in 1550. At age 16, he joined his father in the Venetian army and fought in a war against the Turks. After his military service
ended, Camillus gambled away all his property. He became a laborer at the Manfredonia Capuchin monastery and, in 1575, tried to join the Capuchins. His leg wound prevented him from being accepted into the order, so he decided to devote his life to caring for the sick. Camillus was ordained in 1584 and
founded the Order of the Ministers of the Sick, known as the Camillians. He is patron of the sick and health care workers.
Collect
O God, who adorned the Priest Saint Camillus
with a singular grace of charity towards the sick,
pour out upon us, by his merits,
a spirit of love for you,
so that, serving you in our neighbor,
we may, at the hour of our death,
pass safely over to you.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
God, for ever and ever.
