ST.  CAMILLUS  DE  LELLIS: 

PATRON  SAINT  OF ____ 

YOUR  CHOICE 

INTRODUCTION

The title of my homily is, “St. Camillus de Lellis: Patron Saint of ____ Your Choice.”

St. Camillus de Lellis - great name - sounds poetic. Words with “L” and “M” in them are supposed to be key to good musical or poetic sounding words

Some folks don’t get the Catholic thing about saints. There is the standard comment that we make them God. One hears this most when talking about our take on Mary. And Catholics respond: we don’t see them as God - we’re simply asking them for help, inspiration, and to talk to God for us. We also see them as models - heroes - and good examples on how to be a good Christian.

One of the priests here always talks about “Saints” as having friends in high places.  

Camillus de Lellis’ dates are 1550 to his death in Rome on July 14, 1614.

So St. Camillus de Lellis’ feast day is July 14 - but because of the Saint Kateri Tekakwitha - he was bounced from that day here in North America - to this day - July 18^t.. Why he was kept in public - with another day - might say something about this very interesting saint.

That’s intriguing - but the more I got to know St. Camillus de Lellis I could see why.

When I was a kid, I remember being at a St. Patrick’s Day parade in Manhattan, New York City, and some folks from St. Camillus de Lellis Parish - in Long Island or somewhere went marching by. Seeing their banner I remember saying, “Who the heck was St. Camillus de Lellis?”

So I read his life and various takes on him through the years.

PATRON SAINT OF?

When I read his life when I was 20 years old, I found out why he was such a fascinating character.

I also know from being a Catholic that to become really famous as a Saint, it helps to be named  the Patron Saint of some need.

For example St. Jude is the Patron Saint of hopeless cases and St. Anthony is the saint to pray to when we have lost something. Recently I’ve heard people say, “St. Gertrude is better than St. Anthony.” How’s that for being P.C. correct and give women their due.

So what can we make St. Camillus de Lellis the Patron Saint of?

Here is my list:

Patron Saint of Nurses

Patron Saint of Hospital Workers

Patron Saint of Gamblers

Patron Saint of Soldiers

Patron Saint of Those with cuts that won’t heal

Patron Saint of a Happy Death

Patron Saint of those with Absentee Dads

Patron Saint of those who lose their moms when they are young

Patron Saint of the Rejected

Patron Saint of the Clumsy

Patron Saint of those with Violent Tempers

Patron Saint of those who don’t like to study

MORE SPECIFIC

Now to be a bit more specific, but I don’t have that much time.

Patron Saint of the Rejected: He was kicked out of hospitals, several religious orders, the army, etc. etc. etc.

Patron Saint of those with a Gambling Addiction: He had a long time gambling problem - with cards - like his dad. He would recover over and over again and then recover again and again - causing problems every time.

Patron Saint for Those Whose Dad Is Absent: All through his childhood up to his 20’s his dad was absent. His dad was a soldier - always off fighting some war somewhere far away. This was all that Camillus knew. He disliked books and studies of any kind. Being a big guy he was able to get employed as a soldier - fighting for several armies - even the Turks.

Patron Saint of the Clumsy:  once he was making a sick call and as he leaded over to bless a guy who was dying, Camillus knocked the bed post off the bed and it hit the dying man on the head and caused bleeding.  Once he was in church preaching and he stepped on the edge of his Alb, tripped and fell into some people sitting in the front benches of the church.

Patron Saint for a Happy Death: all his life he can be found caring for the sick and the dying. He started a religious order called the Brothers of a Happy Death. So he worked a lot with the dying in helping them to receive the sacraments especially during various plagues.

Patron Saint for Cuts on One’s Legs or Feet: He had horrible feet - and sores - all through the years - that didn’t heal. He had to crawl along floors to get to the sick.

Patron Saint of Nurses: He was a nurse. They were mostly male in his time. He also swept the corridors and the rooms. He changed bandages. He stayed with those who were sick.  

CONCLUSION

So that’s a few comments and thoughts about St. Camillus de Lellis. I’m sure each of us can make him a Patron Saint of  at least one of our needs.