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 18t.. 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.