The saint we celebrate today – St Camillus – is well-known for the order of the Ministers of the Sick that he founded, which is now known as the Order of St. Camillus. The ministry of this religious community of men, both brothers and priests, is to care for the sick and the dying, the marginalized and the poor. St Camillus is also the patron saint of nurses. As a child, as a teenager, and a youth, St Camillus seemed destined for trouble. He got into fights all the time, he developed a bad gambling habit, and he skipped school a lot. However, God gave him opportunities to serve. While serving in the military as a soldier, Camillus developed a leg infection that caused him much pain and suffering. Indebted and nowhere to go, he worked at a hospital in Rome where he served the sick. He was ordained a priest, and decided to found a religious order that would serve those in Rome who suffered from the plague and other epidemics. He died in 1614 and was canonized by Pope Benedict XIV in 1746. Camillus’ motto for his order was this: “We want to assist the sick with the same love that a mother has for her only sick child.”
In the midst of his weaknesses and brokenness, Camillus found a way to bring rest to so many of the sick he encountered. In the Gospel today, Jesus states, "Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest.” This echoes the healing power of Christ that St Camillus tried to bring to the sick. We also can bring healing to our little corner of the world as well.
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