“Think well, Speak well and Do well. These three things, through the mercy of God, will make a man go to Heaven.”

Camillus was not a likely candidate for sainthood. He was born in Bocchianico, Italy. His mother died when he was a child and his father neglected him. He grew up with an excessive love for gambling and at age 17, he was afflicted with a disease of his leg and entered the San Giacomo Hospital.

He was a patient at first but became a servant. He was dismissed for quarrelsomeness after only 9 months and then decided to serve in the Venetian army where he remained for 3 years.

In the winter of 1574, when he was 24, he gambled away everything he had, down to his shirt and had to accept work at the Capuchin Friar in Manfredonia.

He was so moved by a sermon by the superior that he began a conversion which drastically changed the direction of his life. Twice he sought to be one of the friars but was dismissed because of the incurable sore on his leg.

He was accepted back at the San Giacomo Hospital and his long and hard dedication was rewarded by being made superintendent. He devoted the rest of his life to care for the sick. At the advice of this friend Saint Philip Neri, he studied for the priesthood and was ordained at the age of 34.

Against the advice of his friend, he left the hospital and founded a congregation of his own where he devoted much of his own time to care for the sick. He insisted on cleanliness and the technical competence of those who served the sick. The members bound themselves to serve prisoners and persons infected by the plague as well as those dying in private homes. Some were with troops forming the first recorded military field ambulance.

His leg was always an issue and after becoming gravely ill for many years, he resigned as superior in 1607 and died in Rome on July 14th. In his own illness, he left his own bed to see if other patients needed help.

He is declared as the patron of the sick and inspired Blessed Luigi Tezza and Saint Giuseppina Vannini in their faith and works with the sick.

“The poor and the sick are the heart of God. In serving them, we serve Jesus Christ.”

He is the patron saint of hospital workers, hospitals, nurses, and the sick.

This feast day is July 18.

For God’s Glory.