Readings for the Memorial of St. Camillus de Lellis

Today is the Memorial of Saint Camillus de Lellis, patron saint of hospitals, health care workers and the sick. Facing health challenges of his own, Saint Camillus founded an order of priests dedicated to caring for the sick including those in poverty or in prison.  In addition to his generous dedication to caring for the sick, St. Camillus was also a skilled hospital administrator who focused on best practices and the importance of cleanliness when providing care for the sick.

Spending time learning about the lives of saints can be so enlightening.  And I also appreciate learning about the challenging aspects of saints’ lives.  By several accounts, Saint Camillus had a quarrelsome personality and an addiction to gambling.  Learning about these challenges reminds me that God is not calling us to perfection but rather to use our gifts in service of others to the best of our abilities.

The first reading for today’s Memorial from John speaks to the life Saint Camillus led: “The way we came to know love was that he laid down his life for us; so, we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers.... let us love not in word or speech but in deed and truth.”

Today we pray for health care professionals who meet people in their most vulnerable and fear-filled moments while bravely facing challenges such as staffing shortages, bureaucratic policies and most recently a global pandemic.  Yet these professionals live their vocation with compassion and care.  For all health care workers, let us pray.

And today we pray for the sick that they may feel hope and comfort through God’s love. May the friends and families of those experiencing illness and health challenges know a sense of peace.  For all the sick, let us pray.

It is so inspiring to witness individuals choosing a vocation of health care. They study and work and apprentice to be able to treat and serve those in need.  For health care students, let us pray.

Throughout the years, many Jesuit priests and brothers from this Jesuit Province have been missioned to the St. Camillus retirement home in Wisconsin to pray for others.  The collective impact of these men through their scholarship, pastoral care, vocation and fidelity to community is a true gift.  For our Jesuit priests and brothers, let us pray.

The Gospel from John for today’s Memorial is a wonderful meditation to help us know what is truly important.  Jesus says: “I have called you friends, because I have told you everything I have heard from my Father.  It was not you who chose me, but I who chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit that will remain, so that what you ask the Father in my name he may give you.  This I command you... love one another.”