Today we honor Saint Camillus de Lellis, a powerful model of charity and mercy. Though once a soldier with a troubled past, he experienced a profound conversion that led him to care for the sick with deep compassion.
Let us lift our hearts to God today and ask for a spirit of compassion, humility, and total surrender to His will.
Prayer of the Day
Heavenly Father,
you transformed the heart of Saint Camillus de Lellis,
turning him from a life of sin to a life of deep compassion and self-sacrifice.
Help me today to love as he loved—
with humility, courage, and unshakable trust in Your divine mercy.
Inspire me to serve the sick, the suffering, and the forgotten
with tenderness and without judgment.
Through his intercession,
make me an instrument of Your healing and peace. Amen.
✝️ Saint Camillus de Lellis, pray for us!
✝️ Sacred Heart of Jesus, have mercy on us!
Mass Readings for the Day
First Reading: Exodus 11:10—12:14
The Lord establishes the Passover as a lasting memorial.
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 116:12–13, 15–16bc, 17–18
“I will take the cup of salvation, and call on the name of the Lord.”
Gospel: Matthew 12:1–8
Jesus declares, “The Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath.”
Saint of the Day – Saint Camillus de Lellis
Born in 1550 in Italy, Saint Camillus de Lellis was a soldier and gambler before his conversion. After suffering from a leg wound, he spent time in a hospital where he witnessed the poor treatment of patients.
This experience inspired him to dedicate his life to serving the sick with dignity and love. He founded the Camillian Order, whose members took a fourth vow: to serve the sick even at the risk of their own lives. He died in 1614 and was canonized in 1746.
5 Interesting Facts About Saint Camillus de Lellis
- He is the patron saint of the sick, hospitals, nurses, and physicians.
- His own chronic illness helped him empathize deeply with the suffering.
- The red cross worn by his order later inspired modern medical symbols.
- He introduced higher standards of care and hygiene in hospitals.
- At his canonization, Pope Benedict XIV declared him a “giant of charity.”
