St. Camillus de Lellis was a gambling soldier who lost everything before he decided to dedicate his life to caring for the sick.

He was born in Italy in 1550 and grew to be a large man—he stood six and a half feet tall. When he turned 17, his father allowed him to accompany him to fight with the Venetians against the Turks.

While in battle, Camillus contracted a disease in his leg that would trouble him all his life. He was admitted to a hospital, both as a patient and to work there as a staff member, but he caused a lot of trouble and disturbances, and was released. He returned to the war and lived the life of a soldier.

Among his vices was gambling. He was addicted to games of chance, and was always in a state of need because he lost money. By the time he was 24, he had lost everything—his money, his equipment as a soldier, even the clothes off his back--and was living on the streets.

At one point earlier in his life, when he was filled with remorse for some mistake, he made a vow to join the Franciscans. He went to them now, and found employment helping them to construct a building. A Franciscan brother had a conversation with him about the course of his life, and he was struck with a firm commitment to change. He was moved to tears, and prayed to God for mercy. From that time on, he lived a life of penance.

He tried to join the Franciscans, but they would not accept him because of his diseased leg. He returned to the hospital where he had helped people before, and dedicated himself to serving the sick. Over time, he was given responsibility for the whole hospital.

At the time, hospitals were far from being top-of-the-line facilities. There was little that medicine could offer the sick, and not many people wanted to be in contact with people who were ill. Staff were difficult to find, and many times even criminals were hired to perform basic services. Camillus wanted to staff his hospital with people who could devote themselves to serving the sick out of love.

He gathered several followers and made a fresh start by establishing his own hospital. These men cared for the sick in every way—making their beds, caring for wounds, helping them die a holy death. They began to focus on caring for those suffering from the plague, prisoners, and victims of war. A number of his followers died from diseases that they were treating in others.

In order to serve the spiritual needs of patients, Camillus was ordained a priest. Throughout his life, he suffered from a number of physical problems, himself. His leg never healed, and he developed a hernia. One of his feet developed sores, which caused great pain. For a long time before his death, his digestive tract fell to disorder—he could not retain food. Through all of this, though, he always deferred care, instructing people to care for others instead. In fact, when he could not walk on his own, he would crawl through the hospital to check on other people and offer them whatever he could.

By the time of his death, Camillus had established eight hospitals and 15 communities of brothers and priests. His holiness became known through his gifts of prophesy and healings. He died at the age of 64, and was named patron saint of the sick and of nurses. His relics rest in the reliquary chapel in the Basilica.

St. Camillus de Lellis, the gambling soldier who became patron saint of the sick and of nurses--pray for us!