SAINTS

St. Camillus de Lellis

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Camillus de Lellis (1550 - 1614) was the only child born of his parents who survived. As a child, Camillus was a handful—getting into fights and being defiant to his mother. His father was little help because he was a mercenary and was seldom home. At the age of twelve, Camillus was so big, tall and strong that his mother feared his violent temper. At the age of 12 or 13 his mother died. Camillus later joined his father as a mercenary and picked up more bad habits, including drinking, gambling and hanging out with loose women. Before he died, his father asked for a priest and had what was essentially a deathbed conversion. At this point Camillus turned his life around and became a Franciscan.

His old ways surfaced, however, and it was only years later, when he met St. Philip Neri, that he truly changed his life and began to take care of the sick and open new hospitals and nursing care centers.