Introduction

This blog contains regular postings relating to the Traditional Latin Liturgy of the Roman Catholic Church. It includes regular commentary on the saints days and the liturgical cycle, with brief background and extracts from the liturgy both in Latin and English. Much of the material has been extracted from the 'St Andrew's Daily Missal', Dom Gueranger's 'Liturgical Year', or similar sources.

Related website: http://www.liturgialatina.org/





Friday 18 July 2014

18th July, St. Camillus de Lellis, Confessor

St. Camillus de Lellis, Confessor

The Holy Ghost, who has manifested Himself in all manner of ways in the souls of the saints whose names have appeared in the Cycle since the Feast of Pentecost, proposes to our admiration on this day St. Camillus, whose charity towards his neighbour had specially Jesus in view (Communion).

Born in 1550 in the kingdom of Naples, of the noble family of Lellis, St. Camillus entered the Capuchin Order, but twice he had to leave it on account of a sore on his leg. For God intended him to be the founder of a congregation of Regular Clerks, consecrating themselves to the service of the sick. He obtained from the Apostolic See approbation for his Order. Inspired by the example of Jesus who died for us (Epistle) and who has declared that there is no greater proof of love than to give one's life for others (Introit, Gospel), these religious promise to tend the sick, even those stricken with the plague. St. Camillus, as well as his Institute received from God a special grace to help souls to emerge victoriously from the death-struggle (Collect, Secret), wherefore the name of this saint has been included in the Litany for the Agonizing. St. Camillus died at Rome on July 14, 1614. Leo XIII proclaimed him the patron of hospitals and patients, and Pius XI of all those who nurse them.

Majorem hac dilectionem nemo habet, ut animam suam ponat quis pro amicis suis. * Beatus qui intelligit super egenum, et pauperem: in die mala liberabit eum Dominus.
Greater love than this no man hath, that a man lay down his life for his friends. * Blessed is he that understandeth concerning the needy and the poor: the Lord will deliver him in the evil day.
(St John 15:13 and Psalm 40:2 from the introit of Mass)

Deus, qui sanctum Camillum, ad animarum in extremo agone luctantium subsidium, singulari caritatis praerogativa decorasti: ejus, quaesumus, meritis spiritum nobis tuae dilectionis infunde; ut in hora exitus nostri hostem vincere, et ad caelestem mereamur coronam pervenire.
O God, who didst endow saint Camillus with a special grace of charity for the relief of souls in their last agony; we beseech Thee, by his merits to pour into our hearts the spirit of Thy love, that in the hour of our death we may overcome the enemy, and deserve to win a heavenly crown.

From the Catholic Encyclopaedia: http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/03217b.htm

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