Chamomile from Lellis

from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Votive image of St. Camillus of Lellis
Fresco by Kamillus von Lellis in the conference room of the National Library in Aosta

Camillo de Lellis (born May 25, 1550 in Bucchianico in Abruzzo, Italy, † July 14, 1614 Rome ) is an Italian founder and saint.

Youth and Soldier Life

Because Camillo de Lelli's mother died early and his father was an officer in the Neapolitan and French services, he grew up neglected. Camillo therefore enlisted in the army as a teenager. From 1568–1574 he served as a soldier in the Venetian and Spanish troops fighting the Turks. In the military service he became a passionate gamer. More than once he gambled away all his belongings and thus got into dire straits. When he met a friendly Franciscan beggar monk in such a situation , he got the idea to apply for admission to the order ; but it was rejected.

He went to Rome and took a job at the St. Jakob Hospital ( Ospedale di San Giacomo degli Incurabili ), a hospital for the terminally ill. He also hoped that he would be treated there himself because he had wounds on his feet that would not heal. But because of his quarrelsome behavior and his gambling addiction, he was soon released from there. He fought again in the Venetian army, including against the Turks in 1569.

Several times, when his life was in dire danger, Camillus vowed to lead a Christian life, including in 1574, after he was miraculously rescued from a sea storm off Naples. In the same year his regiment was disbanded and he went back to his aimless life until he also lost his shirt while playing cards. Now all he had left was begging.

conversion

Eventually he found work building the Capuchin monastery in Manfredonia . He was still addicted to gambling until a conversation with the Capuchin Father Angelo shook him so much that he converted and joined the Capuchins as a lay brother . Because his wound on his left ankle broke open again, he was released from the order because of his frailty.

Again he went to Rome to the St. Jakob Hospital, where - after his wound had temporarily closed - he worked as a nurse for four years. Then he went back to the monastery and began the novitiate again. But when his wound broke again, he was finally released from the order. Then Kamillus realized that his place - which God wanted - was with the sick, and traveled again to Rome to work in St. Jacob's Hospital.

In the service of the sick

Since his conversion, Camillus had lived a very strict life, serving the sick day and night and helping the dying. Because of his extraordinary hard work and his unmistakable love for the sick, he was appointed director of the hospital after his second return from the Capuchin monastery in 1579.

While doing this job, he tried to found a lay order of nurses with like-minded people . But his plans were not recognized by the church. His spiritual leader Philipp Neri and other friends advised him to become a priest.

Kamillus really made up his mind and began to study at the age of 32 in Rome at the Collegio Romano (now the Pontifical Gregorian University ) of the Jesuits . In 1584 he was finally ordained a priest.

Patron saint of paramedics

Camillo de Lellis is also listed as the patron saint of paramedics . Is named after him the Camillo Award of BVRD.at , which was first awarded in 2020 for outstanding performance by paramedics all rescue and emergency services in Austria.

Church recognition

He continued to gather like-minded men to care for the sick professionally and holistically. Holistic meant that he was interested in nursing and pastoral care. On March 18, 1586, these men found their ecclesiastical recognition under Pope Sixtus V as the “Society of Servants of the Sick” . On June 29, 1586, Pope Sixtus V gave permission to wear a red cross as an outward sign of community on the robe wear. Just two years later they also opened a house in Naples.

The first major challenge facing the community was the typhus epidemic that broke out in Rome in 1590. Even in times of famine and the plague , the " Camillians " were called in to help.

Pope Gregory XIV was deeply impressed by the work of the brothers and in 1591 elevated the community to a religious order with all the rights and duties of the mendicant orders . Since then, the Camillians have made four vows when they are finally accepted into the order : that of poverty, celibacy, and obedience - and as a special feature they promise in the fourth vow to serve the sick, even at the risk of their lives. Their characteristic symbol is still the red cross, which they attach to the black vestments.

The community grew rapidly, and in the first few decades there were already over 220 " martyrs of charity" who had to lose their lives in the service of a. of the plague sufferers. Towards the end of the 16th century branches were set up in Naples, Milan, Genoa, Bologna, Florence, Ferrara, Messina and Palermo.

On October 2nd, 1607, Kamillus resigned from the office of superior general in order to be there for the sick. He himself suffered from five serious illnesses: a foot wound, severe walking difficulties, a hernia , kidney colic and, towards the end, stomach cancer . But he always firmly refused to take care of himself. On October 13, 1613, he returned to Rome from Genoa. He died in Rome on July 14, 1614.

He is said to have worked miracles and had the gift of prophecy .

In 1742 he became Pope Benedict XIV. Beatified and on June 29, 1746, together with Fidelis of Sigmaringen canonized .

Pope Leo XIII. declared on June 22nd, 1886 Kamillus von Lellis through the Breve Dives in misericordia Deus together with St. John of God as the " patron saint of all sick people and hospitals ". On August 28, 1930, Pope Pius XI declared. Kamillus through the Breve Expedit plan together with St. John of God also became the patron saint of nursing staff .

On March 27, 1974, Pope Paul VI declared. Camomile to the patron saint of health care in the Italian army .

The Catholic Church celebrates him on the day of his death, July 14th.

See also

literature

Web links

Commons : Kamillus von Lellis  - Collection of images, videos and audio files

Individual evidence

  1. ^ Camillo Award. Retrieved January 28, 2020 (German).
  2. ↑ Commitment to society: Prize winners of the Camillo Awards 2020 honored in parliament (PC no. 138/2020). Retrieved February 14, 2020 .
personal data
SURNAME Chamomile from Lellis
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Camillo de Lellis
BRIEF DESCRIPTION Italian founder and a saint
DATE OF BIRTH May 25, 1550
PLACE OF BIRTH Bucchianico
DATE OF DEATH July 14, 1614
Place of death Rome