Saint Camille de Lellis 14th July Feast Days of July "Come to me, all you who labour and are overburdened, and I will give you rest.
One of Camille de Lellis’s companions speaks of her in the 16th century in these terms, ’Camille was ablaze with love towards her neighbour, especially towards the sick. She only had to notice them for her to feel her heart melt with tenderness and she forgot completely all her pleasures and earthy attachments.’ ’I must begin,’ she said,’ by charity as being the root of all virtues.’ We want to be at the school of saints in honouring Christ in the poor. Jesus, in his gestures and words, showed us his Love for us in this way, giving us the Sacraments to introduce us into an even greater fervour. Camille of Lellis would often repeat these words of Jesus : ’I was sick and you visited me.’ When he sent his Son, God’s design was to save mankind. And the mission he should have accomplished was to establish peace on earth and in heaven.So why isn’t there peace? It was because of the weaknesses of those who didn’t welcome the brightness of the true Light; it is what St Paul also says : ’He Himself is our Peace.’, but it’s about the peace only of those who believe and who welcome’ said Eusebe of Caesarea’
"Shoulder my yoke and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.’
God gives us saints and prophets to show us the way of Truth. At their school, when we build up the Christian community, we try to seek God’s Will. Now Saints hasten us to think first and foremost of the poor and little ones. This is how Jesus brings about his work of love for the poor.Through the intercession of Mary and the Saints we find the freedom to act like this. ’Jesus came to reconcile all things in heaven and on earth, by making Peace.’(Col.1,20). If that is true, how do we understand what the Saviour Himself says to us in the Gospel? ’Don’t think that I have come to bring peace on earth.’ ? Can peace not obtain peace?’ says Eusebe again.
’Yes, my yoke is easy and my burden light.’
Compassion is given to us by the living Lord Jesus living in the poor amongst us. Camille of Lellis’ saw in the poor the person of Christ with such vivacity of imagination, that often, when serving food, he considered them as being Christs, to the extent that he implored from them the grace of the forgiveness of his sins. ’ He stood there before them with as much respect as if he was truly in the Presence of the Lord.’
’Such a son believed, but the he father remained incredulous…: ’What sharing can there be between a believer and a non believer?’ (2 Co. 6, 15) The son becomes a believer, the father remains incredulous…’’where peace is proclaimed, division installs..’ ’ I proclaim peace, yes, but the earth doesn’t welcome it…’ We honour the Blessed Sacrement, the Body of Christ. He speaks to us also in his poor ones to help us see Him living in our midst. Eusèbe said that Camille stood with them with as much respect as though he had truly been in a personal way in the Presence of the Lord.