Feast of Saint Camillus de Lellis, Confessor and Religious Founder; commemoration of St Symphorosa & her Seven Sons, Martyrs: Missa “Majórem hæc dilectiónem”
Saint Camillus was born in the kingdom of Naples in the year 1549. His early years gave no indication of his future sanctity. At the age of nineteen he entered into military service with his father, an Italian noble, against the Turks. After four years of hard campaigning he found himself, through his violent temper, reckless habits, and inveterate passion for gambling, a discharged soldier in bad health, and in such straitened circumstances that he was obliged to beg in the streets. Finally he found work as a labourer for a Capuchin convent which was being built. A few words from a Capuchin Friar brought about his conversion; the following day he cast himself on his knees, seeing himself clearly by a divine illumination. He prayed, Forgive, Lord, this wretched sinner! and give him time to do penance! And he resolved to become a religious.
He served the Capuchin Fathers, working in the garden, sweeping the convent, washing the dishes, until he could be received as an aspirant. Thrice he begin his novitiate with them, but each time an obstinate ulcer on his leg forced him to leave. God had other designs for him. He went to Rome for medical treatment, and there took Saint Philip Neri as his confessor. He entered, as a servant, the hospital of San Giacomo. The carelessness of the paid personnel and nurses towards the suffering patients inspired him with the thought of founding a Congregation of voluntary servants of the sick, to minister to their wants without thought of remuneration. He recalled the Cross of Our Lord, thinking, If they wore it on their breast, the sight of it would sustain them, encourage them, reward them. He spoke of this intention to the most pious ones among his companions, who joined him with enthusiasm. They set up an oratory in a little room where they retired to read and pray. They met great obstacles; their oratory was closed when they were suspected of wanting to control the hospital. But eventually Saint Camillus was ordained priest in 1584 and founded his Congregation with only two co-workers, at the chapel of Our Lady of Miracles. They continued to serve in the large Holy Spirit Hospital, and in 1586 his community, the Servants of the Sick, was confirmed by the Pope.
Its usefulness was soon felt, not only in hospitals, but in private houses. Summoned at every hour of the day and night, the devotion of Camillus never grew cold. With an inexhaustible tenderness he attended to the needs of his patients. He wept with them, consoled them, and prayed with them. During a famine in 1590, the poor were reduced to eating dead animals and often raw herbs; about sixty thousand died during that winter, which was exceptionally cold. Saint Camillus procured bread and clothing and went out to distribute them in Rome to all who needed them. Never did he refuse what was asked, giving away his cloak more than once, and the last sack of flour in the storeroom. But God always provided for the Brothers when they had nothing more to give.
Saint Camillus knew miraculously the state of the souls of his patients; and Saint Philip saw Angels whispering to two Servants of the Sick who were consoling a dying person. One day a sick man said to the Saint, Father, may I beg you to make up my bed? it is very hard. Camillus replied, God forgive you, brother! You beg me? Don’t you know yet that you should command me, for I am your servant and slave! The Saint founded houses of what had become his Order in several cities — Milan, Bologna, Genoa, Florence, Ferrare and others, and sent out his religious when a pestilence afflicted Hungary and surrounding regions. Several of his religious died on that occasion.
In his hospital he was heard to say, Would to God that in the hour of my death one sigh or one blessing of these poor sick creatures might fall upon me! His prayer was answered. He was granted the same consolations in his last hour, which he had so often procured for others. It was in the year 1614, and on the feast of Saint Bonaventure, to whom he had a great devotion, that he died as he had foretold, having the full use of his faculties, as the priest was reciting the words of the ritual, May Jesus Christ appear to thee with a mild and joyful countenance!
Reflection: Saint Camillus venerated the sick as living images of Christ, and by ministering to them in this spirit did penance for the sins of his youth. He led a life precious in merit, and from a violent and quarrelsome soldier became a gentle and tender Saint.
Les Petits Bollandistes: Vies des Saints, by Msgr. Paul Guérin (Bloud et Barral: Paris, 1882), Vol. 8; Little Pictorial Lives of the Saints, a compilation based on Butler’s Lives of the Saints, and other sources by John Gilmary Shea (Benziger Brothers: New York, 1894)
There is a commemoration today of Saint Symphorosa and her sons who were martyred under Hadrian in the year 120. The mother was drowned on this day in the River Anio, whilst her sons had already won the crown of martyrdom on June 27; Crescens had been stabbed in the throat, Julian in the breast, Nemesius in the heart, Primitivus in the stomach; Justin had received his death-wound in the back, Stacteus in the side, and Eugenius had been actually cleft in two.
The bodies of the Tiburtine martyrs were brought to Rome by Pope Stephen III and placed in the deaconry church of St. Michael.
INTROIT Psalm 91: 13, 14
Greater love than this no man hath, that a man lay down his life for his friends.(Ps. 40: 2) Blessed is he that understandeth concerning the needy and poor: the Lord will deliver him in the evil day. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Ghost, as it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. Repeat Greater love than this no man hath…etc
COLLECT
O God, Who didst adorn blessed Camillus with a special gift of charity for the help of souls struggling in their last agony, pour upon us, we beseech Thee, by his merits, the spirit of Thy love, that in the hour of our death we may be worthy to overcome the enemy and attain unto the heavenly crown. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end. R.Amen.
Commemoratio Dominica VIII Post Pentecosten
Ever graciously bestow upon us, we beseech You, O Lord, the spirit of thinking and doing what is right, so that we, who cannot exist without You, may have the strength to live in accordance with Your law.
Commemoration of St. Symphorosa & her Seven Sons
Let us pray. God, Who dost permit us to celebrate the birthday of Thy holy martyrs, Symphorosa and her sons, grant us to enjoy their companionship in everlasting beatitude. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Who livest and reignest, with God the Father, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, one God For ever and ever.
R. Amen.
EPISTLE I John 3: 13-18
Holy Mass is the continual manifestation of the love of God for us, since it reminds us that Jesus gave His life to save us. The epistle reinforces that whomever hateth his brother is a murderer.
Lesson from the Epistle of blessed John the Apostle. Dearly beloved, Wonder not if the world hate you. We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not, abideth in death. Whomever hateth his brother is a murderer: and you know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in himself. In this we have known the charity of God, because He hath laid down His life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. He that hath the substance of this world, and shall see his brother in need, and shut up his bowel from him, how doth the charity of God abide in him? My little children, let us not love in word nor in tongue, but in deed and in truth.
GRADUAL/ALLELUIA Psalm 36: 30, 31
The mouth of the just shall meditate wisdom, and his tongue shall speak judgment. V. The law of his God is in his heart; and his steps shall not be supplanted. Alleluia, alleluia. V. (Ps. 111: 1) Blessed is the man that feareth the Lord, he delights exceedingly in His commandments. Alleluia
GOSPEL John 15: 12-16
A continuation of Christ’s discourse to His Apostles: “Love your neighbor as I have loved you”.
At that time, Jesus said His to His disciples: “This is My commandment, that you love one another, as I have loved you. Greater love than this no man hath, that a man lay down his life for his friends. You are My friends, if you do the things that I command you. I will not now call you servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doth. But I have called you friends; because all things whatsoever I have heard of My Father, I have made known to you. You have not chosen Me, but I have chosen you; and have appointed you that you should go, and should bring forth fruit; and your fruit should remain: that whatsoever you shall ask of the Father in My name, He may give it you.”
OFFERTORY ANTIPHON Psalm 20: 23
In thy strength, O Lord, the just shall exult and in Thy salvation he shall rejoice exceedingly: Thou hast given him his heart’s desire.
SECRET
May this unspotted victim, with which we renew the great work of Our Lord Jesus Christ’s infinite charity, be, through the intercession of blessed Camillus, our saving remedy against all infirmities of body and soul, and, in the last agony, our solace and protection. Through Our Lord Jesus Christ Thy Son, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, one God Forever and ever. R.Amen.
Commemoratio Dominica VIII Post Pentecosten
Accept, we beseech You, O Lord, the gifts which we bring to You out of Your own bounty, so that these most holy sacramental rites may, by the power of Your grace, sanctify us in the conduct of our present life, and lead us to everlasting joy.
Commemoration of St. Symphorosa & her Seven Sons
We offer Thee, O Lord, the gifts of our devotion; may they be rendered both pleasing unto Thee, for the honour of Thy just ones, and to us, through Thy mercy, helpful to salvation. Through Our Lord Jesus Christ Thy Son, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, one God Forever and ever.
R.Amen.
PREFACE of the Holy Trinity
It is truly meet and just, right and for our salvation, that we should at all times, and in all places, give thanks unto Thee, O holy Lord, Father almighty, everlasting God; Who, together with Thine only-begotten Son, and the Holy Ghost, art one God, one Lord: not in the oneness of a single Person, but in the Trinity of one substance. For what we believe by Thy revelation of Thy glory, the same do we believe of Thy Son, the same of the Holy Ghost, without difference or separation. So that in confessing the true and everlasting Godhead, distinction in persons, unity in essence, and equality in majesty may be adored. Which the Angels and Archangels, the Cherubim also and Seraphim do praise: who cease not daily to cry out, with one voice saying:
COMMUNION ANTIPHON Matthew 25: 36, 40
I was sick and you visited Me: Amen, amen I say to You, as long as you did it to one of these My least brethren, you did it to Me.
POSTCOMMUNION
Through this heavenly nourishment which we have received with pious devotion, in celebrating the solemnity of blessed Camillus, Thy confessor, grant, we beseech Thee, O Lord, that in the hour of our death, refreshed by Thy sacraments, and all our sins forgiven, we may deserve to be taken up, rejoicing, into the bosom of Thy mercy. Who with Thee livest and reignest, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, For ever and ever. R. Amen.
Commemoratio Dominica VIII Post Pentecosten
May the heavenly sacrament, O Lord, renew our minds and bodies, so that we may feel the benefit of the worship we perform.
Commemoration of St. Symphorosa & her Seven Sons
Let us pray. Grant us, we beseech Thee, O Lord, by the intercession of Thy holy martyrs, Symphorosa and her sons, that what we touch with our lips we may receive with a pure heart. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Who livest and reignest, with God the Father, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, one God For ever and ever. R. Amen.
PROPER LAST GOSPEL Luke 16:1-9
At that time, Jesus spoke to His disciples this parable: There was a certain rich man who had a steward, who was reported to him as squandering his possessions. And he called him and said to him, ‘What is this that I hear of you? Make an accounting of your stewardship, for you can be steward no longer.’ And the steward said within himself, ‘What shall I do, seeing that my master is taking away the stewardship from me? To dig I am not able; to beg I am ashamed. I know what I shall do, that when I am removed from my stewardship they may receive me into their houses.’ And he summoned each of his master’s debtors and said to the first, ‘How much do you owe my master?’ And he said, ‘A hundred jars of oil.’ He said to him, ‘Take your bond and sit down at once and write fifty.’ Then he said to another, ‘How much do you owe?’ He said, ‘A hundred kors of wheat.’ He said to him, ‘Take your bond and write eighty.’ And the master commended the unjust steward, in that he had acted prudently; for the children of this world, in relation to their own generation, are more prudent than the children of the light. And I say to you, make friends for yourselves with the mammon of wickedness, so that when you fail they may receive you into the everlasting dwellings.
The Brighton Oratory 