St. Camillus Patron Saint

St. Camillus is the patron saint of nurses and hospital workers. He dedicated his life to caring for the sick with no regard for his well-being. St. Camillus had a difficult life even as a child. He was neglected by his father and his mother died while he was still young. St. Camillus became a soldier and became addicted to gambling. He became destitute, he suffered chronic pain from abscesses on his feet, and he had a volatile temper.

St. Camillus became a priest at 32 years old and founded two monasteries dedicated to caring for the severely ill and terminally ill. He nursed them in spite of his own pain and suffering.

Today, many Christians give a St. Camillus medal to nurses, doctors, or any type of hospital worker as a symbol of the sacrifices they make for the patients they care for. The St. Camillus pendant reminds them to follow the example of St. Camillus, offering love, kindness, and mercy to the ill people in their care.

Prayer to St. Camillus of Lellis Patron Saint of Nurses and Hospital Workers

Most wonderful Saint Camillus, your compassion for the sick and the dying led you to found the Servants of the Sick. As the Patron of nurses and hospital workers, infuse in them your compassionate spirit. Make hospitals resemble the inn in Christ's Parable to which the Good Shepherd brought the wounded man saying:
"Take care of him, and I will repay you for it." Amen.

Second prayer in the Novena to St. Camillus

St. Camillus, even as you spent your life in service to the poor and the sick, your heart and mind were firmly centered in the words of Jesus: "Blessed are the merciful for mercy will be theirs." You saw in the many poor and sick you cared for the truth that God never abandons his people even in their most difficult trials. Your hope in God's love was boundless. In our own lives, we often find ourselves having nothing and no one to count on. Often we are like the poor and the sick you cared for. Through your intercession, we pray that hope in God's love and mercy will be always in our hearts. In fact, even now, we hope for God's forgiveness of our sins, for His endless care and for this grace… This we ask through Christ, our Lord. Amen.

Prayer for Nurses

O my God, teach me to receive the sick in Thy Name. Give to my efforts success for the glory of Thy holy Name. It is Thy work: without Thee, I cannot succeed.
Grant that the sick Thou hast placed in my care may be abundantly blessed, and not one of them be lost because of any neglect on my part. Help me to overcome every temporal weakness, and strengthen in me whatever may enable me to bring joy to the lives of those I serve.
Give me grace, for the sake of Thy sick ones and of those lives that will be influenced by them. Amen.