St. Camillo founded the Order of Ministers to the Sick, originally called the Brothers of a Happy Death. In images he wears a collar such as the one seen at left, often with short points on it. Sometimes he is shown wearing a cassock or stole with a red cross, the emblem of his order (example).
It is said that during a difficult period in his life he had a vision of the Crucifix in which Christ detached his arms from the cross to comfort him, saying words of encouragement. Thus we sometimes see him with such a Crucifix (example), or with a cross that has no corpus (example).
Because his body is in La Maddalena, the Church of St. Mary Magdalene, a painting there has the Magdalene worshiping the cross of St. Camillo. He is also included in the Glory of St. Mary Magdalene fresco in the Sacristy.
Feast day: July 18
At left, his statue in the façade of La Maddalena in Rome. St. Camillo lived in the monastery adjacent to La Maddalena and is buried beneath one of its altars.
Menu