Saint Camillus (1614 A.D.); Saint Symphorosa and Her 7 Sons (120 A.D.)

SAINT CAMILLUS OF LELLIS
Confessor

SAINT SYMPHOROSA AND HER SEVEN SONS
MARTYRS

DOUBLE / WHITE
Camillus, the "Red Cross Saint," a 16th century Italian war veteran, began nursing the sick as his vocation in a Roman hospital. In 1582 he founded a religious society, the Ministers of the Sick, and, encouraged by St. Philip Neri, his confessor, became a priest in 1584. Besides the sick in hospitals, he and his band bound themselves to serve prisoners, plague victims, the sick in their homes, and later, troops at war, thus antedating by some three centuries the work of Red Cross. The devotion of Camillus to his patients never grew cold, as he saw in each of them the image of his suffering Saviour. He was named patron of the sick by Pope Leo XIII, and, by Pius XI, patron of nurses and nursing.

INTROIT John 15:13 
Greater love than this no one has, that one lay down his life for his friends.
Ps. 40:2. Blessed is he who has regard for the lowly and the poor; in the day of misfortune the Lord will deliver him.
V. Glory be . . .

COLLECT
O God, You blessed the saint Camillus with a singular gift of love to help the dying in their last agony. May our hearts be moved by the spirit of Your love through the merits of Your saint, and may we overcome our enemy at the hour of our death to receive a heavenly reward. Through our Lord . . .

Commemoration of SAINT SYMPHOROSA AND HER SEVEN SONS, MARTYRS
According to early chronicles, Symphorosa and her seven sons, whom she instructed in the Christian Faith, were martyred at Trivoli, near Rome, about A.D. 120 during the reign of Hadrian.

O God, who has granted us the grace to celebrate the birthday of Your blessed martyrs Symphorosa and her sons, grant that we may also share their eternal happiness in heaven. through our Lord . . .

EPISTLE I John 3:13-18
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. Whosoever 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 shall shut up his bowels 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 Ps. 36:30-31
The mouth of the just man utters wisdom, and his tongue speaks justly.
V. The law of God is in his heart, and his steps do not falter.

Alleluia, alleluia! V. Ps. 111:1
Blessed is the man who fears the Lord, who greatly delights in His commandments. Alleluia!

GOSPEL John 15:12-16
At that time, Jesus said 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  Ps. 20:2-3
The just man rejoices in Your strength, O Lord; he greatly exalts in Your aid. You have granted him his heart's desire.

SECRET 
With this perfect offering, O Almighty God, our Father, we renew the Sacrifice of our Lord Jesus' immeasurable love. May it heal the infirmities of our body and soul, and comfort and protect us in our last agony through the intercession of blessed Camillus. Through the same Jesus Christ, our Lord . . .

Commemoration of SAINT SYMPHOROSA AND HER SONS
We offer these gifts to You in Sacrifice, O Lord. may the honor we pay to Your saints please You, and may these offerings, through Your mercy, bring us closer to our salvation. Through our Lord . . .

COMMUNION ANTIPHON Matt. 25:36, 40
I was sick and you visited me. Amen, amen I say to you, as long as you did it for one of these, the least of my brethren, you did it for me.

POSTCOMMUNION
Reverently and devotedly, O Lord, we have received the Food of Heaven in celebration of the feast of Your blessed confessor Camillus. May Your Sacraments strengthen us at the hour of our death, cleanse us from sin and bring us happily into Your merciful arms; who loves and rules with God the Father . . .

Commemoration of SAINT SYMPHOROSA AND HER SONS
May the intercession of Your holy martyrs Symphorosa and her sons help us to cherish with pure hearts the Sacrament we have received upon our lips. Through our Lord . . .