Welcome to the opening matchup of Lent Madness 2021! We kick things off with what we're calling the Gambler's Gambit, a matchup between Camillus de Lellis and Matthias. Of course, there's much more to these two than the fact that one is a reformed gambler and the other was chosen by lot (gambling!). But that's what our amazing Celebrity Bloggers are here for -- to bring to life the varied aspects of our saintly lineup over the coming weeks.
If you’re a veteran of the Saintly Smackdown, we’re delighted you’re back for another year of saintly thrills and spills. If you’re joining us for the first time, we’re especially glad you’re along for this wild penitential ride. If you’re curious about what this all entails, check out the About Lent Madness tab on the website. We assure you this is the safest, most socially-distanced Lenten devotion out there.
To experience the fullness of the Lent Madness experience, the Supreme Executive Committee (the somewhat benevolent dictatorship that runs this whole enterprise) encourages you to do several things. First, "like" Lent Madness on Facebook and/or follow us on Twitter. Second, subscribe to the Lent Madness e-mails so you never miss a vote — you’ll get each matchup hand-delivered to your inbox on the weekdays of Lent. You can do this by going to the home page of our website and entering your e-mail address (near the top right). Third, you can support the ministry of Lent Madness by heading over to the Lentorium and purchasing Lent Madness swag, thereby impressing everyone in your virtual pew.
But mostly, we encourage you to read about the 32 saints participating in this year’s edition of Lent Madness, faithfully cast your (single!) vote on the weekdays of Lent, and add your comments to the great cloud of participating witnesses that gathers as the online Lent Madness community each year. If you’re wondering when your favorite saint will be competing – in order to rally your friends and neighbors (creative campaigning is encouraged, voter fraud is not) – you can check out the 2021 Matchup Calendar.
But enough blathering. It's time to cast your very first vote of Lent Madness 2021!
Camillus de Lellis
Camillus began his life as anything but a saint. Born in 1550 in Italy, he was the son of a soldier who himself became a soldier of fortune. He had a well-deserved reputation for being a scoundrel, a gambler, and all-around trouble-maker. He suffered from a leg wound, but when he went to a hospital, Camillus was ousted because of his argumentative nature.
Ultimately, his leg wound brought his soldiering to an end, so he took up gambling. Destitute and desperate for food and a place to sleep, Camillus begged employ at a Capuchin friary in Manfredonia, Italy. After time with the order, he had a religious conversion. He applied to become a Franciscan three times but was denied because of his incurable wound and a lack of education.
The leg wound continued to plague Camillus, so he went back to the same hospital for treatment, working in exchange for a place to live. He eventually became the hospital’s superintendent while growing in his faith through spiritual direction, confession, and prayer. He still occasionally gambled and brawled, as old habits die hard. But he was also committed to a life of love and service and was ordained to the priesthood in 1584.
Inspired by his time at the hospital, Camillus gathered a group of lay and ordained men to tend to the needs of the poor and destitute who were sick, wounded, suffering, and dying. He called this group Servants of the Sick. In 1591, Pope Gregory XIV changed the name to Order of Clerks Regular, Ministers of the Infirm. This new religious order wore black cassocks and capes with a red cross over the chest—the original red cross insignia.
Camillus organized his order to help wherever needed: private homes, jails, streets, and battlefields. In 1601 during a battle, the Camillans’ hospital tent and all their supplies were burned to the ground except the red cross of one member’s religious habit—surely, they thought, a sign of divine approval for their work to help the sick and dying.
Camillus was canonized in 1746 and is a patron saint for hospitals, those who are sick, nurses, and doctors. He also offers divine assistance for those struggling with a gambling addiction. This order takes traditional vows, as well as a vow of unfailing service to the sick, even at risk to their own lives.
Collect for Camillus de Lellis
Heavenly Father, whose blessed Son came not to be served but to serve: Bless all who, following in his steps, give themselves to the service of others; that with wisdom, patience, and courage, they may minister in his Name to the suffering, the friendless, and the needy, for the love of him who laid down his life for us, your Son our Savior Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
Matthias
“And they cast lots for them, and the lot fell on Matthias; and he was added to the eleven apostles.” With that action, as detailed in Acts 1:26, Matthias joined the other Apostles, replacing the betrayer Judas Iscariot.
Other than the fact he was born in Judea, Matthias’s early life is lost to history and not much is known about him. However, according to tradition, he had been one of Jesus’ seventy disciples at the baptism by John the Baptist in the River Jordan. In fact, the witnessing of Jesus’ baptism was a key element in Matthias’s nomination to replace Judas. The other requirement was being present at the Ascension.
After the betrayal by Judas, the remaining apostles believed it was critical to keep their number at twelve, representing the twelve tribes of Israel. Two disciples met the standards for nomination; they cast lots, and Matthias was chosen. While Matthias’s selection occurred after the ascension of Jesus, it was before the Day of Pentecost. Therefore, Matthias was with the group in the Upper Room at the descent of the Holy Spirit. As with the other apostles, his ministry blossomed following the miracle of Pentecost.
From Jerusalem, Matthias traveled far to spread the word of Jesus. Historians say his ministry focused near Cappadocia in modern-day Turkey and the area around the Caspian Sea. Some reports indicate he made his way to today’s country of Georgia.
He died in 80 ce, but the particulars of his death vary greatly. Some report he was stoned to death and then beheaded in Jerusalem, while other accounts have him dying near Sebastopolis, now in Turkey, and still another stated he died of old age. As for his remains, some are interred in the Abbey of Santa Giustina, in Padua, Italy, thanks to Saint Helena, the mother of Emperor Constantine, who had them transported there. Other relics are located in the Abbey of St. Matthias, in Trier, Germany.
He is the patron saint of alcoholics; tailors; Gary, Indiana; and Montana. He is prayed to for hope and perseverance and in instances of smallpox. He is often portrayed holding an ax, widely believed to be the instrument of his death. His feast day is February 24.
Collect for Matthias
Almighty God, who in the place of Judas chose your faithful servant Matthias to be numbered among the Twelve: Grant that your Church, being delivered from false apostles, may always be guided and governed by faithful and true pastors; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
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237 comments on “Camillus de Lellis vs. Matthias”
Serves me right for not paying more attention to Camillus. I knee-jerked to Matthias.
Montana?? I wonder what that patronage is about.
Had to look it up. He is the patron saint of the Catholic Diocese of Great Falls-Billings in Montana; not the entire state. Being from MT that seemed way too weird...
I had to go with Camillus as the world is now, but good to know that Matthias has to take care of all of Montana all by himself. I am sure he can handle the assignment. Wonder if the ax comes in handy?
I voted for Camillus. I laughed when I read that he was ousted from the hospital because he was argumentative. My husband was in the hospital for 19 days in February 1998. Any time a nurse did something to him (insert an iv, etc.), he would ask "Do you know what you are doing?".
I was ordained an Episcopal priest 36 years ago on Feb 24. As Feb 24 was a Sunday that year, my ordination certificate says, “The Eve of the Feast of St. Matthias,” all squished into a small space. The sermon at my ordination, preached by the late Carl Gerdau, noted that St. Matthias had had no seminary valuations, no General Ordination Examination, and no Commission on Ministry to make sure of his fitness to be an apostle. The second thing he noted was that once the lot falls to Matthias and he is added to the eleven remaining apostles, biblically, he’s never heard from again. So, Matthias was a faithful follower of Jesus for Jesus’ sake, not his own. Obviously, I cast my vote for St. Matthias.
This one, my first time, was easy. Our good friend, Father Bernard Kinvi is a Camillian and one of the few people closest to a living saint I know. From Togo, he headed the mission hospital in Bossemptélé, Central African Republic, for years. He arrived in relative calm but was soon in the midst of horrific violence between members of the Séleka coalition of rebel groups and opposing “Anti-balaka” militias which had formed in reaction to the rebel attacks. He determined to remain, making the hospital/school/church compound a safe haven and caring for any and all, without regard to who they were. As a result of his efforts over 1400 Muslim lives were saved, and countless injured cared for. For this he received an award from Human Rights Watch. He is also one of the most humble men I have ever met. His experience is recounted in the book "Mission" by Père Bernard Kinvi with Tigrane Yegavian which, unfortunately has not yet been translated into English. It is well worth reading.
Camilus,
My wife was a Nurse for many years.
Perseverance: Sick in the hospital to become its head.
And of course, Don Camillo was a favorite.
Well I work in a hospital and have seen more than my share of belligerent patients! During this pandemic how can I NOT vote for the patron saint of hospitals?
The Order of St. Camillus is an order of health care workers! Need more be said.
I was ordained an Episcopal priest 36 years ago on Feb 24. As Feb 24 was a Sunday that year, my ordination certificate says, “The Eve of the Feast of St. Matthias,” all squished into a small space. The sermon at my ordination, preached by the late Carl Gerdau, noted that St. Matthias had had no seminary valuations, no General Ordination Examination, and no Commission on Ministry to make sure of his fitness to be an apostle. The second thing he noted was that once the lot falls to Matthias and he is added to the eleven remaining apostles, biblically, he’s never heard from again. So, Matthias was a faithful follower of Jesus for Jesus’ sake, not his own. Obviously, I cast my vote for St. Matthias.
Happy anniversary. St. Betto's feast day is Feb. 24.
Had to vote for Camillus. St. Camillus is a great multi-cultural church in Silver Spring, MD.
So while I didn't vote for Matthias in 2021 Lent Madness, I did find the prayer in his regard to be shareable, applicable, and necessary.
"Almighty God, who in the place of Judas chose your faithful servant Matthias to be numbered among the Twelve: Grant that your Church, being delivered from false apostles, may always be guided and governed by faithful and true pastors; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen."
I am generally a supporter of the underdog. I voted for Matthias. I figure that anyone that is the patron Saint of Gary Indiana needs all the help he can get.
Going with one of the original evangelists.
Years of working in labs & hospitals caused me to vote for Camillus. Processing specimens taught me a lot about infection control, which has served me well during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Camillus sounds like quite the character. It got me thinking that the writers have to write about their saints as if they will make it through all of the rounds but if someone gets the axe early, we miss out on the additional info and the writer has researched and written without the opportunity to share. Is it possible, when the season is done that the additional information could be posted somewhere?
We're newbies......but having so much fun!
Hard decision already! Although voting for the patron saint of alcoholics would seem like a no brainer for me as a person in recovery, Camillus seemed like "on of us" with his gambling issues. Never give up seeking God no matter the obstacles!
Being from nowhere near either one, I was enchanted with the patronage of Gary, Indiana (there’s a song in that name...) and Montana—actually laughed out loud! But Matthias is my guy for the sake of my son and the preschool he attended years ago at the Toccoa, Georgia, church of that name, which he charmingly mispronounced as “St. Gaffias.” It’s a done deal, though, by the time I got to vote, so good luck to Camillus. It’s nice to meet him.
A faithful follower of Jesus from the beginning to the end and beyond, Matthias persevered though excluded from the inner circle. When finally chosen to join it, he willingly took up the burden of discipleship at great risk to his own life. What more need we know about him?
With all respect to Camillus’s colorful story, it is surpassed by Matthias’s courageous discipleship.
Great minds think alike . . . so good to see you again, Davis.
Camillus. Because nobody is beyond redemption. I always favor those who have been redeemed.
A faithful follower of Jesus from the beginning to the end and beyond, Matthias persevered though excluded from the inner circle. When finally chosen to join it, he willingly took up the burden of discipleship at great risk to his own life. What more need we know about him than that?
With all respect to Camillus’s colorful story, it is surpassed by Matthias’s courageous discipleship.
GREAT FUN...even remarkably educational! Thank You.
Gray Household Voting
T (the dad) - Okay, so who are we going to vote for, Matthias or Red Cross Dude?
A4 (age 9) - Red Cross Dude!!!
As a member of a reenacting troupe of Renaissance German mercenary soldiers, I immediately loved Camillus. He's just like the characters several of our people play - soldier of fortune, gambler, brawler, trouble-maker - yet look at what he did with his life! I'm delighted to "meet" him in the kickoff to another spectacular session of Lent Madness.
I changed my vote in the voting booth. Camillus is certainly compelling and want to look more into his life to understand how to be firm in trust in God to care for others,even at risk to your own life-- a vow his followers take. Matthias life is so ancient that less is known about him. What a life to be with Jesus Christ in the 70 and even witnessed the Baptism. The Apostles are are first Saints.
After watching my mother fill out her brackets for so many years, I am finally joining in! I am a sucker for an underdog story and those who make big changes and work hard to become better people!
Voted for Camillus. Such a compelling life story - gambler, brawler, yet persevered through illness, failure and rejection to become the superintendent of a hospital and recruit others to help the sick. Not an easy thing.
St. Matthias. Hope, perseverance, and Montana.
As a doctor, has to be Camille’s. L
Eat the games begin!
The detail that Matthias brought the gospel to Cappadocia, that birthed such important theologians in the early church, swayed me strongly. But in this time of pandemic, I too had to go with Camillus, whose order vowed to serve the sick even at the risk of their own lives. St Camillus, pray for us!
And a hearty welcome to all the Lent Madness first timers - I’m glad you’re here!
Matthias has always had a place in my heart. I wish I could have looked into the corporeal eyes of Christ. Such a blessing rings through eternity! I guess I'll have to wait my turn. Though the pandemic drew me toward Camillus (which the current pandemic has favored in the brackets), I voted for Matthias.
If I'm allowed my thoughts above in a limerick:
When comparing Camillus, who diced,
And Matthias, who gazed upon Christ,
Though Camillus was pious,
My vote's for Matthias,
Who to the Lord's eyes was enticed.