The Confraternal Order of Saint Camillus de Lellis
A Private Society of Gentlemen & Ladies — In Caritate et Servitio
"Maggiore aiuto ai malati" — Greater aid to the sick
Founded in His Name · Drawn from the Noble Houses of Europe
I
Charitable Purpose
Founded upon the corporal and spiritual works of mercy
II
European Tradition
Drawing membership from the noble and gentle classes of Europe
III
Sacred Patron
Under the intercession of the patron of the sick, 1550–1614
IV
Living Charter
Governed by a solemn founding document of enduring authority
Who We Are
A Confraternal Society of Enduring Purpose
The Confraternal Order of Saint Camillus de Lellis is a private society open to gentlemen and noblemen, ladies and noblewomen, drawn principally from the cultivated and ancient houses of Europe. We are bound together not merely by birth or station, but by a shared devotion to charitable service, to Christian brotherhood and sisterhood, and to the enduring example of our holy patron — the great Camillus, soldier become servant of the sick.
The Order is neither a political nor a commercial body. It is a confraternity in the ancient and honourable sense: an association of persons pledged to one another and to a common purpose, living according to a rule freely accepted and willingly observed. Our members come from across the continent — from Italy and France, from Spain and Portugal, from Germany and Austria, from the British Isles, from Poland, and from all nations whose histories are woven together in the fabric of Christian Europe.
We gather in good fellowship, observe the sacred calendar, undertake works of charity in the name of our patron, and maintain the bonds of fraternal and sororal solidarity that give our association its life. The Order is a home for those who take seriously the duties of their station — and who understand that privilege carries with it an obligation to serve.
C
In Caritate et Servitio Sub tutela Sancti Camilli
"We, the founding members, pledge ourselves to one another in a spirit of Christian brotherhood and sisterhood, mutual charity, and shared devotion to the memory and example of our Holy Patron."
— Founding Charter of the Order
Explore the Order
The Order & Its Patron
History, Spirit, and Sacred Purpose
On the origins of our confraternity, the life of its heavenly patron, and the principles by which we are governed.
Rome — City of Saint Camillus
Our Founding
The Confraternal Order and Its Origins
The Confraternal Order of Saint Camillus de Lellis was established by a company of gentlemen and ladies who shared a conviction that the bonds of traditional confraternal life had not passed away from the modern world — but merely awaited those with the will to revive them. The Order was founded in the name and memory of San Camillo de Lellis, the great Italian saint whose life exemplified the radical transformation that grace effects in even the most unpromising of souls.
Our confraternity is modelled, in spirit if not in every detail, upon the great lay confraternities that flourished throughout Catholic Europe from the medieval period onward — associations of laypeople united by devotion, mutual charity, and a desire to perform works of mercy in an organised and sustained manner. The Misericordie of Italy, the archconfraternities of France and Spain, the sodalities of Germany and the Empire — these were for centuries among the most important organs of civil society in Christian Europe.
We do not merely imitate these predecessors. We carry forward their spirit, adapted to the circumstances of our own age, in a society that combines rigorous traditional form with genuine fraternal warmth.
The founding members came together from various backgrounds and nations, united by their faith, their sense of social obligation, and their admiration for the example of Saint Camillus. They drew up a Charter — the foundational law of the Order — and adopted a rule of conduct, a set of purposes, and a structure of governance that reflects the best of the confraternal tradition.
The Order is open to gentlemen and noblemen, ladies and noblewomen, principally of European origin or connection, who are of good character, Christian faith, and willing to be bound by the obligations of membership. Membership is not a social ornament but a genuine commitment — to the purposes of the Order, to the well-being of its members, and to the works of charity that give the confraternity its reason for existence.
"An association of persons pledged to one another and to a common purpose, living according to a rule freely accepted and willingly observed."
— Preamble, Founding Charter
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Membership Classes
The Three Grades of the Order
First Grade
Founding & Senior Member
Those present at the establishment of the Order, or those elevated to this grade by resolution of the membership. Senior members have full voting rights and are eligible for all offices.
Second Grade
Full Member of the Order
Those received by the full process of invitation, proposal, and election. Full members have voting rights in ordinary matters and are eligible for most offices after a period of standing.
Third Grade
Associate & Corresponding Member
Persons who participate in a limited capacity — by distance or circumstance. Associate members may attend gatherings as guests and are encouraged toward full membership in due course.
San Camillo de Lellis 1550 · 1614 Patron of the Sick & of Nurses
Our Holy Patron
Saint Camillus de Lellis Soldier, Penitent, Servant
Camillo de Lellis was born in 1550 in Bocchianico, in the Kingdom of Naples, to a military family. His early life was marked by dissipation: he was a man of great physical stature — said to have stood six feet tall — with a soldier's temperament, a weakness for gambling, and little evident piety. He served as a mercenary in various campaigns before a serious affliction of his leg brought him, twice, to the hospital of San Giacomo in Rome.
It was in the hospitals that Camillus found his vocation. Appalled by the inadequacy of care provided to the sick and dying, he resolved to found a company of men dedicated to the proper and charitable care of the ill. In 1582, he established the Company of the Ministers of the Infirm. Their distinctive mark was a large red cross worn upon the habit — a sign recognised to this day.
Camillus and his companions were among the first to develop what we would now call professional standards of nursing care. He died in Rome in 1614, worn out by decades of service. Canonised in 1746 by Pope Benedict XIV, he was declared the patron of the sick, of nurses, and of all hospital workers. His feast day is the eighteenth of July.
1550
Born in Bocchianico, Kingdom of Naples, to a family of soldiers.
1574–1575
First sojourns at the Hospital of San Giacomo, Rome; early stirrings of conversion.
1582
Founds the Company of the Ministers of the Infirm in Rome.
1591
Order of Clerics Regular formally constituted by Pope Gregory XIV.
1614
Dies in Rome on 14 July, revered throughout the city.
1746
Canonised by Pope Benedict XIV; declared patron of the sick and of nurses.
Joining the Order
Membership & Reception
The Order admits gentlemen and noblemen, ladies and noblewomen, of good character, Christian faith, and genuine commitment to its purposes. Admission is by invitation and election.
The great cathedrals of Christian Europe
Who May Apply
Eligibility & Character
The Confraternal Order of Saint Camillus de Lellis is a society for gentlemen and noblemen, ladies and noblewomen — principally drawn from the ancient and cultivated families of Europe, though the Order does not restrict itself by blood alone. What it seeks in its members is not merely birth, but character: the qualities of honour, courtesy, generosity, and faith that have always been the true marks of those fitted for the confraternal life.
Ladies and noblewomen are full members of the Order in every sense — not guests or associates by sufferance, but integral members of the Brotherhood and Sisterhood, holding the same obligations and enjoying the same standing as their male counterparts. The Order recognises that the works of charity and the life of the confraternity are no less fitting for women than for men.
Criteria for Admission
I.The candidate shall be a Christian, holding the faith as a living reality.
II.The candidate shall be of good moral character, untarnished by any public disgrace.
III.The candidate shall be introduced by a member in good standing, who shall vouch for their suitability.
IV.The candidate shall be of gentle or noble birth, or have acquired through distinction a standing equivalent to the gentry.
V.The candidate shall demonstrate a genuine commitment to the charitable purposes of the Order.
VI.The candidate shall be willing to be bound by the Charter and obligations of membership in good faith.
"The Order seeks not merely birth, but character — the qualities of honour, courtesy, generosity, and faith that have always been the true marks of those fitted for confraternal life."
— Membership Statute, Article IV
Nations & Provenance
The Order draws principally from European membership, across all the nations of the continent — Italy, France, Spain, Portugal, Germany, Austria, Poland, Hungary, the British Isles, the Low Countries, and beyond. Members of European descent or formation settled elsewhere in the world are likewise eligible for consideration.
The Order conducts its proceedings in the great languages of Europe — principally English, French, Italian, German, and Latin for ceremonial purposes. Members are not required to hold a title of nobility; the gentry is fully eligible.
Degrees of Standing
The Four Grades of Membership
I
Grand Companion
Socius Magnus
The founding members and those elevated by unanimous resolution. Grand Companions bear special responsibility for the direction of the Order and serve as its conscience and memory.
II
Senior Companion
Socius Senior
Members who have served with distinction and been elevated by vote of the membership. Senior Companions are eligible for all offices and carry enhanced responsibility.
III
Companion of the Order
Socius Ordinis
The standard grade of full membership, conferred upon a candidate formally proposed, approved, and received. Companions hold full voting rights and are bound by all Charter obligations.
IV
Aspirant
Aspirans
A candidate under consideration for full membership who has been introduced and provisionally received. The period of aspiration allows full acquaintance with the Order before formal reception.
The Path to Membership
The Process of Reception
1
Introduction by a Member
All candidates must be introduced by a member in good standing, who will vouch for the candidate's character and suitability. The introducing member assumes personal responsibility for the conduct and commitment of the candidate.
2
Correspondence with the Chancellor
The candidate addresses a letter of interest to the Chancellor, setting out their background, reasons for seeking membership, and understanding of the Order's purposes. Write to: Orderofstcamillus@proton.me
3
Meeting with the Officers
The candidate is invited to meet with the officers of the Order in an informal setting — an opportunity for both parties to form a judgment as to whether membership would be fitting.
4
Proposal and Ballot
The candidate is formally proposed at a meeting of the Order by their introducer. The membership votes by secret ballot. A single veto by any Grand Companion defers consideration for one year.
5
Formal Reception
Upon election, the candidate is received into the Order at a formal gathering. The new member makes a declaration of intent, is welcomed by the officers, and assumes the obligations and privileges of membership.
The Founding Document
Charter & Governance
The Charter is the living constitution of the Order — the solemn compact freely entered into by its founders and faithfully transmitted to those who come after them. It establishes the purposes, governance, and obligations of the confraternity in terms designed to endure.
All members are bound by the Charter from the moment of their reception. It may be amended only by a solemn procedure reflecting its foundational character.
Sigillum Ordinis Confraternitatis
Sancti Camilli de Lellis Mexican School, 18th Century
Officers of the Order
Governance & Officers
The Order is governed by its officers, elected by and from the membership, and by the Council of Senior Companions. The officers bear responsibility for the day-to-day affairs of the confraternity and for the faithful execution of the Charter's provisions.
Grand Prior
Prior Magnus
Presides over all gatherings and affairs of the Order. The first officer of the confraternity, custodian of its dignity, and representative to the outside world. Casts the deciding vote in the event of a tie.
Vice Prior
Prior Vicarius
Assists the Grand Prior and assumes their functions when absent. Bears particular responsibility for the conduct of ceremonies and preparation of gatherings.
Chancellor
Cancellarius
Keeper of records: the Register of Members, Minutes of proceedings, Archive of documents, and all correspondence. Primary point of contact for those seeking membership. Write to: Orderofstcamillus@proton.me
Treasurer
Thesaurarius
Administers the financial affairs of the Order, maintains accounts, receives subscriptions and donations, and reports to the membership on the state of finances at each ordinary gathering.
Almoner
Eleemosynarius
Holds responsibility for the charitable works of the Order — identifying worthy causes, reporting on charitable endeavours, and maintaining the Order's connection with the sick and suffering.
Master of Ceremonies
Magister Caeremoniarum
Oversees the proper conduct of rituals, observances, and formal occasions. Ensures ceremonies are carried out with the dignity befitting a confraternity bearing the name of a saint.
Principal Articles
Selected Articles of the Charter
The principal articles of the founding Charter, summarised for the information of those seeking to understand the Order's constitution.
Article I
Name, Purpose, and Character
The association shall be known as the Confraternal Order of Saint Camillus de Lellis. It is a private confraternal society, not a commercial, political, or public body. Its purposes are charitable, devotional, and fraternal. It is constituted in perpetuity, to endure as long as its members maintain the obligations freely undertaken at its founding.
Article II
Membership and Reception
Membership is open to gentlemen and noblemen, ladies and noblewomen of good character, Christian faith, and genuine commitment to the purposes of the Order. Admission is by invitation and election. The Order reserves the absolute right to admit or decline any candidate without obligation to give reasons.
Article III
Officers and Governance
The Order shall be governed by its officers, elected annually by and from the membership. Officers serve one-year terms renewable by re-election. No officer shall serve more than five consecutive terms in the same office without the unanimous assent of the Senior Companions.
Article IV
Obligations of Members
All members are bound to attend gatherings with reasonable regularity, pay subscriptions punctually, contribute to charitable works according to their means, maintain confidentiality of proceedings, and conduct themselves at all times in a manner befitting a member of the confraternity.
Article V
Charitable Works
The Order shall devote a portion of its resources to charitable works in the spirit of its patron. Priority shall be given to institutions serving the sick and suffering, in direct honour of Saint Camillus de Lellis.
Article VI
Amendment of the Charter
This Charter may be amended only by a resolution passed by a two-thirds majority at an extraordinary session, provided the amendment has been notified in writing at least thirty days in advance. No amendment may alter the name of the Order, its patron, or its fundamental charitable purpose without the unanimous assent of all Grand Companions.
In the Spirit of Our Patron
Works & Observances
The Order gives expression to its purposes through charitable works, sacred observances, and the regular gatherings by which it sustains its fraternal and sororal life.
Charitable Works
Works of mercy performed in honour of the patron of the sick — supporting hospitals, hospices, and those who care for the suffering.
Sacred Observances
Marking the feast of Saint Camillus and the great solemnities of the Church with ceremony, prayer, and fitting celebration.
Regular Gatherings
The Order meets regularly for the conduct of its business, the enjoyment of good fellowship, and the cultivation of the bonds of confraternal life.
The Works of Mercy
Charitable Endeavour
The charitable works of the Order are directed, above all, toward the sick and suffering — in direct homage to the example of Saint Camillus de Lellis. The Almoner, working with the membership, identifies worthy causes and institutions to which the Order can make a meaningful contribution of money, time, or personal engagement.
The Order's charitable activity is not confined to financial donation. Members are encouraged to give of their time and skills — to visit hospitals and hospices, to support caring institutions, to engage personally with those who serve the suffering. The tradition of Camillus was personal, sacrificial, and sustained.
Beyond work with the sick, the Order engages in a broader range of charitable activity — supporting education, the arts, the preservation of European cultural and religious heritage, and the relief of poverty in whatever form it presents itself.
I.Support for hospitals, hospices, and institutions caring for the sick and dying — in honour of the patron's vocation.
II.Personal visitation of the sick and suffering, in the tradition of Camillus and the great nursing orders he inspired.
III.Support for nursing education and the formation of those called to the ministry of care.
IV.Relief of material poverty in the communities where members reside.
V.Preservation of the cultural, artistic, and religious heritage of Christian Europe.
VI.Mutual aid among members — practical, financial, and moral support in times of genuine need.
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The Sacred Calendar
Annual Observances
The Order marks its year according to the rhythm of the Church's calendar, punctuated by occasions proper to the confraternity itself.
18 July
Feast of Saint Camillus de Lellis — The principal celebration of the Order's year, marked by a gathering of the full membership, solemn observance, and a formal dinner.
January
New Year Gathering — The first ordinary meeting, at which officers render account and the programme for the year ahead is discussed.
Holy Week
Paschal Observance — Members are encouraged to mark Easter together; the Order may organise a gathering or pilgrimage.
November
Commemoration of Departed Members — All Souls-tide gathering in memory of deceased members, at which their names are read and prayers offered.
December
Advent & Christmas Gathering — A festive gathering combining ordinary meeting with seasonal celebration.
Quarterly
Ordinary Meetings — The Order meets at least quarterly for the conduct of business, charitable reports, and the fellowship of its members.
Roots & Heritage
A Society of European Civilisation
The Confraternal Order of Saint Camillus de Lellis is, in its character and composition, a society of European civilisation — rooted in the Catholic and broadly Christian heritage that formed the nations, families, and traditions from which its members are drawn.
The Order does not regard this as a statement of exclusion, but of formation. It is a society that speaks the languages of Europe, honours the faith of Europe, and recognises in the great confraternal tradition of the continent a living inheritance worthy of perpetuation.
🇮🇹Italia
🇫🇷France
🇪🇸España
🇵🇹Portugal
🇩🇪Deutschland
🇦🇹Österreich
🇬🇧Britain
🇵🇱Polska
🇭🇺Magyarország
🇧🇪Belgique
🇮🇪Éire
🇨🇭Schweiz
The European Tradition
Heirs to a Great Civilisation
Europe is not merely a geographical expression. It is a civilisation — a coherent tradition of thought, faith, art, law, and social life that took shape over two millennia through the interweaving of classical antiquity, the Christian revelation, and the vigorous genius of the continent's many nations and peoples.
The Confraternal Order regards itself as part of this civilisation and as a modest custodian of its social and spiritual traditions. The confraternal institution itself is a distinctly European creation, arising in the medieval cities of Italy and spreading throughout the Catholic world as a vehicle for lay devotion, charitable organisation, and social solidarity.
Our Order consciously participates in this tradition. We believe the confraternal form is as suited to the present age as to any other, and that the values it embodies — charity, brotherhood and sisterhood, mutual obligation, the integration of the sacred and the social — are not obsolete but urgently needed.
The membership of the Order is drawn from across the European nations, with no preference given to one country over another. Italy, where our patron was born and where his Order flourished, holds a special place in the affection of the confraternity; but all European traditions are equally honoured.
What unites our members is not blood or social rank but a common vision of the good life — shaped by the Christian faith, the European inheritance, and the particular example of Saint Camillus. The Order extends a particular welcome to members who embody the European tradition of the cosmopolitan — those at home in more than one language, one country, one tradition.
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The Confraternal Tradition in European History
The lay confraternity is one of the great institutions of European Christian civilisation, and one of the most under-appreciated. From the laudi spirituali groups of thirteenth-century Italy to the great archconfraternities of Baroque Rome, from the Breton pardon brotherhoods to the Corpus Christi guilds of England, the confraternity has been for eight centuries a principal vehicle through which Christian laypeople organised their devotion, charity, and social life.
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The Italian Tradition
Italy gave the world the great confraternities of mercy — the Misericordie of Tuscany, and above all the Order of Saint Camillus himself, born in the south and nurtured in Rome. The Italian confraternal tradition is the richest and most various in Europe.
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The French Tradition
France produced the archconfraternities of Paris and Lyon, the Confrèries de Charité, and a rich tradition of lay devotional association. French confraternal life was distinguished by theological seriousness and engagement with the great questions of the Church.
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The Iberian Tradition
Spain and Portugal gave the world the Hermandades and Cofradías — still living institutions, marching in ancient robes through the streets of Seville at Holy Week. The most publicly visible surviving example of the confraternal tradition.
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The Northern Tradition
In Germany, Austria, Poland and Hungary, confraternities flourished in cathedral cities and university towns. The Northern tradition was distinguished by liturgical seriousness, Marian devotion, and close association with the social structures of the Ancien Régime.
In CaritateLatin — Language of the Church
Dans la CharitéFrench
Nella CaritàItalian
In der LiebeGerman
En la CaridadSpanish
Seek the Order
Contact & Enquiries
Address all correspondence to the Chancellor of the Order at Orderofstcamillus@proton.me. All sincere enquiries will receive a response within fourteen days.
Address an Enquiry
The Chancellor of the Order is the proper recipient of all correspondence from those outside the membership — whether regarding a wish to seek membership, a proposal for charitable collaboration, or any other matter of substance.
The Order does not solicit correspondence from the merely curious. Those who write should have a genuine purpose. All sincere enquiries will receive a response; the Order reserves the right to decline to correspond on matters it judges inappropriate.
All candidates must be introduced by a current member. Self-referral alone will not result in admission, though enquiries without an introducer may still be considered.
"The Order admits those whom it judges fitted to its spirit. It is not bound to admit any particular candidate, and need give no reason for its decisions."
