The Diocese of Fort Worth celebrated the feast day of St. Camillus de Lellis on Monday and said his life was a testimony to Jesus’ love.

“Camillus’ life is a testimony to the redeeming love of Jesus,” the diocese posted on Facebook. “He had a troubled upbringing and a gambling addiction. Yet, he experienced a great conversion while working as a day laborer at a Capuchin community.” 

That conversion came when St. Camillus was 25, according to Britannica. Soon after, he started working at a hospital for “incurables”where he spent his extra time studying for the priesthood. He was ordained in 1564, when he was 34. 

His work touched Pope Gregory XIV, who saw its value, and approved forming a group of priests that Camillus had formed to care for the sick as a permanent fixture. The group became an order called Ministers of the Sick, which grew from its original 12 members to more than 300 members at the time of Camillus' death in 1614. 

He was known for caring for the ill with unceasing tenderness and compassion, the diocese said in the post.

His caring attitude and commitment to ministering to the sick led to Camillus being recognized at the patron saint of sick people, hospitals and healthcare workers, Franciscan Media reported. Catholics celebrate his feast day each year on July 18. 

The Ministers of the Sick started their work at Holy Ghost Hospital in Rome, Italy, but after several years, they established a location in Naples, according to Catholic.org. The group cared for people suffering from the plague, and later cared for injured soldiers in Croatia and Hungary. Camillus was canonized in 1746.