Many people associate a red cross with the American Red Cross Association founded in America around the time of the Civil War. However, the origin of a red cross being the symbol of those who help others in need, especially the sick, goes back much farther than the mid 1800's. In fact, it goes all the way back to 1550, when a boy by the name of Camillus de Lellis was born to his aged parents, John and Camilla de Lellis.

Before the child was born, his mother, Camilla, had a dream. She saw her child leading a band of young men, all of whom wore a bright Red Cross. His mother thought that perhaps it meant her son would lead an evil life as a bandit, or even a murderer. She did not know that it was actually a glimpse of her son’s charitable future, and of the holy work that God had destined him to accomplish.

Unfortunately, as Camillus grew older, his mother's fears of his leading an evil life began to be justified. He was reckless, and grew to lead a bad life as a soldier. But at the age of twenty-five Camillus, having contracted a painful sore in his leg, sought to be admitted into the hospital of San Giacomo in Rome. However, because he lacked money and was healthier than most of the patients, he was enlisted among ranks of the hospital workers - with the assurance of a brief treatment of his leg each day.

It was in this hospital that Camillus experienced first-hand the horrors which the sick themselves daily faced from the hospital staff itself. Doctors were only for those who could afford them - most patients never even saw them at all. Hospital workers tended to the ill, but without dedication. These workers were mostly comprised of beggars, wanderers, and soldiers who only sought for food. Some were even prisoners serving their sentences and only concerned with getting their freedom, not with providing relief to the sick.

These workers even stole the helpless patients' food. In his frustration, Camillus tried to at least scare them into being more kind, sometimes taking physical measures by hitting quite a few of them; but on the other hand, he knew that their improved behavior only lasted as long as he was present. So he just continued doing whatever duties were given him, such as scrubbing the halls, feeding the sick, and doing the laundry. He also would give the patients double care to compensate for what his heartless fellow workers neglected. Inside though, he yearned for the day that he himself would be cured and free to leave this nightmare behind.

Camillus was at last dismissed from the hospital, but he was sent back again years later for the cure of his leg. This time, however, instead of cursing the cruelty and neglect of his fellow workers, Camillus tried even harder to supply for what was lacking, often working far into the night to do so. It was around this time that he met St. Philip Neri who became his spiritual director.

St. Philip suggested that Camillus start an organization of men to help the sick. He also suggested that Camillus become a priest. Camillus agreed to both and called this new organization "The Servants of the Sick." The focus of the new society was not only the relief and healing of the sick, but more importantly the protection of the ill from spiritual harm and neglect. The last moments are the most precious of one’s entire life. They are infinitely important because a soul’s eternal salvation is what they determine. The devil comes fiercely to ruin the souls of the dying because they have only a short time left. Camillus was keenly aware of this danger, knowing by his own experience, that many of the sick were not prepared for death. So he made it the chief end of these ‘servants of the sick’ to provide every spiritual help to those in danger of death.

Trials were in abundance for Camillus and his little band. They were forbidden to gather as a religious group since they did not have the necessary permission. However, even though they could not be an official group, Camillus and his men never swerved from their dedication to the poor and the sick, and eventually, more followers came and Camillus and his men gained popularity.

But Camillus knew that to be an official order, one needed a cardinal to personally present such a new order to the pope and receive papal approval. One day, as he happened to stand near a stately manor, praying that God would help him in this dilemma, he looked through the gate and suddenly noticed that a cardinal was reading in a garden. Camillus immediately let himself into the garden and fell on his knees before the astonished cleric, begging him to help them.

The cardinal, Cardinal Lauro, agreed to present Camillus' book of rules to the Holy Father, and he told Camillus that he and his group must wait in the meantime. They did indeed have to wait, but at last in March of 1586, Pope Sixtus V officially approved the order.

However, there was only one more request Camillus wanted to make. He humbly besought the Holy Father to permit the Servants of the Sick to wear red crosses on their black habits. To this the Pope willingly consented, and it was on July 29, 1586, that the Servants of the Sick appeared in public for the first time with a red cross sewn upon their habits.

And so, the "Red Cross" as a symbol of assisting the sick originated from a Catholic Saint who established a Religious Order to staff hospitals and aid the suffering. Camilla de Lellis' prophetic dream had been fulfilled.