Lectio et Oratio

Episode 220 -- Life of St Philip XIX.220 -- Pattern of Humility

What virtue is the foundation of the spiritual life?

Humility. We begin the final section of Gallonio's biography. He takes us through St Philip's most prominent virtues. He begins with humility. We discuss St Philip's love for humility and his sense of dependence on God.

Episode 219 -- Life of St Philip XVIII.219 -- Speaking the Truth But Not Telling Everything

We read about the many miracles that occurred after St Philip was buried, but which were never discussed by Gallonio. Fr Gallonio selected the miracles he did for various reasons. How we need to love the truth. How we need to think about the best way to communicate the truth.

Episode 218 -- Life of St Philip XVIII.218 -- Special Bonds with Special Saints

Did St Philip ever help the same nun twice?

Yes. We read about the same nun we read about last night. She lived in Spoleto and was suffering from a terrible eye inflammation. The miracle that occurred is the first one reported based on a picture of St Philip. She touched her eye with his picture. We may not have many first and second class relics of St Philip, but all of us can obtain a picture!

Episode 217 -- Life of St Philip XVIII.217 -- United in Charity Across Time and Space

We read about the first miracle this nun from Spoleto experienced by the help of St Philip. She was suffering from a very serious fever and prayed to St Philip. Some of the details of this nun's life remind us of later saints, especially St Gabriel and St Maximilan Kolbe. How we need to remember how connected we are in the Mystical Body of Christ. How we need to remember that the full meaning of our lives will only be clear in heaven!

Episode 216 -- Life of St Philip XVIII.216 -- Losing A Child and Heavenly Hope

Who was the youngest person that was helped by St Philip from heaven?

A four year old boy. In July 1597, just over two years after the death and burial of St Philip, this young boy was suffering from a terrible fever. His condition got so bad that he could neither speak nor move for several days. When his mother despaired of his remaining alive, she laid on his head a piece of cloth of St Philip's. The effect and cure were immediate. The joy of his parents were indescribable.

Episode 215 -- Life of St Philip XVIII.215 -- Doctors and Saints and Charity in Heaven

We read about a physician who was cured of a stone in his bladder by the help of St Philip. St Philip was close to many doctors in his life. He showed his love for them even after his death. His friendship with doctors reminds one of another miracle working saint who developed close relationships with doctors, St Andre Bessette. May we never forget that charity, sacred love, continues after this life in heaven. Those that we learn to love here in this life we will love in heaven too.

Episode 214 -- Life of St Philip XVIII.214 -- Tips for Making the Most out of Confession

Did St Philip show any special help to older people who were suffering?

We read about a 75 year old priest who appealed to St Philip in a very serious situation. Like the people in the time of St Peter who used his handkerchief for miracles, so this priest touched his body with a handkerchief of St Philip. Just as the the handkerchief of the original Apostle of Rome worked wonders, so the handkerchief of the second Apostle of Rome does wonders.

Episode 213 -- Life of St Philip XVIII.213 -- Trusting All Things to Jesus through Mary

We read about a nine year old girl who was suffering terrible bowel problems. She was cured by an apparition of the Mother of God and St Philip. How confident we need to be in the prayers of Our Lady. How confident we need to be to speak to her and her Son about all aspects of our lives. There is nothing they cannot understand about human life. To help us believe this, God sends saints like St Philip. His life shows us how much he cared about human situations and how people could speak to him about all their problems.

Episode 212 -- Life of St Philip XVIII.212 -- Prayer And Certain Resolve Brings Healing

Do priests always know their calling from an early age?

No. We read about the origins of a priestly vocation. Ottavio was dying. All medical help had failed. As he awaited death, he thought about St Philip Neri. Ottavio lived in Naples and knew the Oratorians there. But then it came into Ottavio's mind to add to his prayer the promise of becoming an Oratorian, if he recovered. Ottavio did get better. And he kept his word.

Episode 211 -- Life of St Philip XVIII.211 -- Patience and Humility with Personal Faults

We read about a woman with a fever who had suffered this condition for 32 months. We have to remember how in the Scriptures physical ailments are often symbols of spiritual ailments. Christ even cured a paralyzed man as a sign of his ability to forgive sins. Being in a state of mortal sin is like being spiritually paralyzed. Without sanctifying grace, we are unable to move ourselves towards heaven. Other less serious ailments can be symbols of less serious spiritual conditions. We have to be patient with others and with ourselves. Why does God not cure us of our sinful habits more quickly? Why does he allow us to fall again and again? He knows what is best for us and our humility. He knows how easily we take all the credit for our spiritual victories. The Lord knows what is best for our self-knowledge, our humility, and our need to gain experience so as to help others.

Episode 210 -- Life of St Philip XVIII.210 -- Openness About One’s Spiritual Struggles

Did the miracles of St Philip ever have to do with heart troubles?

Yes. We read about a miracle a mysterious ulcer near a man's heart that caused him incredible pain. The pain was so terrible that the man was unable to rest at all. Every known medicine was tried. Finally the man remembered a very mysterious medicine...the hair of St Philip. Like so many others, this remedy worked. But the miracle actually occurred in two stages.

Last episode we read about a hardworking man who worked for the Oratorians in Palermo. The house there was fairly recently founded. Like every Oratorian community, the Oratory in Palermo is autonomous, self-governing, independent of every other Oratory. Each house is loosely connected to the others by a common way of life established for priests and brothers by St Philip. Each Oratorian community looks to St Philip as their spiritual father. Last episode's miracle shows us that St Philip continues to care for the all those connected with the Oratorians. St Philip loves the smallest helper of his spiritual sons. St Philip wants us all to be saints. He wants us to become perfect in divine love. St Philip wants to help satisfy Christ's thirst for love, his thirst to be shown love in return for his love for us.

Episode 209 -- Life of St Philip XVIII.209 -- Christ Thirsts for Our Love

Did St Philip ever cure people after his death that he never knew in his lifetime?

Yes. We read about a miracle in Palermo, Sicily. An Oratorian father from Rome had founded a house there. One day in 1596 a servant of that community fell very ill. But for a long time, the idea never occurred to seek the intercession of St Philip. Suddenly the idea occurred to one of the fathers. Let us learn to be docile to the Holy Spirit. He is like the wind; he blows where he wills.

Episode 208 -- Life of St Philip XVIII.208 -- Celibacy for the Lord

We read about a priest and a nun who were both cured of serious illnesses by the intercession of St Philip. Why does the Lord invite men and women to follow him in perfect chastity? We talk about the way a priest shares in Christ's spousal love for the Church. We talk about a nun's ability to become a bride of Christ and to represent the Church herself. Christ loves the Church as His bride.

Episode 207 -- Life of St Philip XVIII.207 -- Asking For Ourselves in Prayer

Does it matter how we speak to St Philip in heaven?

Yes. We read about an 18 year old woman who suffered a severe eye injury due to the actions of someone else. Her mother tried every remedy. Finally she turned to St Philip. But nothing happened. This made the girl herself begin to pray for herself. Her cure took place after she realized there was a right way to ask St Philip. St Philip seems to care about the dispositions of our hearts.

Episode 206 -- Life of St Philip XVII.206 -- Our Lady and Taking Us Away from our Sins

We read the final chapter in section 17. We are very close to the end of the book. The miracle in tje reading was the healing of a bishop. He took instructions from a very devout lady. He listened to her and was made well. How important it is for the leaders in the Church to listen above all to the Blessed Mother. As the first bishops gathered around Mary as they awaited the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, so every leader in the Church must be close to the Blessed Virgin. Her advice is always the same: Do whatever He, Jesus, tells you (John 2).

Episode 205 -- Life of St Philip XVII.205 -- Be not Afraid

Did St Philip ever cure any nuns after he died?

Yes. We read about a nun who began to have breast cancer. She was too ashamed to tell anyone about the lump that was growing. It got larger, but still she was ashamed. Finally, she mentioned something to her confessor. He obtained for her a piece of linen soaked in the blood of St Philip. A great miracle was hoped for. A great miracle was obtained. St Philip even appeared to her in a dream with very familiar words. The story has a great lesson for us about openness with our spiritual fathers!

Episode 204 -- Life of St Philip XVII.204 -- Living Completely the Life of the Trinity

Did St Philip ever raise a dead child to life?

Yes. We read about a remarkable occurrence. A child was born prematurely. Sadly, the child was dead. The midwife did all she could, all she knew from 35 years of experience. Then she turned to the Blessed Virgin. Nothing happened. Then she did something interesting. She asked St Philip to pray to the Blessed Virgin. This episode's readings continue the ongoing meditation on the Resurrection of Christ in light of the miracles performed by St Philip after his burial.

Episode 203 -- Life of St Philip XVII.203 -- Injuries and Our Lady of Victory

Did St Philip have compassion on people who have been injured by others?

Yes. We read about a lady who was hit by a carriage. We do not know any details about the person who hit her. But the woman was seriously hurt and suffered a knee trouble for 11 months. How was she eventually healed? What did she do to win St Philip's favour?

Episode 202 -- Life of St Philip XVII.202 -- Decline Leading to Greater Miracles

How many times did St Philip appear to Drusilla?

Three! We read about the final act in the healing of poor Drusilla. We read in Act II how St Philip first appeared to her while her husband was praying fervently at St Philip's tomb. But when her husband came home, St Philip disappeared. The trouble was that he left the healing incomplete. He healed only part of her injuries. Would St Philip return? Would he complete what he started? Yes.

Episode 201 -- Life of St Philip XVII.201 -- Christ Empowers By the Sacrament of Marriage

Did St Philip listen to the prayers of Drusilla's husband?

Yes! We read ACT 2 of the Drusilla drama. She fell from a high place, 7 stories, and hit the brick landing. Her condition was so serious that the doctors assumed she would die. We read about what her husband did when he got the news. May we never forget the power contained in the sacrament of matrimony.