Lectio et Oratio

Episode 200 -- Life of St Philip XVII.200 -- Christ Supports and Heals the Wounded in Soul

Can St Philip help someone who has fallen from a great height?

Yes! We read about a terrible accident that a woman had in Rome in September 1595. She feel from a huge height and faced horrific injuries. What could be done for her? Part of the power of this story is the lesson it teaches about moral falls of those who had reached a certain sanctity. What should we do when we fall into sin and badly damage our souls?

Episode 199 -- Life of St Philip XVII.199 -- Power of Christ to Drive Away Spiritual Fever

Did St Philip only help men after he was buried?

No. We read about a couple of women who were healed of dangerous fevers through the intercession of St Philip. Gallonio's account continues to recall our minds to the resurrection of Christ. To whom did Our Lord first appear? Why did the Apostles not believe the women?

Last episode we read about a young man who was saved from sin through a miraculous movement of the reliquary he had hanging around his neck. He also experienced St Philip's voice encouraging him. May St Philip help each of us learn how to control and guide our emotions.

Episode 198 -- Life of St Philip XVII.198 -- Anger and Chastity and the Saints

Did St Philip ever perform non-healing miracles after his burial?

Yes. We read about a gentleman who was wearing a chain around his neck with a pouch of St Philip's hair and clothing in it. The young gentleman walked past the house of a lady of ill repute. She invited him to sin. As he was about to consent, the pouch on his chest began to warn him. The Holy Spirit began to speak words of encouragement, get away. With the help of St Philip, the young man did something amazing.

Episode 197 -- Life of St Philip XVII.197 -- Reverence for the Medical Doctors

We read about one of Rome's most skilled physicians who was close to death. The doctor had done everything he knew to prolong his own life. He knew how serious his condition was. But this doctor was also a man of faith. When he realized that the God-given science of medicine had no more answers, he turned to God and his Saints. Did St Philip have great respect for the medical profession? Yes. Did he carefully select his doctors? Yes. Did he basically follow the advice of his doctors? Yes. But do doctors have all the answers? No.

Episode 196 -- Life of St Philip XVII.196 -- The Mass Our Great Act of Thanksgiving

What did Fr Marc Antonio Maffa do after his life was spared?

He placed the first plaque on the tomb of St Philip. Fr Maffa wanted to show gratitude to St Philip and so he not only visited the tomb to thank God and St Philip, but he had a testimony placed at the tomb explaining how St Philip's prayers and merits saved his life. What is the best way to give thanks to God for favours received? What lesson does this episode's reading teach about giving thanks to the Risen Christ?

Last episode we read about the dangerous fever that Fr Maffa fell into on August 6, 1595, the feast of the Transfiguration of Christ. Matthew 17:1-8, Mark 9:2-8, and Luke 9:28-36 all recount this event that occurred several months before Christ died and rose. Our Lord's body and face and clothes were transformed. Theologians tell us that this was a temporary anticipation of the glory of His Resurrected body. Christ allowed the glory of his soul to spill over into his body. Christ's Transfiguration is telling us what last episode's reading was telling us: his Risen power can enter into our world. He gives us glimpses from time to time to encourage us! He can save us from the selfishness and sinful inclinations which seek to destroy us. We can live, through Christ, no longer for ourselves, but for Him and others.

Episode 195 -- Life of St Philip XVII.195 -- Transfiguration and the Power of Christ’s Resurrection in our World

Did Fr Maffa escape one illness only to fall into another?

Yes! We read about a nearly deadly fever that Fr Maffa fell into after St Philip helped with his kidney stones. The date is important, August 6, the Feast of the Transfiguration of Our Lord. That event in Our Lord's life was an anticipation of his Resurrected glory. As we have seen the last few nights, these readings of miracles performed after St Philip was buried have a connection with Our Lord's Resurrection. They point to the power Christ has to save us, save us from a life of futility and meaninglessness.

Episode 194 -- Life of St Philip XVII.194 -- New Life in Christ is Possible

Did St Philip ever help with kidney stones?

Yes! We read about a new problem that St Philip helped a man to overcome: very painful kidney stones. Like many of the miracles performed by the prayers of St Philip in the months just after he died, this miracle was sought after all other remedies for the pain had been tried. Once again, St Philip's prayers achieved the desired result, but not all at once. Patience!

Episode 193 -- Life of St Philip XVII.193 -- Matter for a General Confession

Is it good to make a general confession of one"s sins, looking over one"s whole life, even confessing small sins?

Yes. We read about a priest whom St Philip helped to overcome pains in his arms. The priest was in such a bad situation that he could hardly elevate the host at Mass. He could not vest himself for Mass. Having tried every remedy he could, he finally asked his relative, a disciple of St Philip, for a piece of St Philip's clothing. Instead, he was given some of St Philip's hair. One day God inspired him to make a strange concoction. He drank the St Philip hair tea. And suddenly his arms were better. But before he drank it, he made a general confession. He made a confession of his whole life and his main sinful dispositions. He brought his whole life before the Lord. What a beautiful thing it is to be healed in body and soul.

Episode 192 -- Life of St Philip XVII.192 -- Spiritual Growth Through Human Disappointments

Do friends always support us?

Not always. We read about a man who was healed of kidney pains and knee pains by the use of 1st and 2nd class relics of St Philip. But then like Job, he faced friends who challenged his faith. They denied the intervention of God. But like Job in the Old Testament, Claudio did not lose faith. God then helped him even more.

Episode 191 -- Life of St Philip XVII.191 -- Joy in the Lord’s Love

Did miracles cease after St Philip was buried?

No. We begin about two weeks of readings relating all the marvellous things that occurred in people's lives who visited the tomb of St Philip shortly after he died. This episode's reading is interesting because a man full of anxiety and concern about a big decision visited the tomb. During his lifetime, St Philip would touch the man's heart and his anxieties would flee. Would St Philip still be able to help him in this way?

Last episode we read about a laywoman in the world who was very close to St Philip. How St Philip wanted people in the world to have a little devotion. How he wanted them to love the Eucharist. How he wanted them to take care of Christ in the poor. St Philip would lead people from the earliest stages of the spiritual life to the heights of divine union. God wants us to see him as a Bridegroom. He belongs to us and we to Him. He is ours and we are His.

Episode 190 -- Life of St Philip XVI.190 -- From Devotion to Union

Did St Philip's body have a sweet smell after he died?

Yes. This smell of flowers was not evident to all, but only to some. St Philip reserved this for a woman who was especially devoted to the poor. The Lord wants us to be a fragrant offering to his Father. He wants us to be a sweet fragrance that draws others to Himself.

Episode 189 -- Life of St Philip XVI.189 -- Highest Priestly Act

Was there difficulties about where to bury St Philip?

Yes. The Oratorian Fathers planned to bury St Philip in the common burial place that all the Oratorians would make use of after they died. But two powerful cardinals, long time friends of St Philip, persuaded the Oratorians to put St Philip in a more honoured place. The Fathers were reluctant to do so. Would they be treating St Philip as a saint, before the Church had spoken? In the end, they followed the advice of the Cardinals.

Episode 188 -- Life of St Philip XVI.188 -- Prolonging the Power of the Incarnation

We read about three healings that occurred after St Philip died. God saw fit to make us of roses that were touching St Philip's body while it rested on the funeral bier. God also made use of pieces of St Philip's hair. The same Lord who worked miracles by spittle and dirt and the fringe of his garment and the handkerchief of St Peter continued to work miracles through material things. Let us pray for faith. The Word truly became flesh and dwelt among us.

Episode 187 -- Life of St Philip XVI.187 -- God Leaves Some Spiritual Wounds Unhealed for Healing Others

We read about a family that St Philip took an interest in after he died. Three of the four members were suffering from various ailments.They came to visit the body of St Philip. They took his hand and touched the places that were diseased. They were healed. Should we be surprised that God would use the hands of a priest, a deceased priest, to work miracles? Everyday God uses the hands of a priest as his instruments for the greatest miraculous change. A priest takes the bread into his hands as Christ did at the Last Supper. And when he repeats Christ"s words, there in the priest"s hands, the bread is transubstantiated into Christ"s own body.

Last episode we read about the condition of St Philip's heart when the doctors performed the autopsy. In the heart of St Philip, so muscular, so unusual, even enlarged beyond what is normal is some places, God was giving the Church a sign. God sent St Philip to Rome as a living sign of His love for the Church. In 1544, the Holy Spirit visited St Philip in a unique way and supernaturally enflamed and enlarged his heart. St Philip lived with this supernatural heart condition for over fifty years. Let us ask the Lord to fill us with a true love for the Church!

Episode 186 -- Life of St Philip XVI.186 -- Heart of the Church

Was St Philip's heart itself unusual?

Yes. The heart as a whole was strong and muscular and larger than normal. Certain parts where twice the normal size. In this episode we hear about the basic parts of the human heart. If the human heart pumps blood to the rest of the body and blood symbolizes divine love being shared through the mystical body of Christ, who are those in the Church that help generate this divine love? Can we be the heart of the Church, helping others to love?

Last episode we read not so much about the heart itself, but the condition of St Philip's ribs and chest that seemed to have made room for this enlarged heart and its supernatural palpitations. May we also make room for growth in divine love. May we not put up any obstacles to allowing God's love to increase!

Episode 185 -- Life of St Philip XVI.185 -- Ribs Dislocated and Room in God’s Heart

What strange thing did the doctors discover about St Philip's chest?

A large bulge. During the autopsy, the doctors discovered that two of St Philip's ribs were disconnected from the cartilage. They were arched upwards and formed a kind of dome on his chest over his heart. This strange condition puzzled the doctors. They had never heard St Philip ever complain of any pain. But as they learned more and more about what happened to St Philip in 1544, they formulated several supernatural explanations for his ribs being that way. God was making room for the effect of divine love on Philip's heart.

Last episode we began reading about the autopsy carried out on St Philip on the evening of May 27, 1595. We discussed the peculiar way St Philip's hands kept covering over his private parts. Fr Gallonio suggested a hypothesis for why God willed St Philip's body to act in this supernatural way. Another hypothesis was also discussed related to the supernatural character of purity. Purity, chastity, self-control in matters of sexuality is a gift from above. Let us pray for it!

Episode 184 -- Life of St Philip XVI.184 -- Praying for the Gift of Purity

As the autopsy of St Philip began, what was the most remarkable thing that happened at first?

St Philip's arms kept moving. The four doctors were astounded as they began to undress St Philip. His dead body began to do things that they had never seen. As strange as it sounds, St Philip acted, in a way, as if he were still alive! He seemed to be practicing modesty. The doctors thought the phenomenon to be a sign. Of what was it a sign?

Last episode we read about the events of May 26, 1595. St Philip died early in the morning of May 26, around 1am. The whole day following saw great crowds of people treating the body of St Philip as though it were a precious relic. Rome had been captivated by this simple priest. He was their apostle, the second apostle of Rome. Like St Philip, we too have a mission and a part of the Lord's vineyard to maintain.

Episode 183 -- Life of St Philip XVI.183 -- Hands of a Priest

Did great crowds of people of every walk of life want to venerate the body of St Philip?

Yes! From the poorest people to the richest people in Rome, men and women, friars and laity, the whole of Rome seems to have stopped by the Chiesa Nuova to honour the body of St Philip on the day he died. The Fathers had laid his body out on the bier for public veneration. What signs of love the people of Rome showed. What are we to make of the crowds and the variety of people who wanted to see the face of St Philip one last time?

Episode 182 -- Life of St Philip XVI.182 -- Asking Prayers from Others

What happened at the moment of St Philip's death?

He appeared to various friends. When St Philip died, when his soul and body were separated, he actually appeared in his soul to two nuns and a devout layman. The layman lived 100 miles away from Rome. We read about what happened in those apparitions. We will think about the lesson they teach us!

 

Episode 181 -- Life of St Philip XV.181 -- Death Leads us to the Eternal Father

How did St Philip die?

Surrounded by love and prayers. We finally read about St Philip's actual death. All his spiritual sons were gathered around his bed. Prayers were being offered. Many tears were shed. Even in his death, St Philip shows us many lessons about how to love.