Lectio et Oratio

Episode 180 -- Life of St Philip XV.180 -- Joys and Sorrows Mixed Together

What does St Philip's final hours teach us?

Life is mixed with joys and sorrows. We read about St Philip's final evening before he died. We read about how happy he was. We read about how playful he was. But we also read about the frantic efforts of those close to him to keep him alive.

Last episode we read about St Philip's final day on earth. We saw how many lessons we were taught about the spiritual life from that final day:

• the Mass is most important,
• wake up early,
• take confession seriously,
• the need for friendship,
• the importance of spiritual reading
• the important role of obeying our doctors,
• praying in the morning and evening,
• and being able to be alone with God.

Episode 179 -- Life of St Philip XV.179 -- Path to Heaven

How did St Philip spend his final day on earth?

With joy, but doing very ordinary things. We read about St Philip's last few days on earth, but especially his final one. How much strength he seemed to have. How he said Mass on that final day. How God prepared him for eternity. But even here St Philip left us a lesson on prayer.

Last episode we read about St Philip friendships with certain members of his congregation. Like Our Lord and St John, St Philip loved some of his sons with a special tenderness. But St Philip wanted us to never lose sight of the friendship we can have with the Holy Spirit himself. Confirmation is the pathway to our personal relationship with the Spirit of Love.

Episode 178 -- Life of St Philip XV.178 -- Seek Friendship with the Holy Spirit

Did St Philip's sons always obey him?

No. We read about someone very close to St Philip whom Philip asked to return to Rome three time. Fr Ricci did not follow this advice. What happened in the end to this priest? Are all things lost if we make a mistake?

Last episode we read about one of St Philip's spiritual sons who did not delay in responding to the call of God. Let us ask the Holy Spirit to make us docile and ready to do His will.

Episode 177 -- Life of St Philip XV.177 -- Listening Better to the Holy Spirit

Is it important to follow the inspirations of God?

Yes. We read about a very close friend of St Philip's who was traveling away from Rome. He did not want St Philip to die while he was away. One night he became aware that God wanted him to cut his trip short. Would he make it back in time to see St Philip?

Episode 176 -- Life of St Philip XV.176 -- Spiritual Fatherhood is Possible

We read about St Philip's prediction of his own imminent death. People were convinced that he would live on for years. But he knew he would not. St Philip did not forget his promise to Francesco Zazarra. He called him and told him what his vocation in life was. St Philip shows us that spiritual fatherhood is possible.

Episode 175 -- Life of St Philip XV.175 -- Holy Communion Together with Mass is Best

We read about the famous night when St Philip received holy viaticum. He was not able to say Mass. His whole community was gathered in his room. When the Holy Eucharist came in the room, St Philip showed a remarkable love for the One he called the Physician of his soul.

Episode 174 -- Life of St Philip XV.174 -- Sacramental Strength at the End of Life

We read about the beginning of a very serious illness two weeks before St Philip died. He was given the last rites, confession, anointing of the sick, and holy communion. The Church strengthens us at the end of life like she does at the beginning of the Christian life with baptism, confirmation, and first Communion. Let us pray for a greater love for the sacraments. Let us pray for a holy death.

Episode 173 -- Life of St Philip XV.173 -- Assisting Others in Soul and in Body

Could St Philip assist the dying from a distance?

At times. We read tonight about St Philip's awareness that a friend would die. The friend was a doctor. He was barely sick. But St Philip knew that this was what would happen and happen very soon. St Philip promised to assist him. And even though St Philip was far away, he was with him in spirit. But St Philip could also help people by being physically present. He healed the Pope by touching his hand. St Philip knew how to accept what he could not change and what he could.

Last episode we read about St Philip's great zeal for the unity of the Church. During his Mass, St Philip was able to obtain the healing of the Archdeacon of Alexandria who was in Rome to help reconcile his Church with the Holy See. How we should never forget the connection between the Eucharist and the Church. The Eucharist makes the Church. And the Church makes the Eucharist.

Episode 172 -- Life of St Philip XV.172 -- Eucharist Makes the Church

Did St Philip have a special zeal for reconciling those raised in heresy to the Church?

Yes. We begin Fr Gallonio"s account of the last year of St Philip"s life. In October of that year, Barsum, the Archdeacon of Alexandria, Egypt came to Rome to be reconciled with the Church. Barsum was raised as a Monophysite Christian, that is, those who confess only one nature in Christ Jesus. This heresy partly arose out of a misunderstanding of the council of Chalcedon. During one of St Philip's long Masses, Barsum was restored to health by being able to sleep. Why is it so fitting that someone be helped to reenter the full unity of the Church through the Mass?

Last episode we read about St Philip seeing various spiritual children go to heaven. He saw their souls in the form of light. How we should ask St Philip to be our spiritual father. How he can still guide people to heaven. St Philip is a master for helping people in the world to seek and to find God. May he help guide each of us to that place of light where he is now with the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

Episode 171 -- Life of St Philip XIV.171 -- Most Beautiful Thing in the World

Did St Philip ever get assurance that his spiritual children were in heaven?

Yes. We read about various visions that God gave to St Philip of the spirits of his deceased spiritual children. St Philip was allowed to know that those he had helped were in heaven. St Philip even used this knowledge to encourage others who were in spiritual danger.

Last episode we read about St Philip's remarkable encounter with the Blessed Virgin Mary a year before he died. God often gives great graces to encourage us. God also tells us things about Our Lady by that grace given to St Philip. Our Lady has a body in heaven. Our Lady has gone before us. There at the wedding banquet of the Lamb she looks down on those in need. Just as she interceded with her son at the wedding at Cana for those in need, so she continues to do so in heaven.

Episode 170 -- Life of St Philip XIV.170 -- Loving Mary as the Summit of Creation

Did the Blessed Virgin Mary ever appear to St Philip?

Yes. We read about what people saw who were with St Philip. No one else saw the Blessed Virgin. But they could tell that St Philip was speaking to her and was hugging her. They also knew from the evidence of what happened next. St Philip went from being on the point of death to being perfectly well.

Last episode we read about St Philip's serious illness a year before he died. We heard about the medical men that were there. We read about the first things that St Philip said to Mary when she appeared to him. St Philip did not think himself worthy. St Philip gives us a lesson about the meaning of the Christmas season. God loves us. He sent his Son to us. His love does not respond in the first place to our goodness. God loves us first.

Episode 169 -- Life of St Philip XIV.169 -- God’s Loving Initiative

What kinds of health difficulties did St Philip endure?

Mainly bad fevers. For many years of his life, St Philip suffered for extended periods of high fevers. One year before he died he spent 25 days in a feverish condition. This was followed by a very serious kidney trouble. St Philip was so weakened that everyone thought he was about to die. But then something happened. Someone came to save him. Never was it known that anyone who fled to your protection or sought your intercession was left unaided...

Last episode we read about St Philip's vision of angels after the death of his young penitent Elena Massimi. Elena showed remarkable spiritual maturity. She was very docile to her confessor and very devoted to the Eucharist and the Passion of Christ. Her path to holiness was the path showed by the Magi themselves. The path to Christ consists in following the graces that God gives us. Little by little, the Lord leads us to himself. But we have to follow his inspirations. We have to follow the "star" that he sends us.

Episode 168 -- Life of St Philip XIV.168 -- Step by Step to Holiness

Did St Philip have experience directing people who experienced supernatural visions?

Yes. We read about St Philip's young penitent, Elena. She died very young, but rooted her life in the Eucharist and Confession. But she also was given the grace to see saints and angels. St Philip taught her the importance of the love of God.

Episode 167 -- Life of St Philip XIV.167 -- Getting the Grace to Accept God’s Will

We read about St Philip handing over the governance of the Oratory to Baronius. St Philip was able to make sure that the Congregation was well run by someone else before he died. Baronius did not think he was capable of this task. But God gave him the grace. God always gives the grace to do what he asks us to do.

Episode 166 -- Life of St Philip XIV.166 -- Combining Humility and Magnaminity

Did St Philip ask to resign from being Provost?

Yes. We read about St Philip's decision to resign as the head of the Oratory. We read about his motivations. We read about the efforts to make him change his mind.

Last episode we read about St Philip and prayer. We read about the way the devil tries to get us to stop praying. But there are also temptations from within ourselves and from outside ourselves that seek to keep us from God. We have to pray to want to pray!

Episode 165 -- Life of St Philip XIV.165 -- Joy and Peace and Prayer

Did the devil ever try to stop St Philip from praying?

Yes. We read about a little tactic the devil used to keep St Philip from praying. You might call it a dirty trick! We also read about a young wife who was very sick just after giving birth. Her husband persisted in getting St Philip to visit her. This story helps us see that while the devil tries to hinder prayer, other people can help us get closer to God.

Episode 164 -- Life of St Philip XIV.164. -- Dealing With Scruples

We read about a friend of St Philip with scruples. Scruples are not just doubts or difficulties. Scruples are a spiritual condition that even saints in their early days went through, for example, St Francis de Sales and Bl. Anthony Grassi. Scruples involves seeing evil where there is no evil. A scrupulous person is always afraid that he or she has done something sinful. Scruples will cause a kind of spiritual paralysis. They leave a person without peace. Scruples are a terrible affliction that require, usually, a spiritual father to guide a person through. St Philip was given great graces to help those with scruples. He knew that one of the best remedies is to manifest to others what kinds of thoughts we are having.

Episode 163 -- Life of St Philip XIV.163 -- Instantaneous Healings of Body and Soul

When St Philip was sick, did he ever ask some of his penitents to wait until he got better to go to confession?

Yes. We read about a forty day fever that St Philip had. During that time, some of his normal penitents went to other confessors. But there was a group of young men that St Philip asked to wait. He asked them not to confess to another priest, but to be patient. Why would St Philip do this? What lesson can we learn from this on the first day of the year?

Episode 162 -- Life of St Philip XIV.162 -- Preparing for the End

We read about St Philip's awareness that death was imminent for certain people. St Philip wanted people to ponder the mystery of death. We know that Christ took upon himself this consequence of original sin and transformed it into the path to his Father in heaven. Let us thank God for any way in which he has helped me appreciate how close our own deaths are.

Episode 161 -- Life of St Philip XIV.161 -- All the Old Testament Converges on Christ

Does the Pope himself ever baptize people?

Yes. We read about four young men whose uncle, their guardian, became a Christian. The boys were Jewish, but their uncle asked the Oratorians to help educate them. Their eventual baptism took place in a surprising way.