Lectio et Oratio

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.

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!