Lectio et Oratio

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.

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.