Lectio et Oratio

Episode 80 -- Life of St Philip VII.80. -- Counsels for More Easily Seeking Perfection

We read about two young men who joined the Dominican Order in Rome in 1562. Both men died after a short time in the Order of Preachers, but both men made great spiritual progress. St Philip approved of their desire to follow the counsels of the Lord: voluntary and full chastity, poverty, and obedience. These counsels are meant to help remove the main obstacles to perfect charity. Sexual pleasure, money, and our own wills are often some of the greatest obstacles to following God. The counsels seek to remove these obstacles so that we might more easily seek the perfection of divine love.

Episode 79 -- Life of St Philip VII.79 -- Constancy and Intercessory Prayer

We read about the the death of Iacopo Marmitta, secretary to Cardinal Ricci of Montepulciano, a man of intelligence, prudence and education. He used to confess his sins several times a week to Philip, who was very fond of him, and he received Communion at the church of San Girolamo." But this devout penitent of St Philip's did not accept his final sickness with much constancy of mind or joy. St Philip was able to turn Iacopo more to the Lord. He was able to help him see what the source of true constancy of mind is: the Lord. Constancy is that special part of the virtue of fortitude that helps us stand strong in the face of external obstacles.

Last episode, we read about St Philip saving the life of his friend Delia Buscaglio when she was dying in childbirth. St Philip encouraged her to turn her life completely to Christ. He interpreted this dramatic time in her life and the loss of her child as a chance for her to draw closer to the Lord than ever before. Likewise, St Philip showed great compassion on her husband, Gasparo. Gasparo was in despair, thinking his wife had died. But after Philip saved her, he went and found Gasparo and encouraged him to comfort his wife and to keep the commandments.

Episode 78 -- Life of St Philip VII.78 -- Saving a Wife‘s Life and Supporting Marriage

Did St Philip have much experience with married couples?

Yes. He loved when spouses went to the same priest for confession. We read about some close friends of his. The occasion is a very sad one. The pregnant wife was dying from a very difficult attempt to deliver her child. St Philip saves her life in this episode's reading. He gives very consoling advice to her husband.

Episode 77 -- Life of St Philip VII.77 -- Death of Infants in the Womb

We read about St Philip's friend who began to give birth to her fourth child. But the child was turned the wrong direction. The midwife could not do anything to stop the child from coming out feet first. Doctors arrived as the child was stuck. The mother was very close to death. No one did anything wrong and yet this terrible event happened. How we must entrust to the mercy of God children who die without baptism!

Episode 76 -- Life of St Philip VII.76 -- Role of Angels

To whom are human beings similar through their souls?

Angels. Angels are spirits, pure spirits, without any material component. But they are persons; an angel is someone, not something. These personal beings can know and love. The good angels are sent to help us. And we read about what happened on September 28, 1561. On the vigil of St Michael, St Philip drove the devils away from Sebastiano. In their place, angels, lots of angels surrounded Sebastian as he passed in his soul, in his spirit, to eternal life.

Last episode we read about how the devils tried to make Sebastian despair of divine help. They so tried to scare him that he lost all hope of his soul entering heaven after he died. His friends by his bedside and his parish priest knew they could not save his bodily life, but they hoped to help his spiritual life. Although they did everything correctly, nothing seemed to help the deep depression Sebastian had fallen into. Let us not be discouraged if our efforts seem in vain. Let us pray and fast and beg the Lord to send someone who can help.

Episode 75 -- Life of St Philip VII.75 -- Having a Body and a Soul

Are human beings a composite of body and soul?

Yes. We read about another spiritual son of St Philip who faced very difficult temptations at the end of his life. The story brings out the distinction in us between our body and soul. Death is the separation of the body and the soul. But then, at that moment, what happens?

Episode 74 -- Life of St Philip VII.74 -- False Confession and Later Conversion

We read about the miraculous conversion of a young man set only on a life of pleasure. By God's providence he bumped into a friend in the streets who found a way to bring him to the Oratory. After hearing the discourses, he met St Philip. Talked into going to confession, he tried to make up a whole confession. But that was a big mistake with St Philip! This event led to his vocation as a friar.

Episode 73 -- Life of St Philip VI.73 -- Learning from Failures

Did St Philip's knowledge of someone's future ever make him sad?

Yes. In this episode we read a really interesting case of a young man who showed the highest promise as an Oratorian. Everyone seemed to think he was on the road to great holiness. But then he decided he had to seek a more perfect form of life. He decided he needed to become a Dominican. At the clothing ceremony, God made known what would happen to this young man. St Philip wept. How careful we must be in our choice of a state in life!

Last episode we read about St Philip's ability to judge the state of someone's soul by looking at them in the face. He could be aware both of serious sin and serious holiness. St Philip awareness of what someone had done did not lead him to look down on the person. Instead, his zeal for their salvation and his sympathy for their situation showed itself. How gentle and winning St Philip was!

Episode 72 -- Life of St Philip VI.72 -- Humility After Hearing of the Falls of Others

Did St Philip look down on people when he, by divine help, knew their secret sins?

No! St Philip was never surprised by human weakness. He knew his own heart too well. He knew what the consequences of original sin made possible. Far from looking down on people in their weakness, he had sympathy for them. He suffered with them. He prayed for them. He encouraged them. He knew how harmful it is spiritually to keep our sins inside. He knew the human need to reveal what we have done wrong. St Philip wanted to make this easier for people. Why? Because he truly loved them with divine love.

Last episode we read about the discernment of spirits that God gave to St Philip. Not only was he able to know future things, he knew the secret and hidden things that men and women had done. God alone could know such thing. God alone could share this knowledge with St Philip. Through this gift of knowing the secret movements of human hearts, St Philip was used by God to convince others that God was real. St Philip became a living argument for the reality of the unseen world and the divine protection of the Church.

Episode 71 -- Life of St Philip VI.71 -- Making Sincere Confessions

Can priests ever know what people will confess before confession?

St Philip often could! We will read about the gift of reading souls that St Philip had. He knew what sins people had committed. He knew what their temptations were. He gave them great advice!

Episode 70 -- Life of St Philip VI.70 -- Priestly Work With Varied Persons

In this episode we read about three different penitents of St Philip: Franceso Maria Tarugi, an unnamed devout lady, and a military officer. St Philip guided all kinds of persons in the spiritual life. He can guide each one of us too.

Episode 69 -- Life of St Philip VI.69 -- Sharing in Christ‘s Priesthood

From what in the priest's soul does he have the power to celebrate Mass, forgive sins, and guide souls in the name of Jesus?

Sacramental character. When a man is ordained a priest, his soul is stamped as it were with a spiritual seal. The soul is marked with an indelible character that gives him a share in Christ's priesthood as Head of the Church. A priest can stop acting as a priest, but his soul is changed forever. He is a priest forever. And so St Philip surprised everyone when he told a seventeen year old boy, dressed in lay clothes, that he was a priest. We will read about how St Philip recognized his priestly identity.

Last episode we read about St Philip as a pastor, a shepherd. The previous nights we read about St Philip's sacramental work in celebrating Mass and hearing confessions. But a priest also has to direct others in the right path. He has to act like a shepherd, guiding and protecting the flock. St Philip saw a great danger to the flock in the Centuries of Magdeburg, a Protestant history book that misrepresented the way the Church grew and developed. But St Philip also saw the needs of one of his own sheep, Baronio. St Philip saw what would truly help Baronio and the Church herself. Baronio must become a historian. He must teach others about the true course of events. He must then publish his discoveries. A Catholic priest must sanctify, govern, and teach.

Episode 68 -- Life of St Philip VI.68 -- Praying for Docility in Learning God‘s Will

Besides a richer sacramental life of the Eucharist and confession, what does St Philip want his children to do?

Work for the truth, work for the salvation and well-being of others. In this episode we read about the origins of the most famous History of the Church ever written, the Annales Ecclesiastici, the Year by Year History of the Church by Cesare Baronio (or Baronius). By an inspiration of the Holy Spirit, St Philip recognized that Baronio could answer the destructive Protestant history, the Centuries of Magdeburg. But St Philip did not unfold the plan all at once to Baronio. Contrary to his own ideas and plans, Baronio followed the commands of St Philip. And thus the most famous Catholic historian was borne!

Last episode we heard about the sacrament of confession through a story involving Baronius. When all he wanted to do was have time for himself and his own plans, Baronio was ordered by St Philip to go to the hospital of the Holy Spirit, about a 10-15 minute walk away. There he found a man on the point of death who had not made a final confession. With Baronio's help, the man made his confession to the Chaplain. How blessed we are to have opportunities to make confession, to be reconciled to God, to grow in holiness!

Episode 67 -- Life of St Philip VI.67 -- Importance of Sacramental Confession

Besides the Eucharist, what other sacrament did St Philip have most at heart?

Confession, that is, the sacrament of Penance. In this episode's reading, St Philip becomes aware by his spirit of prophecy that a man is dying. He unexpectedly calls for Cesare Baronius, the earnest, studious, former law student who came under St Philip's care. Baronius probably struggled with gluttony. He struggled with being generous with his time for others. He loved to have his own time for all his own intellectual projects. In this episode's reading, St Philip teaches Baronius a valuable lesson and helps save someone's soul.

We saw last episode how important Eucharistic adoration was to St Philip. As a confirmation of this practice, Our Lord appeared to St Philip during exposition and blessed him and all those praying for a special intention. St Philip not only wanted people to go to daily Mass, if possible, but also to spend time before the Holy Eucharist in the tabernacle or the Monstance. Yes, God dwells as our friend and guest in our souls by our knowledge and love of Him. Yes, he is present in all places by his power over all things. Yes, all things are present to God's mind. Yes, God himself is holding us in existence. But in the Holy Eucharist, God the Son is fully present in his humanity. His Sacred Heart is there with all its human love for us.

Episode 66 -- Life of St Philip VI.66 -- Importance of Eucharistic Adoration

What is the one of the most powerful ways to pray for a specific need?

The Devotion of the Forty Hours. We saw a few days ago how the early Oratorians were told by a mysterious visitor to host the Forty Hours. This was in the middle of an attack of St Philip's various apostolates: confessions, spiritual meetings, pilgrimages. In this episode we read about the Dominicans holding a Forty Hours devotion for their own special purposes. The writings of the famous Dominican Savonarola, who was executed in 1495, were being examined by various cardinals in the Roman curia. The Dominicans did not want any of the writings condemned. St Philip, who thought Savonarola was a saint, joined them. During the exposition of the Blessed Sacrament, St Philip fell into an ecstasy, his body became like a stone, and Our Lord appeared to him. He gave him a message for all those praying.

Last episode we read about St Philip's love for spending time in contemplative prayer after Mass. He loved to be alone with Him whom he knew loved him. But St Philip was often in high demand after Mass. He would leave his intimate union with the Lord in prayer to serve him in his Body, the Church. He would leave Christ for Christ. But at the same time, we see a sign about the whole fruitfulness of St Philip's apostolate. Everything he did, he did for Christ. Everything he did followed from his love for Christ in the Eucharist.

Episode 65 -- Life of St Philip VI.65 -- The Eucharist and Fraternal Charity

How did St Philip understand the constant interruptions of his day?

Leaving Christ for Christ. He would leave Christ to whom he was attentive in prayer to be with Christ in those who needed his help. St Philip is presented to us as one who was always willing to give himself to others where he could be of assistance.

Last episode we read about the remarkable interior charity of St Philip. We read about his intense desire for the salvation of others. He longed to unite people to Christ. Why? First and foremost, he loved Christ. From his intense encounter with the Lord, he wanted to share Him with others, no matter the cost. May the Lord fill us with the same love he gave St Philip. Would that he might fill us with the love of St Philip and St Francis combined!

Episode 64 -- Life of St Philip VI.64 -- True Priestly Charity for Others

After St Philip regained permission to help people as he wished, what did his life look like?

In this episode we read one of the most inspiring accounts of the priestly heart of St Philip. Like St Paul, "he became all things to all men" (1 Cor 9:22). St Philip prayed for the grace to love other people truly. And the Lord put into his heart the most sincere desire for their spiritual well-being. What a marvellous love was poured into St Philip's heart!

Last episode we read about the mysterious friar who announced an end to the ecclesiastical persecution of St Philip. He advised the Forty Hours Devotion, that is, exposition of the Blessed Sacrament for Forty Straight Hours in honour of the 40 hours that Our Lord's body was in the tomb. This devotion began in the 1530s in Milan. St Philip as a layman had introduced it to Rome with the help of a priest. Now it was used as God's way of raising up St Philip from his forced inaction. The result was that St Philip's priesthood was raised up to new heights of charity. All those, except for one, who had persecuted St Philip, were won over by his humility and goodness and patience. The one man who opposed him died a very sudden and unexpected death.

Episode 63 -- Life of St Philip VI.63 -- Heavenly Help and Persecution Stops

Why did God allow this persecution of St Philip?

According to St Philip God allowed this trial to take place in order that St Philip might grow in humility! St Philip learned to submit himself even more to God and His Will. At the same time, this trial brought to St Philip's spiritual children a wonderful lesson: "those who follow St Philip, if they persist, will die in holiness."

Last episode we saw how priests, bishops, and even Cardinals were turning on St Philip. He was under great suspicion amongst the leading Church authorities in Rome. But St Philip never allowed people to speak badly of those who persecuted him. St Philip prayed for them.

Episode 62 -- Life of St Philip VI.62 -- Reacting to Persecution by Church Authorities

What should you do when even the highest representatives in the Church are wrongly suspicious of you?

We will read about St Philip's reaction to being called before the Pope's Vicar General in Rome. This Cardinal was the Pope's right hand man for all the practical details of running the Church in Rome itself. A vicar general is charged with administering the diocese under the Pope. The rumours about St Philip's ambition came to his ears. He not only insulted St Philip, but he ordered him to stop most of his priestly work for a time period. St Philip's reaction is very interesting!

Last episode we read about the beginning of the persecution of St Philip after he began taking large crowds of men on the pilgrimage to the seven Churches. Envy, hatred, slander. St Philip faced all of these. The whole city seemed to be talking about the greedy, ambitious, and dangerous priest at San Girolamo. St Philip was not bothered because he knew that Our Lord draws closer to those in tribulation. St Philip also knew his conscience was clear.

Episode 61 -- Life of St Philip VI.61 -- Persecution, Slander, Working for God

What did some people say about St Philip as these pilgrimages to the seven churches grew?

St Philip began to be verbally attacked in 1559 for his pilgrimages. We will read about the envy and hatred of some and what they said about St Philip and his motivation for organizing these pilgrimages. People had never seen such popular religious events. On these pilgrimages, St Philip had hundreds and hundreds of men walking all day, praying, singing, and listening to sermons. The rumours began that he was ambitious and trying to make himself famous. They said he was greedy, a glutton, and a revolutionary. We will read about St Philip's basic response.

Last episode we read about all the good that St Philip was doing through sharing his pilgrimage to the seven churches with other people. From small beginnings (15-30 people), they grew into huge gatherings with 800 men going to communion. At times there may have even been 2,000 men making the journey. St Philip was drawing men away from sinful amusements. He was bonding them together. He was drawing others to a more serious Christian life. He wanted men to frequent the sacraments (confession and communion).