Lectio et Oratio

Episode 93 -- Life of St. Philip VIII.93 -- Saints and Healing Powers

We read about various persecutions that kept cropping up against St Philip. But St Philip was like the boy that he healed of an eye disease around the same time. St Philip's spiritual vision had been healed. Enlightened by God through wisdom, St Philip saw all things that happened as related to God.

Episode 92 -- Life of St. Philip VIII.92 -- Messiness in Our Souls

We read about St Philip's friendship with Antonio Fucci, a medical doctor. St Philip helped him make a holy death in 1566 by not only visiting him and giving him the sacraments, but also uncovering a deceit of the devil. The devil had appeared to Antonio as a doctor! He told him that he would get better and live. This was a lie. In discussing the death of Antonio Fucci, Gallonio told an earlier story about Antonio. In his medical practice, he had special temptations against purity. He was especially troubled when he was treating women, but also men. Antonio was so discouraged that he was going to quit being a doctor. St Philip encouraged him, blessed him, and from that day on, the heart of Antonio was strengthened. He was able to carry on his work without being troubled by lustful thoughts about men or women.

Episode 91 -- Life of St. Philip VIII.91 -- Holy People Misunderstand Each Other Sometimes

Did St Philip know who would be elected Pope?

Yes. We read about St Pius V's election on January 7. We also will read about St Philip's appreciation for frequent confession. May the Lord help us become saints through confession.

Episode 90 -- Life of St. Philip VIII.90 -- Early Church Imitation

We read about the early life of the first Oratorians. They devoted themselves to the Eucharist, the common life (fellowship), prayer, and handing on to others the things of God. We see a small microcosm of the early Church (Acts 2:42).

Episode 89 -- Life of St. Philip VIII.89 -- Taking Care (even imperfectly) of Our Part of the Vineyard

We read about the remarkable apostolate that the earliest Oratorians began to carry out. They were making use of the Roman Siesta, that period of 3 hours in the afternoon when many people took a nap. St Philip and the others would gather those who were seeking Christian perfection. They would give them four talks. Each talk was 30 minutes long!

Episode 88 -- Life of St. Philip VIII.88 -- Giving Indirect Commands Gently

We read about the obedience St Philip was able to win from his spiritual sons. But St Philip rarely gave direct commands. Instead he won the affection of his sons. He gained their trust. He would use indirect suggestions, humour, and tact. He was able to guide these men in whatever way the Lord suggested. How we need to pray for genuine love for the brethren!

Last episode we read about the way the future Oratorians lived in 1564. We read about the family connections that Tarugi had to various Popes. In his early years of manhood, Tarugi was very close to the future Pope Clement VIII. Gallonio gives wonderful descriptions of the authority of the Pope. May we always honour and respect the office of chief shepherd, the office of Peter, the Bishop of Rome.

Episode 87 -- Life of St. Philip VIII.87 -- Why the Church has a Chief Shepherd

Did all the earliest Oratorians have the same exact background?

By no means. We will read about the other early disciples of St Philip who began to live together at the church of the Florentines in Rome. These men differed in age and background. They had different family histories. Like the Apostles, the early Oratorians were a diverse group. But what they had in common was a desire to live under St Philip's direction.

Last episode, we heard the interesting way the Oratory of St Philip got its beginnings. The Oratory is a way of life for priests and brothers who live together without any external bonds or vows, but simply out of the inner bond of charity. They believe that God has called them together. St Philip reestablished in Rome the practice of secular priests living together without vows, but with a community life. When St Philip first gathered some spiritual sons into a community, he did not have any grand ideas in mind. He was simply responding to the requests of Divine Providence. By his fidelity, God did greater things than were first imagined possible.

Episode 86 -- Life of St. Philip VIII.86 -- Lead Kindly Light

How would this work of St Philip as a priest be prolonged in the Church?

By a new congregation. We read about the providential beginning of the Congregation of the Oratory. St Philip never thought he was starting a new group in the Church. But one day, after he recovered from his first great serious illness, Philip was asked to take over the Church of the Florentines in Rome. In agreeing to staff the church, he asked three disciples to be ordained priests. From those three men, a remarkable new congregation would develop. We call it the Oratory of St Philip Neri.

Last episode, we read about the importance of female disciples of the Lord. One of St Philip's most devout penitents was a woman who brought many others to Christ by her example and words. We need priests. But the Church also needs people in the world, especially women!

Episode 85 -- Life of St. Philip VII.85 -- Power of Feminine Witness in the World

Did St Philip have special power over headaches?

It seems so. We will hear about one of his female penitents who was cured of her terrible headaches by St Philip. The story reminds one somewhat of Our Lord's raising of Lazarus. Like with Lazarus, St Philip commands her to take off all her bandages.

Episode 84 -- Life of St. Philip VII.84 -- Charism of Healing and Spiritual Healing

We read about a healing that St Philip performed after a man had received the Anointing of the Sick, the Last Anointing. St Philip himself was cured during a very serious illness by the Anointing itself. But we know the Church has another means for curing such illnesses, those who have the charism of healing (1 Corinthians 12:9).

Episode 83 -- Life of St. Philip VII.83 -- Power of the last Anointing

Did St Philip ever draw very close to death?

Yes. We will read about one of the first times St Philip nearly died. His doctors were sure the end was near. He received the sacraments of the Church. But his spiritual children reacted with immense love and faith. They prayed, lamented, and fasted. They stood by their spiritual father. And he got better!

Episode 82 -- Life of St. Philip VII.82 -- Focusing on the Greatness of God

We read about how St Philip suffered annual sicknesses and how he reacted. St Philip's reaction was one of patience and resignation, but also of joy. St Philip joyfully embraced the Lord's will. He was convinced that whatever God willed was best. St Philip had one concern: to be useful in the Lord's service. He was convinced he had done very little for the Lord. Why? He was deeply aware of God's greatness and all the graces he had received.

Episode 81 -- Life of St. Philip VII.81 -- Married Holiness is Possible

Did St Philip ever lose any close friends to death?

Yes. We will read about the death of Giovan Battista Salviati. St Philip had known him for seven years. Born in Florence, Giovan was of the highest nobility in Italy. He and his wife had lived a very worldly life without much consideration of God. Converted by St Philip, he became one of the most faithful visitors to the Roman hospitals. We read of his holy death in the presence of St Philip.

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.