Lectio et Oratio

Episode 33 -- Life of St. Philip Bk III.33 -- Two Conversion Predictions

Did St Philip have special graces to know the future conversion of certain people?

In this episode we will read about a famous encounter between St Philip and Jewish friend of his. St Philip encouraged him to pray for light to know Christ. The man's response prompted St Philip to predict his future baptism. St Philip also foresaw the change of heart of a man who was opposed to his wife's frequentation of the sacraments.

Episode 32 -- Life of St. Philip Bk III.32 -- Bringing People to the Lord

In this episode we read about some of St Philip"s practical methods for guiding men in the practice of charity. Besides frequenting the sacraments and joining in daily meetings to discuss spiritual things, he employed his spiritual sons in taking care of those in the Roman hospitals.

Episode 31 -- Life of St. Philip Bk III.31 -- Love of Christ the Bridegroom

Episode 30 -- Life of St. Philip Bk III.30 -- Patience Wins Out

How did the persecution of the newly ordained St Philip end?

In this episode we will read about how the terrible persecution by the leader of the Confraternity of Charity and his two sacristans ended. The persecution lasted two years. St Philip never lost his patience exteriorly. And finally the sacristans had a deep change of heart. But not before one of them almost killed the other! Even Vincenzio Teccosi was converted and became a spiritual son of St Philip. How did St Philip endure this trial? Our Lord spoke to him with a clear interior voice at one of his darkest times.

Last episode we read about the envy of the leader of the Confraternity of Charity towards St Philip. St Philip lived at the church run by the Confraternity. And Vincenzio Teccosi developed an intense dislike to the new priest. Two ex-priests were working as sacristans. They made St Philip"s life very difficult. As St Philip said Mass everyday, their chances to insult him were daily!

Episode 29 -- Life of St. Philip Bk III.29 -- Persecution of Newly Ordained

Did everyone like the newly ordained Fr Philip Neri?

Having read about St Philip"s life as a newly ordained priest in terms of his offering of Mass, hearing confessions, and daily distribution of the word of God, we read in this episode about the hatred the two sacristans at St Jerome"s church felt towards St Philip. We will read how they persecuted him and tried to make him want to leave. Their tactics are somewhat surprising!

Episode 28 -- Life of St. Philip Bk III. 28 -- Daily Discourses on the Word of God

In this episode we read about St Philip's first efforts to gather Catholics in his rooms at St Jerome's for reading and discussion and preaching. St Philip was not content with getting them to daily Mass and frequenting Confession. He wanted to educate them in the ways of God. He wanted to lead them to greater holiness. He began his practice of daily discourses on the word of God.

Episode 27 -- Life of St. Philip Bk III.27 -- Hearing Confessions of Women

Did St Philip treat everyone the same way?

In this episode we will read more about how St Philip interacted with different kinds of penitents. He tried to find the right balance between being all things to all people and protecting himself from temptations. St Philip had self-knowledge and generosity.

Last episode we read about St Philip's special mission as a confessor. He took up this task, not from a personal wish, but from a sense of mission. God called him to this special work. And St Philip zealously carried out what he realized was God's will. He really sought to please the Lord and follow the will of others, as much as was prudent.

Episode 26 -- Life of St. Philip Bk III.26 -- Confession Questions

How important was hearing confessions to young Fr Philip Neri?

In this episode we begin looking at St Philip as a confessor. What motivated him to hear confessions? What were the fruits of his labours? As a layman, St Philip always had a regular confessor and made frequent confessions. As a priest, he continued to go to confession, but now made himself available to hear confessions. He welcomed all kinds of persons seeking forgiveness and growth in holiness.

Last episode we read about St Philip's love for the Sacrifice of the Mass. We read about his intense and eager way of receiving the Body and Blood of Christ. Having offered up the Body and Blood of Christ in the Mass, St Philip longed to receive this heavenly food and drink. His remarkable manner of receiving shows a man deeply aware of his spiritual hunger and his spiritual emptiness without Christ. St Philip lived amidst crosses and spiritual trials. He cherished the time of his communion above all other times of his day. He understood the value of Holy Communion as few others have. How the Holy Spirit filled him with lights to grasp the power of the Eucharist.

Episode 25 -- Life of St. Philip Bk III.25 -- Eucharistic Sacrifice and Communion

Did anything unusual happen when St Philip received Holy Communion during his Mass?

In this episode we read about some of the things that characterized the way St Philip received Communion after he was ordained. Fr Gallonio reports that St Philip showed an incredible eagerness to receive the Sacred Body of Christ and drink the Precious Blood. Those who were close testify that St Philip seemed to be tasting something very delightful. We know that St Philip would wear off the gilding at the rim of the chalice. St Philip even left his teeth marks in the chalice. What are we to make of these details? What do they mean?

Last episode we read about the way the Holy Spirit filled St Philip's heart and body with the effects of divine love during Mass. The Mass is the gift of Christ's love. The Mass is where the love of Christ is made most present to us. The Eucharist is the means by which we become loving persons. It is as though the Holy Spirit made St Philip into a living lesson about the value of the Mass. As many sections of Europe in the 16th century were rejecting the Mass and forgetting about its power, the Holy Spirit did marvels in the life of St Philip during Mass. St Philip reminds us that the Mass is where we encounter the Holy Spirit and are filled with the love of God.

Episode 24 -- Life of St. Philip Bk III.24 -- Darts of Divine Love at Mass

What kind of things started happening to St Philip when he first offered Mass?

In this episode, Fr Gallonio will tell us about the darts of divine love that the Holy Spirit would send into St Philip"s heart during Mass. These experiences would sometimes make it hard for St Philip to keep going at Mass. He would have to pause to regain his strength. Fr Gallonio explains what happened to St Philip in light of the Song of Songs: "The King has brought me into his wine cellar, he has ordained charity in me; stay me with flowers, encompass me with apples, for I am faint with love" (2:4-5).

Episode 23 -- Life of St. Philip Bk III.23 -- Understanding the Mass

In this episode we read about how St Philip"s mind and heart were especially absorbed in the mystery of the Mass starting at the offertory. He would have trouble pouring the water into the wine (symbol of humanity"s union with divinity). Without much effort, St Philip was caught up in the meaning of what he was doing as a priest. When the consecration took place, as he elevated the host, he felt like Someone was raising up off the ground. It was very hard for him to lower his arms. These and other events were not his own doing, but the work of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit used St Philip to rekindle in the Church a holy wonder at the mystery of the Mass.

Episode 22 -- Life of St. Philip Bk III.22 -- Love for the Priesthood

Did St Philip, after his ordination, have a special charity for priests?

In this episode we will read about one particular story during St Philip’s first year as a priest. The story is about St Philip’s ability to share what little food he had with a need priest during a period of scarcity. But we also will read about St Philip the Vocations Director! He drew other men to the priesthood soon after his ordination.

When he was ordained a priest, St Philip continued certain practices he had begun as a layman. In particular, he continued to be careful about the quantity and expense of his food. He also continued to live a very simple life, happy to make use of money he was given, but not interested in money for its own sake. At the same time, St Philip changed certain things about his way of life, especially where he lived. He took of residence in a house for priests attached to the church of St Jerome (San Girolamo della Carita). He lived with like minded secular priests who were dedicated to a serious prayer life and helping people frequent the sacraments.

Episode 21 -- Life of St. Philip Bk III.21 -- Surrounding Ourselves with Good People

With whom would St Philip live as a priest?

After St Philip was ordained a priest, the question arose where he should live. What kind of priest would he be? With whom would he associate? He chose to live at San Girolamo della Carita, the church were his confessor lived. A group of priests lived there without any vows, without any common meals, but dedicated to a life of holiness.

Last episode we read about St Philip’s ordination to the priesthood on May 23, 1551. St Philip was almost 36. Without his being aware, God had been preparing him for this step for a long time. Having completed all his philosophy and theology studies, with a good grasp of Latin, a love for the liturgy, the scriptures, and prayer, St Philip was an excellent candidate for the priesthood. How often in the previous year, with all the pilgrims, had his confessor realized what great good St Philip would do as a confessor! And so he put before St Philip he need he had to consider seriously becoming a priest. St Philip accepted!

 

Episode 20 -- Life of St. Philip Bk III.20 -- Becoming a Priest

What made St Philip become a Catholic priest? 

St Philip had a long time confessor in Rome, Fr Persiano Rosa. Fr Rosa had helped him found the Confraternity of the Holy Trinity. He had encouraged St Philip to go to Mass and communion everyday. But we owe Fr Rosa something even greater. He was the one who persuaded St Philip to accept Holy Orders. How much good came from that decision! In this episode we will read about the rapid process by which St Philip became a priest.

Last episode we read about two of the crucial experiences that shaped St Philip’s life, two visions of saints, including a vision of St John the Baptist. St Philip lived his life in obedience to God’s will. This obedience to the divine Will led him to Rome and the life he lived as an apostle among the laity, a man of prayer and penance.

Episode 19 -- Life of St. Philip Bk II.19 -- St Philip’s Encouraging Visions

Do we have any clues to what inspired St Philip to live this austere and apostolic life?

In this episode we read about two visions that St Philip experienced, one of St John the Baptist and one with two unnamed saints. These visions gave St Philip a certain amount of clarity about how he should live. St John the Baptist encouraged him to be an apostle and draw others to the Lord. The other vision showed him the path of fasting and frugality.

Last episode we read about St Philip’s remarkable early efforts to give alms. To encourage him, the Lord gave him certain miraculous helps. He once saved his life. He once allowed angels to appear as men and ask for alms. God seemed to always provide St Philip with the money he needed and the money others needed.

 

Episode 18 -- Life of St. Philip Book II.18 -- St Philip’s Almsgiving

As St Philip grew in holiness, how did the Lord inspire him to give alms?

In this episode, we will read about the time St Philip almost died as he was going around giving alms secretly at night. God saved him by the help of an angel. On another occasion an angel showed himself to St Philip after St Philip gave money to what he thought was a poor man. St Philip became by the help of the Lord a very generous man. All kinds of needy people received his help!

Episode 17 -- Life of St. Philip Bk II.17 -- Further Growth of the Fraternity

In this episode, we read about various ways St Philip’s Fraternity, the Confraternity of the Holy Trinity, developed into a famous charitable group. St Philip and his 15 friends had been looking after poor pilgrims and convalescents on a small scale. But when the Pope announced the Jubilee of 1550, hundreds of thousands of people made their way to Rome seeking a transformation of their spiritual lives. Many of these people were poor. St Philip and his fraternity opened a pilgrims’ hostile. Over time they were serving 500 people a day, 50,000 in that year. When the Jubilee ended, they used their new buildings for a concerted and serious effort to take care of all the convalescents being discharged from hospital before they were ready.

Episode 16 -- Life of St. Philip Bk II.16 -- Striving for Souls and Trusting in God

In this episode, we see the flame of zeal bursting forth in St Philip, zeal for the salvation of his neighbours. St Philip began to long to bring people closer to Christ, to “acquire new sons for Christ.” In particular, we read how he helped Prospero Crivelli break free from a serious occasion of sin and get to confession.

Episode 15 -- Life of St. Philip Bk II. 15 -- The Power of Encouragement

In this episode we read about the very beginning of the Confraternity of the Holy Trinity. St Philip, together with his confessor, organized a group of 15 laymen who would open a house of hospitality for the sick and poor pilgrims. On a very particular day, this group began, the last Tuesday in August 1548. These men soon were also organizing Eucharistic exposition once a month for 40 straight hours. St Philip combined love for Jesus in the Eucharist with love for Jesus in the poor.

Episode 14 -- Life of St. Philip Bk II.14 -- Revealing Spiritual Secrets to Only a Few

In this episode we read about St Philip’s daily practice of praying to the Holy Spirit to fill his soul with his gifts. We read how he confided to Cardinal Frederico Borromeo part of the secret of his heart palpitations. He told this nephew of St Charles how the Holy Spirit caused these strange experiences in his heart when he directed his mind towards God.