Lectio et Oratio

What especially drew people to St Philip?

His gentleness. Fr Gallon has told us about St Philip's humility, his prayerfulness, his gift of tears. He tells us about St Philip's gentleness. Our Lord said, "learn from me for I am gentle and humble in heart." Christ infused into St Philip his own gentle heart. St Philip was able to moderate his anger to a heroic degree. His gentleness influenced how he dealt with people, especially when they needed correction. His gentleness especially showed in his face. His gentleness was expressed as joy.

Last episode we read about St Philip's special gift of tears. Tears flowed from his sorrow at sin and its effects. But we will see that St Philip combined sadness with cheerfulness. His sadness did not break out into immoderate anger. His sadness did not stop him from having a joyful countenance that drew many people to the Lord's service. St Philip, help us be cheerful in penance!

We read about St Philip's prudence. Prudence is wisdom in practical matters, wisdom in how to achieve a certain goal. True prudence knows the best means to get to heaven and reach holiness. Prudence is both a personal virtue, knowing what one should do for one's own holiness. But there is also prudence in guiding others in the ways of God. St Philip excelled in both. But at the heart of his prudence was his recognition of the uniqueness of each person. Like St Paul, he tried to adapt himself to each person, each unique reflection of God.

What especially drew people to St Philip?

His gentleness. Fr Gallon has told us about St Philip's humility, his prayerfulness, his gift of tears. He tells us about St Philip's gentleness. Our Lord said, "learn from me for I am gentle and humble in heart." Christ infused into St Philip his own gentle heart. St Philip was able to moderate his anger to a heroic degree. His gentleness influenced how he dealt with people, especially when they needed correction. His gentleness especially showed in his face. His gentleness was expressed as joy.

Last episode we read about St Philip's special gift of tears. Tears flowed from his sorrow at sin and its effects. But we will see that St Philip combined sadness with cheerfulness. His sadness did not break out into immoderate anger. His sadness did not stop him from having a joyful countenance that drew many people to the Lord's service. St Philip, help us be cheerful in penance!

Why did St Philip weep so much?

The gift of tears. We read about the sadness that St Philip experienced as he pondered the sufferings of Christ, the sins human beings commit, and our great distance from being like Christ. St Philip's subsequent tears were a sign of sympathy, of co-suffering with Christ and others. Tears are a result of solidarity, of being one with others. St Philip wept for the sins of others as though they were his own. And he wept over the sufferings of Christ out of his deep union with Christ. He truly made the interests of Christ his own, or rather, the Holy Spirit gave St Philip this gift. Come, Holy Spirit!

Last episode we read about St Philip's love for prayer. St Philip longed to pray and longer to grow in prayer. In our prayers, we especially must be grateful when we begin to desire to love the Lord more. Such desire is a sign of the virtue of hope at work in our souls!

What was St Philip's most valued activity?

Prayer. We read Gallonio's summary of the high degree of prayer that St Philip obtained. He will stress St Philip's love of God. He will stress St Philip's interest in contemplation. One of the best places to read more about contemplation is the Catechism of the Catholic Church, 2709-2719. Contemplation is a "gaze of faith fixed on Jesus, attentiveness to the Word of God, a silent love" (CCC 2724).

Last episode we read about St Philip's poverty. Money is a means, not the end of life. Money cannot make us happy. But God inspired in the heart of St Philip a heroic attitude to money and riches.

What is the second virtue that Gallonio especially identifies in St Philip?

His love of poverty. St Philip was very aware of the dangers of riches for the spiritual life. Like pride, money brings great dangers of self-sufficiency and illusions of importance. St Philip knew that money was meant to be spent for good things, for things that are truly necessary. He understood that necessity includes both what is absolutely necessary, but also what is necessary for a good and fitting life according to one's position. St Philip was never married. He eventually became a priest. He turned down various offers for becoming a wealthy man. Why did he do this? How did he look on money? St Philip wanted to be content with what he truly needed. He wanted his heart free for God. But at the same time, he loved to have money to give away and use for good purposes.

Last episode we finished reading about St Philip's humility. St Philip's humility often took the form of jokes! His sense of humour was used to hide from others his profound wisdom and spiritual gifts. He likes to mingle humour with his serious teaching. St Philip took God very seriously and the search for true holiness. But he did not take himself that seriously. St Philip's humility was rooted in his deep awareness of who God is. He was aware of God the Father's own "humility." St Philip wanted to be content with a loving relationship with Christ Jesus and His mystical body. How we need to pray for faith and understanding and knowledge.

Why did St Philip fear being admired and overly praised?

His humility. We read about St Philip's true desire to be thought little of. Some of St Philip's actions might seem strange to us. He really did not like admiration. He really did not like being thought great. St Philip's actions sprang from the deep inner source, his humility. Christ told us: learn from me for I am gentle and humble of heart. St Philip lived in the truth of God as few ever have.

Last episode we read about St Philip's avoidance of boasting. He knew that vainglory seeks to manifest unnecessarily one's excellence to others. What pride seeks to have, vain glory seeks to show forth. Boasting is one way to gain vain glory, empty glory.

Why did St Philip not boast of founding the Oratory?

He did not intend to found it. St Philip was very aware of how little intention he had in founding the Oratory. He realized very clearly that this was God's work. He realized how little he contributed. St Philip had a strong conviction of the primacy of God's providence and His grace in directing Philip's life.

Last episode began the final section of Gallonio's biography of St Philip. Gallonio begins his discussion of St Philip's virtues by talking about humility. Humility makes one be subject to God out of reverence. Humility is built on faith in God's holiness. But humility also becomes the foundation of the Christian life because it undermines the main obstacle: pride. Humility holds us back from desiring great things that are beyond us. Humility helps us keep in mind our weaknesses and limitations so that we go for the great things that God wants us to go for.

What virtue is the foundation of the spiritual life?

Humility. We begin the final section of Gallonio's biography. He takes us through St Philip's most prominent virtues. He begins with humility. We discuss St Philip's love for humility and his sense of dependence on God.

We read about the many miracles that occurred after St Philip was buried, but which were never discussed by Gallonio. Fr Gallonio selected the miracles he did for various reasons. How we need to love the truth. How we need to think about the best way to communicate the truth.