Lectio et Oratio

What did Fr Marc Antonio Maffa do after his life was spared?

He placed the first plaque on the tomb of St Philip. Fr Maffa wanted to show gratitude to St Philip and so he not only visited the tomb to thank God and St Philip, but he had a testimony placed at the tomb explaining how St Philip's prayers and merits saved his life. What is the best way to give thanks to God for favours received? What lesson does this episode's reading teach about giving thanks to the Risen Christ?

Last episode we read about the dangerous fever that Fr Maffa fell into on August 6, 1595, the feast of the Transfiguration of Christ. Matthew 17:1-8, Mark 9:2-8, and Luke 9:28-36 all recount this event that occurred several months before Christ died and rose. Our Lord's body and face and clothes were transformed. Theologians tell us that this was a temporary anticipation of the glory of His Resurrected body. Christ allowed the glory of his soul to spill over into his body. Christ's Transfiguration is telling us what last episode's reading was telling us: his Risen power can enter into our world. He gives us glimpses from time to time to encourage us! He can save us from the selfishness and sinful inclinations which seek to destroy us. We can live, through Christ, no longer for ourselves, but for Him and others.

What did Fr Marc Antonio Maffa do after his life was spared?

He placed the first plaque on the tomb of St Philip. Fr Maffa wanted to show gratitude to St Philip and so he not only visited the tomb to thank God and St Philip, but he had a testimony placed at the tomb explaining how St Philip's prayers and merits saved his life. What is the best way to give thanks to God for favours received? What lesson does this episode's reading teach about giving thanks to the Risen Christ?

Last episode we read about the dangerous fever that Fr Maffa fell into on August 6, 1595, the feast of the Transfiguration of Christ. Matthew 17:1-8, Mark 9:2-8, and Luke 9:28-36 all recount this event that occurred several months before Christ died and rose. Our Lord's body and face and clothes were transformed. Theologians tell us that this was a temporary anticipation of the glory of His Resurrected body. Christ allowed the glory of his soul to spill over into his body. Christ's Transfiguration is telling us what last episode's reading was telling us: his Risen power can enter into our world. He gives us glimpses from time to time to encourage us! He can save us from the selfishness and sinful inclinations which seek to destroy us. We can live, through Christ, no longer for ourselves, but for Him and others.

Did Fr Maffa escape one illness only to fall into another?

Yes! We read about a nearly deadly fever that Fr Maffa fell into after St Philip helped with his kidney stones. The date is important, August 6, the Feast of the Transfiguration of Our Lord. That event in Our Lord's life was an anticipation of his Resurrected glory. As we have seen the last few nights, these readings of miracles performed after St Philip was buried have a connection with Our Lord's Resurrection. They point to the power Christ has to save us, save us from a life of futility and meaninglessness.

Did Fr Maffa escape one illness only to fall into another?

Yes! We read about a nearly deadly fever that Fr Maffa fell into after St Philip helped with his kidney stones. The date is important, August 6, the Feast of the Transfiguration of Our Lord. That event in Our Lord's life was an anticipation of his Resurrected glory. As we have seen the last few nights, these readings of miracles performed after St Philip was buried have a connection with Our Lord's Resurrection. They point to the power Christ has to save us, save us from a life of futility and meaninglessness.

Did St Philip ever help with kidney stones?

Yes! We read about a new problem that St Philip helped a man to overcome: very painful kidney stones. Like many of the miracles performed by the prayers of St Philip in the months just after he died, this miracle was sought after all other remedies for the pain had been tried. Once again, St Philip's prayers achieved the desired result, but not all at once. Patience!

Did St Philip ever help with kidney stones?

Yes! We read about a new problem that St Philip helped a man to overcome: very painful kidney stones. Like many of the miracles performed by the prayers of St Philip in the months just after he died, this miracle was sought after all other remedies for the pain had been tried. Once again, St Philip's prayers achieved the desired result, but not all at once. Patience!

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.

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.

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.

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.