Lectio et Oratio

Do priests all get treated in the same way by the Lord?

No. We read about two sick priests. One of them was very sick. The doctors had given up on him. The other was not very sick at all and the doctors did not even suspect that his illness was fatal. St Philip was going to visit both. But he made a prediction that surprised everyone. He said that the very sick priest would recover and the barely sick priest would die. His prophecy came true. God's ways are not always our ways. God does not promise his priests that they will avoid sudden deaths. No two souls are led to God in exactly the same way.

Last episode we read about another priest, an Oratorian, a very hard working priest. God allowed him to know the date of his death. Such graces are given through prayer to some. But when Fr Gigli was getting close to death the devil tried to trick him. St Philip became aware and not only prayed for him, but offered Mass for him. During that Mass, the assaults of the devil were dramatically overcome. Great graces and demonic attacks can go hand in hand. Whenever he received a special favour in prayer, a special consolation, St Philip began praying for protection. He knew that some cross was just around the corner.

Are priests who are faithful to their vocation free from attacks from the devil?

No. We read about one of the most faithful of St Philip's original Oratorian priests, Fr Niccolo Gigli. The Lord even let him know the day of his death. But as that day approached, the devil tried various tactics to discourage and dishearten Fr Gigli. St Philip went to pray for him during Mass. While he prayed, loud noises were heard as if boulders were being thrown around. The various Fathers who heard all these things were able to piece together that those sounds were connected with a massive victory over satan in the life of Fr Gigli. We do not know the details of the story. But what we know is this: prayers and the Mass are crucial to our salvation.

Last episode we read about the reaction of the doctors to Manzoli's recovery. We read about Manzoli's own reaction. God willed that Manzoli not die before St Philip. But we know that God therefore allowed Manzoli to witness St Philip's death and to live without him. God knows what is best for each of us. He may take away our loved ones and friends. He may throw us among strangers. Still, in the words of St John Henry, "He knows what he is about."

Did the seeming death of Giovanni Manzoli cause confusion?

Yes. We read about some of the events that occurred while Manzoli was "dying." We read about a whole chain of conversations and communications. People were telling other people that Manzoli had died. Rumours were spreading. But then against all those rumours, St Philip was saying the opposite! Now people were really confused. The whole scene reminds one of the Resurrection accounts in the Gospels!

Last episode we read about just how close Manzoli was to dying. All his doctors and family thought he was dying. People in the room even thought he had died, so quiet and unresponsive was Manzoli. The priest in the room took the word of his family. But, years before, St Philip had been told by God that Manzoli would outlive him. St Philip had told this to Manzoli himself. And so, when words reached St Philip about how imminent death was, St Philip went before the Lord to remind him of his promise. He spent the whole night in prayer. God did as He said, but through the prayers of St Philip. God wills to do certain things precisely through our prayers, our instrumentality.