Lectio et Oratio

Should one intentionally hold back confessing a serious sin just because one is embarrassed?

No. We will read about a young man who was so ashamed of a sin against the sixth commandment that he tried to go to confession without confessing it. St Philip, with his gift of reading souls, recognized what he was doing. He told him that far from being forgiven he was actually committing more sins. But would the young man listen?

Last episode we read about the election of Pope Gregory XIII on May 13. May 13 is the same day that Fr Robinson was ordained a priest. Fr Robinson is the Founder of the Toronto Oratory, the one who introduced St Philip's way of life to Canada. Pope Gregory XIII is the Pope who approved the Oratorian Constitutions.

Are all St Philip's spiritual children famous?

No. We read about the healing of a young man named Ambrogio. Only his first name has come down to us. But around the same time as he was healed, Gregory XIII was elected Pope. Small and great men, famous and unknown men and women are called by the Lord.

Last episode we read about four well known Oratorians who all joined in 1571. There are special years in the life of the Church, in the life of a Congregation, and in each human life. The Lord has special timing for each event in our life. All he asks is that we trust Him. He calls us to His service at certain times and places for reasons that one only grasps much later on (and possibly only in heaven!).

How important is prayer for priestly vocations?

Very important. We will read about a remarkable year in terms of Oratorian vocations, the year 1571. Four new men joined this young community, most of whom would play significant roles later on. But also 1571 was the year that Cesare Baronius almost died of a fever. He was the one St Philip had foreseen would do so much work to combat the false versions of Church history produced in Protestant countries. We will read about the way in which St Philip prayed for and obtained his recovery.

Last episode we read about St Philip's spiritual direction of Giovani and Lucrezia Animuccia. For the last five years of their marriage they lived under a vow of total abstinence from marital relations. For fifteen years prior to this, they had lived voluntarily in the same way. St Philip reluctantly agreed to their plans. Giovani Animuccia, a famous Church musician, died in 1571. Three years later he appeared at the Oratory asking for prayers. In other words, he died in God's friendship. He died in the state of grace, but without being perfectly purified. To be a friend of Christ, chastity, self-control in matters of sexual pleasure, is necessary. But chastity alone will not make us saints. To be a saint we need to love God perfectly. We have to follow lovingly whatever means He suggests for us to follow.

Did St Philip understand musicians?

Yes. We read about the final years of one of St Philip's most famous penitents: Giovanni Animuccia (1514-71). Like St Philip, Animuccia was from Florence. They were almost the exact same age. But Animuccia came to Rome much later than St Philip, around 1550. He became the director of the Capella Giulia, the 24 member member (12 men 12 boys) choir that sang at all Solemn Liturgies at St Peter's, unless the Pope himself was celebrating the Mass. The choir had been refunded by Pope Julius II. Over time Animuccia divided his time between this choir and the music at the Oratory. "He is noted," Fr Bertram writes, "as a leading exponent of the Roman polyphonic school, second only to Palestrina." Under St Philip's direction Animuccia lived a devout and balanced spiritual life. Philip prudently moderated his strong desires for holiness.

We read about St Philip's attitude towards demonic possession. St Philip was hated by the devil for his power at driving the devil from those who were truly possessed (those who had knowingly and willingly opened their minds and hearts to satan). But St Philip was very hesitant to assume direct demonic possession. He usually looked for other causes for their unusual behaviour: brain afflictions, excessive sadness, stomach problems. At the same time, St Philip knew how to treat real cases of possession. His tactics were wise.

Last episode we read about the death of one of St Philip's penitents on Easter Sunday. The man fell ill on Holy Thursday night. Under St Philip's direction, he cheerfully accepted whatever the Lord would send him. What a lesson in the importance of comforming ourselves to the death and resurrection of Christ. The main meaning of our life is to share in the Lord's own death and resurrection. Such a sharing begins with baptism and is completed when we die in the Lord, strengthened by the last sacraments.