Lectio et Oratio

Did St Philip have special power over headaches?

It seems so. We will hear about one of his female penitents who was cured of her terrible headaches by St Philip. The story reminds one somewhat of Our Lord's raising of Lazarus. Like with Lazarus, St Philip commands her to take off all her bandages.

We read about a healing that St Philip performed after a man had received the Anointing of the Sick, the Last Anointing. St Philip himself was cured during a very serious illness by the Anointing itself. But we know the Church has another means for curing such illnesses, those who have the charism of healing (1 Corinthians 12:9).

Did St Philip ever draw very close to death?

Yes. We will read about one of the first times St Philip nearly died. His doctors were sure the end was near. He received the sacraments of the Church. But his spiritual children reacted with immense love and faith. They prayed, lamented, and fasted. They stood by their spiritual father. And he got better!

We read about how St Philip suffered annual sicknesses and how he reacted. St Philip's reaction was one of patience and resignation, but also of joy. St Philip joyfully embraced the Lord's will. He was convinced that whatever God willed was best. St Philip had one concern: to be useful in the Lord's service. He was convinced he had done very little for the Lord. Why? He was deeply aware of God's greatness and all the graces he had received.

Did St Philip ever lose any close friends to death?

Yes. We will read about the death of Giovan Battista Salviati. St Philip had known him for seven years. Born in Florence, Giovan was of the highest nobility in Italy. He and his wife had lived a very worldly life without much consideration of God. Converted by St Philip, he became one of the most faithful visitors to the Roman hospitals. We read of his holy death in the presence of St Philip.

We read about two young men who joined the Dominican Order in Rome in 1562. Both men died after a short time in the Order of Preachers, but both men made great spiritual progress. St Philip approved of their desire to follow the counsels of the Lord: voluntary and full chastity, poverty, and obedience. These counsels are meant to help remove the main obstacles to perfect charity. Sexual pleasure, money, and our own wills are often some of the greatest obstacles to following God. The counsels seek to remove these obstacles so that we might more easily seek the perfection of divine love.