August 23, 2016 Update on the Feast of Saint Philip Benizi and the Commemoration of the Vigil of Saint Bartholomew
As it is going to take another six hours to complete the next original article for this site, I have decided at 12:34 a.m. on the Feast of Saint Philip Benizi that it can wait. It is already a long article, but I assure readers that it will provide them with a very comprehensive history of the conciliar Vatican's two-decades' old plan to sell out the suffering Catholics of Red China who have been persecuted by the Chicom's own rump church, the so-called Chinese Catholic Patriotic Association. I am sorry for the delay, but those who read these articles are used to the length, which is one of the reasons that so few people read them these days. Nevertheless, though, I am writing for the long term in order to provide readers now and in the future with a bit of detail that cannot be provided in a soundbite. All I can do is to apologize for the additional delay and to thank readers for the patience.
Today is the Feast of Saint Philip Benizi, one of the seven founders of the Order of Servites, which was founded to promote devotion to the Seven Dolors of Our Lady. We are very devoted to the Servites and make it a point to pray to their seven founders, including Saint Philip Benizi, every day.
Here is a brief account of this great client of Our Lady's life as found in the readings for Matins in today's Divine Office:
This Philip was a scion of the noble Florentine family of the Benizi from his very cradle he showed signs of holiness. When he had scarcely entered the fifth month of his life, his cries marvellously assumed the form of words, entreating his mother to give some alms to the servants of the Mother of God. While he was a young man at Paris studying letters, but ever of a fervent piety, he stirred up in many the love of our Fatherland which is in heaven. After his return to his own country, the most blessed Virgin appeared to him in a vision, and specially called on him to enter the Order of her Servants, which had then been newly founded. He withdrew himself to a cave on Monte Senario, where he led a life hard as touching the chastisement of the flesh, but sweet with thoughts of the agonies of Christ. Thence he came forth and went through nearly all Europe and great part of Asia, preaching the Gospel, founding Guilds everywhere in honour of the Seven Sorrows of the Mother of God, and extending his Order by the wonderful example of his own holy life.
He was forced against his own wishes to undertake the duties of General of his Order, and, in his love of God and of the spreading of the Catholic Faith, sent forth brethren to preach the Gospel of Christ in Russia. He himself went through many cities of Italy, stilled the raging quarrels of the inhabitants, and recalled many of them to their obedience to the Bishop of Rome. He left nothing undone to forward the salvation of his neighbour, and brought the most depraved wretches to leave the slough of their sins, to do penance, and to love Jesus Christ. He was most earnest in prayer, and was often seen to fall into trances while engaged in it. Virginity he so prized that to his very last breath he kept it unsullied by dint of self-imposed and stern penances.
Everywhere appeared in him an extraordinary pity towards the poor, whereof it is a famous instance that at the village of Camiliano in the territory of Sienna he gave his own garment to a naked leper who asked him for an alms, and as soon as the said leper had cast it about him he was straightway cleansed of his leprosy. The fame of this miracle spread far and wide, and some of the Cardinals who had assembled at Viterbo after the death of Clement IV., to elect a successor to him, cast their eyes upon Philip, with whose heavenly wisdom they were also acquainted. When the man of God found how things stood, lest he should be constrained to take upon him the burden of the Pastoral Office, he went and hid himself on Montagnate, until Gregory X. had been proclaimed Pope. By his prayers he obtained medicinal powers for the waters in these mountains, which are still called St Philip's Baths. At length, (on the 22nd of August,) in the year 1285, he departed this life in a most holy manner at Todi, while embracing the image of Christ hanging upon the Cross, which he called his book. At his grave the blind received their sight, the lame walked, and the dead were raised. Pope Clement X., finding him famous for these and many other great signs and wonders, enrolled his name among those of the Saints. (Matins, Divine Office, Feast of Saint Philip Benizi.)
Finally, remember that Blessed Among Women: Defending the Sublime Privileges of the Blessed Virgin Mary is now available for purchase at the Create Space Bookstore. The book is also available at Amazon and in a Kindle edition.
Thank you.
Immaculate Heart of Mary, pray for us now and at the hour of our death.
Saint Philip Benizi, pray for us.
Saint Bartholomew, pray for us.
