From: richarra@gmail.com   
      
   On the Teaching of Truth  (2)   
      
   Those to whom the Eternal Word speaks are delivered from   
   uncertainty. From one Word proceed all things (John 1:3) and all things   
   tell of Him; it is He, the Author of all things, who speaks to us   
   (John 8:25). Without Him no one can understand or judge aright. But   
   the man to whom all things are one, who refers everything to One, and   
   who sees everything as in One, is enabled to remain steadfast in   
   heart, and abide at peace with God.   
   --Thomas à Kempis --Imitation of Christ Bk 1, Ch 3   
      
   <<>><<>><<>>   
   August 23: Saint Philip Benzini de Damiani   
      
   (1233-1285)   
   Today we celebrate the feast day of Saint Philip Benzini de Damiani,   
   miracle worker, servant of the Blessed Mother, and General Superior of   
   the Order of the Servites. Despite his brilliant mind and gifts of   
   miracles and tongues, Saint Philip’s humility and simple faith   
   remained throughout his life—continuing to inspire us today.   
      
   Born in Florence, Italy, on the Feast of the Assumption, Philip was   
   entering the world as Our Blessed Mother appeared to the Seven Holy   
   Founders. Upon being in their presence, at not yet one year of age,   
   Philip clearly spoke, announcing them as the Servants of Mary, and   
   stating his desire to join their order. From that moment on, he   
   demonstrated great piety and resistance to the temptations of youth,   
   praying daily the Penitential Psalms, and constantly begging God’s   
   mercy for his sins.   
      
   Saint Philip clung to his desire to enter the Servite Order, but felt   
   sinful and unworthy to serve the Lord or the Blessed Mother, and for   
   that reason, followed his father’s wishes and studied medicine and   
   philosophy at Universities in Paris and Padua. Upon graduation, he set   
   up practice, but soon grew weary of the work, feeling as if he was   
   called to greater service. One day, while attending a Mass at the   
   Florence Servite Chapel, The Blessed Virgin appeared to Philip,   
   bidding him to enter her Order. Obediently, his heart overjoyed—but   
   still laced with the fear of unworthiness—he entered the order, but   
   only as a lay brother. To his superiors he mentioned nothing of his   
   scholastic and professional achievements, maintaining his humility as   
   penance for sins.   
      
   It was not, however, long before his great intellect and wisdom were   
   discovered, and his superiors prepared him for the priesthood.   
   Following his ordination at Siena in 1258, he was made Master of   
   Novices and developed a reputation for practicality, wisdom, and   
   inspiring conversions. He was also noted for miracles, his first   
   occurring upon meeting a leper walking along the road outside the   
   city. As the leper had little clothing, and Saint Philip had no money,   
   he gave the poor man his cloak. Upon placing it around his shoulders,   
   his leprosy was immediately healed.   
      
   Saint’s Philip’s life was instantly changed, following his first   
   miracle. He was accorded honors quickly, and his counsel was sought by   
   local and international leaders. Saint Philip was sent to Forli, Italy   
   to resolve a conflict between the Pope and the Emperor. During the   
   negotiations, he was heckled and then struck across the cheek by the   
   Emperor’s emissary. Patiently, Philip turned his head to offer the   
   other check to the emissary, who was so moved by the gesture,   
   converted on the spot (becoming Servite Saint, Peregrine). Saint   
   Philip healed many additional political rifts throughout Italy, common   
   in those days, and was subsequently sent to the Netherlands and   
   Germany, in both of which he did great good. In good time, he was   
   elected General of the Servite Order, and was discussed in conclave to   
   ascend to the Papacy, but fled the discussions out of humility, hiding   
   in a cave in the mountains until Pope Gregory X was elected. At the   
   Council of Lyons, he defended and codified the Servite Order, speaking   
   to the assembled prelates with the gift of tongues.   
      
   The rite of blessing of bread is also celebrated today, in honor of   
   Saint Philip Benzini. This rite owes its origin to two miracles. One   
   day, in the beginning of his generalship, Saint Philip found his   
   brothers at Arezzo, in Tuscany, almost dying from starvation. Moved   
   with compassion, he made a long and fervent prayer to God through our   
   Blessed Lady. At last a loud knock was heard at the door of the   
   monastery, and the Brother who went to open, found a large basket of   
   the purest bread. As nobody was to be seen, all thought that God had   
   sent His angel to bring them food from heaven. Another time the Saint   
   had lost his way in an immense forest, and after having long wandered   
   about, was starving with his companions. Philip redoubled the fervor   
   of his prayers and suddenly shepherds called the religious to a little   
   hut, where they found bread and water. When they had dined, and wished   
   to thank the charitable shepherds, they could see them no more. So   
   again they attributed their deliverance to God’s angels.   
      
   Despite all his achievements, Philip never lost his humility, living a   
   life of extreme penance, and proclaiming himself as fit only for hell   
   despite an exemplary life free from mortal sin. On his deathbed he   
   recited verses of the Miserere, his cheeks streaming with tears.   
   Shortly before he died, the Mother of God appeared before him. He   
   lifted up his arms with joy and breathed a gentle sigh, as if placing   
   his soul in Her hands. Saint Philip Benzini died in the Servite   
   Monastery at Todi (Umbria) on the Octave of the Assumption, 1285. His   
   relics are buried at Todi, where he is venerated today.   
      
   The life of Saint Philip Benzini reminds us that all too often we fail   
   to examine our lives with a critical eye. Saint Philip never made that   
   mistake, spending his days in contemplation and evaluation of his   
   behaviors and perceived sins, offering them to the Lord in penance,   
   penitence, and humility. His legacy inspires us to endeavor so to act   
   as we would wish to have acted when we stand before your Judge. This   
   is the rule of the Saints, and the only safe rule for all.   
   by Jacob   
      
      
   Saint Quote:   
   This divine heart is an abyss filled with all blessings, and into the   
   poor should submerge all their needs. It is an abyss of joy in which   
   all of us can immerse our sorrows. It is an abyss of lowliness to   
   counteract our foolishness, an abyss of mercy for the wretched, an   
   abyss of love to meet our every need.   
   --St. Margaret Mary Alacoque   
      
   Bible Quote:   
   The eyes of a wise man are in his head: the fool walketh in darkness:   
   and I learned that they were to die both alike. And I said in my   
      
   [continued in next message]   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)