St. Philip Benizi

St. Philip Benizi

From the noble family of the Benizi, Philip was called by the most Blessed Virgin, in an extraordinary vision, to enter the recently established Order of her Servants. First he withdrew to a cave on Monte Senario, where he led a life made hard by continual castigation of the body, but sweetened by meditation on the sufferings of Christ the Lord. Then he established sodalities of the Seven Sorrows of the Mother of God throughout almost all Europe and a great part of Asia. He was named General of his Order against his will and, burning eagerly with the ardor of divine love, he traveled about through many of the cities of Italy, settling the disputes which flared up among the citizens, calling back many men to the obedience of the Roman Pontiff and leading even the most abandoned men to repentance. Finally at Todi in the year 1285, embracing the image of Christ the Lord hanging on the Cross, which he used to call his 'book', he died a most holy death. Pope Clement X added him to the number of Saints.

Deus, qui per beátum Philíppum Confessórem tuum, exímium nobis humilitátis exémplum tribuísti: da fámulis tuis próspera mundi ex eius imitatióne despícere, et cæléstia semper inquírere.

Per Dóminum nostrum Iesum Christum, Fílium tuum: qui tecum vivit et regnat in unitáte Spíritus Sancti, Deus, per ómnia sǽcula sæculórum.
R. Amen.

O God, Who hast given us in thy blessed Confessor Philip, a wonderful example of lowliness, grant unto thy servants walking in his steps to set little store by the pleasant things of this life, and to seek ever for that glory which Thou hast prepared in heaven.

Through Jesus Christ, thy Son our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end.
R. Amen.