St. Philip Benizi and the Servites, CONFESSOR, A.D. 1285.
by VP
Posted on Friday August 23, 2024 at 12:00AM in Saints
"ST. PHILIP was born at
Florence, and practiced medicine some time at Paris. But returning home
he applied himself to solicitude and prayer in a religious house which
he entered, and was afterwards ordained priest. He spent his life in
seeking the lost sheep, laboring every
where to reclaim wicked Christians from their evil ways, and those that
were seduced, from their errors, as likewise to make peace wherever he
found differences, whether public or private. In this method he lived, till God called him to the reward of his labors, in 1285.
Follow the same method: whatever your employment be, you are to find time for prayer and recollection of spirit.
If you seem not to have this time, be faithful and sincere in examining
how far this is true; for sloth, tepidity, and indifference have many
hindrances, which industry, resolution, and contrivance would find ways
to remove. It is not a Christian's part to conclude that things cannot
be done, because they cannot be done easily. Be helpful to others, in making them sensible of their
evil ways. Be charitable in composing differences: sweetness and
moderation are effectual for this end. Give no occasion to any
misunderstanding between neighbors. For this end, never inform any one
what you have heard another say of him.
For this cannot be done, without betraying a trust reposed in you, in
being a witness to such a discourse. It is seldom done without prejudice
to truth, in making the affair worse than it was; and it cannot be done without the hazard of injustice; since the person who said it may have spoken inconsiderately, and may have repented of his rashness. Nor can it be done without a breach of charity,
in doing otherwise than you would have others do by you. This informing
temper ought to be avoided by all who love peace or hope for the reward of charity. Silence is far better than such tale bearing, by which Christians forget their profession, and make themselves the agents of the devil. Consider this well: pray and watch against this pernicious evil; and never encourage those who are given to it." The Catholic Year by Fr. John Gother
"One of the most illustrious members of the Order of Servites was St. Philip Benizi, who exercised the office of General after St. Benedict de Lantella, and who was elected in 1267. St. Philip sent his religious to Poland, Hungary, and even the Indies. He arranged the first constitutions of the order, or rather gathered into one the regulations of his predecessors, and decreed that they should be read in the refectory every Saturday.
About this time, the institution of the Servites was threatened with destruction. In 1215, the Council of Lateran had forbidden the establishment of new religious orders, and this had been confirmed by that of Lyons in 1274. Innocent V, who had become Pope in 1274, took it for granted that the Servites were included in this prohibition, and therefore determined to suppress them. He drew the attention of Cardinal Otthoboni, Protector of the order, to the decree, and having cited St. Philip Benizi to Rome, he forbade him to receive novices or to sell any of the goods of the order, which he confiscated in favor of the Holy See. He at the same time forbade the Servites to hear confessions.
Fortunately for these religious, the Pope lived but a short time, and his successor John XXII, did not press the affair. It was agitated under Nicholas III, Martin IV, and Honorius IV, during which time the Servites had much to suffer on the side of some of the Bishops. Finally, after much deliberation, it was settled in favor of the Servites by Honorius IV, in 1286." [Source: History of Religious Orders, by Rev. Charles Warren Currier 1896 Page 323.]
"Philip
Benizi was about to die, and Julianna was but fifteen years of age.
Nevertheless, enlightened from on high, the Saint hesitated not: he
confided the Order to Juliana's hands, and so slept in the peace of our
Lord.
(...)
Benedict XI, in 1304, gave to the Servites the definitive sanction of the Church.
