A Doctor of Body and Soul

Today we commemorate St. Philip Benizi, who was born on the feast of the Assumption and died on its Octave.

A precocious student, he began his medical and philosophical studies in Paris, finished them in Padua and practiced medicine in Florence for about a year. Since childhood he had wanted to be a servant of Mary and only at his father's insistence he became a doctor but finally Our Lady granted his desire by appearing in a vision and directing him to the Servites at Monte Senario.
He entered the Order as a lay brother to live a penitential life in atonement for his sins and tried to hide his learning but with little success. His superiors had him ordained to the priesthood and soon the Pope requested his services to persuade the people of Forli to return their loyalty to Rome. While preaching in the city he was physically attacked by a mob but simply turned the other cheek, an act witnessed by the future St. Peregrine Laziosi.

Appointed master of novices, his rare abilities were daily discovered and he became prior of several communities before his election as prior general for the entire Order. On the death of Pope Clement IV he was chosen a candidate for the papacy but fled to a cave and remained there for the duration of the conclave. St. Philip attended the Council of Lyons, defended the Order from being disbanded in the wake of restrictions to mendicant orders, restored peace to places ravaged by civil war, helped St Juliana of Mount Cornillon found the Servite third order and sent the first Servite missionaries to the East.

Throughout his life St Philip was constantly imploring God's mercy and daily reciting the Penitential Psalms. On his death bed he recited the Miserere several times and suddenly was overcome with fear of being rejected by God. A few minutes later his doubts disappeared and holding a crucifix to his breast, breathed his last.