February 6th – St. Philip of Jesus, Martyr

[rich]

February 6th – St. Philip of Jesus, Martyr
(also known as Philip de las Casas)

Born in Mexico City, Mexico, May 1, 1571; died in Nagasaki, Japan,
1597; beatified by Pope Urban VIII; canonized by Pope Pius IX in 1862;
feast day formerly February 5.
The life of Saint Philip points again to the importance of the
domestic church—the family. Early in life Saint Philip ignored the
pious teachings of his immigrant Spanish family, but eventually he
entered the Reformed Franciscan Convent of Santa Barbara at Puebla,
Mexico—and soon exited the novitiate in 1589. Grieved at the
inconstancy of his son, Philip's father sent him on a business trip to
the Philippines.

Like many of us, Philip sought to escape God's love in worldly
pleasures but the Hound of Heaven tracked him down. Gaining courage by
prayer, Philip was again able to follow his vocation, joined the
convent of Our Lady of the Angels in Manila in 1590, and took his vows
in 1594. The richest cargo Philip could have sent back to Mexico
couldn't have pleased his father more than the message that Philip had
been professed a friar. Alonso de las Casas obtained directions from
the commissary of the order that Philip should be sent to Mexico to be
ordained a priest.

He embarked with other religious on the Saint Philip in July 1596 but
storms shipwrecked them in Japan. Amid the storm, Philip saw over
Japan a white cross, in the shape used in that country, which after a
time became blood-red, and remained so for some time. It was an omen
of his coming victory.

The ship's captain sent Philip and two others to the emperor to gain
permission for them to continue their voyage, but they could not
obtain an audience. He then continued to the Franciscan house in Macao
to see if they could apply pressure. In the meantime, the pilot of the
Saint Philip had excited the emperor's fears of Christians, causing
him to contemplate their extermination.

In December, officers seized a number of the Franciscan fathers,
including Philip, three Jesuits, and several of their young pupils.
When Philip had learned that they were to die, he responded with joy.
His left ear was cut off, and he offered the first fruit of his blood
to God for the salvation of Japan.

The martyrs were taken to Nagasaki, where crosses had been erected on
a high hill. When Philip was led to the one on which he was to die, he
knelt down, clasped it, and exclaimed, "O happy ship! O happy galleon
for Philip, lost for my gain! Loss—no loss for me, but the greatest of
all gain!" He was bound to the cross, but the footrest under him gave
way, so that he was strangled by the cords that bound him. While
repeating the name of Jesus, he was the first of the group of the
Nagasaki Martyrs to die. Philip was 25. Miracles attested the power
before God of these first martyrs of Japan (Benedictines, Butler,
Delaney).

The story of the courage and faith of the 26 Nagasaki martyrs has
been faithfully preserved among generations of Christians. Today, 400
years after their deaths, a church, museum and bronze monument stand
atop Nishizaka Hill to commemorate the first 26 martyrs and all those
faithful Christians who followed them. Pope John Paul II visited the
site in 1981 and named it “Resurrection Hill.”

Saint Philip is the patron of Mexico City, Mexico.


Saint Quote:
Sanctify yourself and you will sanctify society.
-- Saint Francis of Assisi

Bible Quote:
"I say then Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of
the flesh." (Galatians 5:16)


<><><><>
A Prayer for Light

O Light everlasting, surpassing all created light! (Ps. 27:1; John
8:12) Pour forth from Heaven the glorious rays of Thy light and pierce
the very depths of my heart! Purify, gladden, light and quicken the
powers of my spirit, that it may hold to Thee with joy unspeakable.
Oh, when shall come that blessed and longed for hour, when Thou
filleth me with Thy presence and be to me All in all. (I Cor. 15:28)
Until Thou granteth this, I can know no fullness of joy. As yet, alas,
my lower nature is strong within me; it is not yet wholly crucified,
nor entirely dead. (Rom. 6:6) It still fights strongly against the
spirit, stirring up conflicts within me and will not allow the kingdom
of the soul to remain at peace. O Christ, who rules the power of the
sea and quells its raging waves, (Ps. 89:9) come near and help me!
Scatter the nations that delight in war (Ps. 68:30) and overcome them
in Thy strength. (Ps. 60:12). Display thy mighty power, I pray, and
show Yourself glorious in might; I have no hope nor refuge (Ps. 31:2)
but in Thee, O Lord My God.
--Thomas à Kempis --Imitation of Christ Bk 3, Ch 34