Venerated in Roman Catholic Church Name Philip de Beatified October 8, 1645 | Feast August 23 Role Saint | |
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Born August 15, 1233
Oltrarno, city-state of Florence, Tuscany, (modern-day Italy) ( 1233-08-15 ) Canonized April 12, 1671, Rome by Pope Clement X Major shrine Church of the Servites of Mary in Todi, Umbria, Italy Attributes Habit of the Servite Order Died August 22, 1285, Todi, Italy People also search for Terentian, Benignus of Todi, Fortunatus of Todi Patronage Tuscany, Zamboanga del Norte | ||
Philip Benizi de Damiani (sometimes St Philip Benitius, and in Italian Filippo Benizzi) (August 15, 1233 – August 22, 1285) was a general superior of the Order of the Servites, and credited with reviving the order. Pope Leo X had beatified him in 1516; and Pope Clement X canonized him as a saint in 1671.
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Biography
Philip Benizi was born on August 15 in the Florentine district of Oltrarno, the day the Blessed Virgin first appreared to the Seven Founders. He became the great propagator of the Order of the Servants of Mary (the Servites). When he was elected the general superior on June 5, 1267, the order, which had long been the object of attack from enemies, entered into the crisis of its existence. The Second Council of Lyons in 1274 put into execution the ordinance of the Fourth Lateran Council, forbidding the foundation of new religious orders, and absolutely suppressing all mendicant institutions not yet approved by the Holy See. In 1276 Pope Innocent V, in a letter addressed to Philip, declared the order suppressed. Philip then proceeded to Rome, but before his arrival there, Innocent V had died.
The city of Forli was part of the Papal States and, in 1283, the site of strong anti-papal sentiment was placed under interdict. Pope Martin V asked Philip to go to Forli and try to reconcile the divided city. Eighteen-year-old Peregrine Laziosi (Latiosi), the son of a Ghibelline leader, was among those abusive towards Philip. However Philip's meeting with the initially antagonistic Peregrine help the young man later decide to join the Servite order. Saint Peregrine was canonized by Pope Benedict XIII in 1726.
Philip died on August 22, 1285, during the Octave of the Assumption at Todi, where he is buried.
In the cloister of Santa Maria of the Servites in Vicenza, took place his miracles in 1319.
Veneration
The Church of the Servites of Mary in Todi, Umbria, contains the body of St Philip Benizi, whose statue is the work of Bernini.
St Philip's feast day is celebrated on August 23. He and Santa Maria Addolorata are the titular co-patrons of a minor basilica in Monte Senario (Fiesole), Province of Florence, in the Diocese of Florence (since 1917).