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 St Philip, declared the order suppressed. Philip proceeded to Rome, but before his arrival there Innocent V had died.[1]
The city of Forlì 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 Forlì 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. Philip's meeting with the initially antagonistic Peregrine was significant in the young man's later decision to join the Servite order. Saint Peregrine was canonized by Benedict XIII in 1726.[2]
St Philip died on August 22, 1285, during the Octave of the Assumption at Todi, where he is buried.[3]
In the cloister of Santa Maria of the Servites in Vicenza, took place his miracles in 1319.[4]


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).


Cultural references