St. Philip the Apostle our Patron Saint
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Recently, a news story featuring our patron saint, Saint Philip the Apostle, made headlines throughout the world. Summarized, here are the basic facts of the news release:
“An archaeological team working in southwest Turkey says it has uncovered the tomb of St. Philip the Apostle. “Italian professor Francesco D’Andria, head of the excavation team at the ancient city of Hierapolis (Gk “sacred city”) in the province of Denizli, told reporters on July 26 that experts had reached the apostle’s tomb. “Archaeologists had been working for years to find the tomb, he said. They reached the monument while working on the ruins of a newly unearthed Church in Hierapolis, the Turkish news agency Anadolu reports. “The structure on the tomb and the writings on it proved that it belonged to St. Philip the Apostle, Prof. D’Andria said. He characterized the discovery as a major development both for archaeology and the Christian world.” [Excerpted from EWTN NEWS SERVICE 2011]
This discovery presents an opportunity for St. Philip parish. We should refresh our knowledge about our patron saint whose relic we display in the sanctuary at every celebration of the Mass. The story of our patron saint is well worth remembering.The following information is excerpted from The Catholic Encyclopedia:
“Like the brothers, Peter and Andrew, Philip was a native of Bethsaida on Lake Genesaret (Sea of Galilee). He also was among those surrounding (John the) Baptist when the latter first pointed out Jesus as the ‘Lamb of God’. On the day after Peter's call, when (he) was about to set out for Galilee, Jesus met Philip and called him to the Apostolate with the words, ‘Follow me’. Philip obeyed the call, and a little later brought Nathaniel as a new disciple.
“On the occasion of the selection and sending out of the twelve, Philip is included among the Apostles proper. His name stands in the fifth place in the three lists (of Matthew, Mark and Luke) after the two pairs of brothers, Peter and Andrew, James and John. The (Gospel of John) records three episodes concerning Philip which occurred during the epoch of the public teaching of the Saviour:
“Before the miraculous feeding of the multitude, Christ turns towards Philip with the question: ‘Where shall we buy bread, that these may eat?’ to which the Apostle answers: ‘Two hundred penny-worth of bread is not sufficient for them, that every one may take a little’. “When some heathens in Jerusalem came to Philip and expressed their desire to see Jesus, Philip reported the fact to Andrew and then both brought the news to the Saviour. “When Philip, after Christ had spoken to His Apostles of knowing and seeing the Father, said to Him: ‘Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us’, he received the answer: ‘He that sees me, sees the Father also.‘
These three episodes furnish a consistent character-sketch of Philip as a naïve, somewhat shy, sober-minded man. No additional characteristics are given in the Gospels or the Acts although he is mentioned in the latter work as belonging to the Apostolic College (the ‘Twelve’).
“In his letter to St. Victor, written about 189-98, Bishop Polycrates of Ephesus (ancient city in southwestern present-day Turkey) mentions among the ‘great lights’, whom the Lord will seek on the ‘last day’, ‘Philip, one of the Twelve Apostles, who is buried in Hieropolis with his two daughters, who grew old as virgins’, and a third daughter, who ‘led a life in the Holy Ghost and rests in Ephesus.’
“The remains of Philip who was interred in Hieropolis were later translated...to Constantinople and thence to the Church of the Dodici Apostoli in Rome. The feast of the Apostle is celebrated on 3 May in the Roman (Calendar).” [The Catholic Encyclopedia]
It is a great honor for our parish to bear the name of St. Philip the Apostle. In truth, the Church possesses more reliable information about him than the majority of apostles. His life and martyrdom deserve our remembrance. We should adopt the practice of saying “St. Philip the Apostle...pray for us” after every spontaneous communal prayer—whether at home, CCE, youth group, ministry and fellowship meetings.
Saint Philip the Apostle lives forever in heaven, and his intercession to the Lord Jesus Christ on our behalf is very powerful indeed. But we must ask him to intercede for us when we pray. All the angels and saints in heaven—like the Father, Son and Holy Spirit—enjoy the fullness of personhood. So pray to St. Philip person-to-person in the mystical Body of Christ. He is our good and very special friend.
Prayer to St. Philip
O Glorious Saint Philip, at the Last Supper you said to Jesus, "Lord, show us the Father and it will be enough for us." Help us make this our prayer also and to seek God in all things. Obtain for us the grace to know the Father and Jesus Christ whom He has sent - for in this does eternal life consist. Amen.