Philip Benizi de Damiani

Philip Benizi ( de Damiani ) OSM Filippo Benizi and Philip Benitius ( born August 15, 1233 Florence, † August 22 1285 in Todi, Italy) was the fifth Superior General of the Servites. He is, after the Seven Holy Founders of the Servite Order, as the "second founder " and innovator of the Order. He revised the rules of the order and called the female branch, the Servitinnen to life. He is the patron saint of the Servite and was on April 12, 1671 by Pope Clement X ( 1670-1676 ), still far ahead of the "Seven Holy Founders of the Servite Order ," canonized.

Life

Philip Benizi came from the prestigious Florentine family of Benizi. He studied in Padua and Paris, medicine and philosophy. 1254 he had joined the Servite Order and was ordained in 1259 for religious priests. Already early in life he took to the poor and sick. On June 5, 1267, he was elected Superior General of the Servites. The hl. Juliana of Falconieri, a niece of St.. Alexis Falconieri, received by Philip Benizi the habit of the Third Order of Servites, she was the foundress of the Servitinnen. Immediately after his death on August 22, 1285 began the worship of the late Superior General. This worship is supported by a healing miracle. He was canonized in 1671, his relic is kept in the Servite church in Todi.

The Order savior

Since taking office, Philip Benizi had contributed to the expansion of the Order, so there was not only in Italy but also in Poland and Hungary Provinces. Pope Innocent V. ( 1276), a Dominican, forbade the training of novices. It seemed that the Servite should die out and their inheritance would be passed to the Holy See. The new Superior General Philip oppose by all means available to him. Pope Honorius IV (1285-1287), the Servite back under his papal protection, the new start was assured. The survival and the reconstruction is Philip Benizi attributed and led them to designate him as the "second founder of the Servite ".

Fleeing papal election

In the two -year-long conclave of 1268-1271 Philip Benizi had been asked as Superior General, mediating influence on the Cardinals, who held the conclave in Viterbo, because they could not agree on a new pope. During this mission, he himself became a pope candidates. According to tradition, to Benizi should remain in Bagni San Filippo have kept hidden until the papal election was completed with Gregory X ( 1271-1276 ). This event is reflected in the accounts of his person, he is represented in the religious habit of the Servites with book and halo. Its feet or is the tiara, which the denial of the election is to be symbolized.