Mondays and Saint Philip Neri Mondays are Monsignor Roger W. Formosi’s favourite days…for relaxing! So when the former president of Catholic Missions In Canada was asked to talk about the Canadian missions on a Monday, the request threw him off. But only for a bit. Yesterday, a Monday, the former president of Catholic Missions In Canada put duty above personal preferences as he kept his promise to talk about the Canadian missions to a group of Legacy Circle members at a Mass and gathering in Toronto on the feast day of the patron saint of the home missions, St. Philip Neri. In his homily on the life of St. Philip Neri, Monsignor Formosi described how the saint from Florence, born in 1525, experienced conversion and left for Rome, to live a life of seclusion and poverty. And early on, the saint-in-the-making learned that his life would be dictated by needs beyond his own. Although the young Philip wanted to serve in India, he was sent to serve in Rome. There, he helped found a confraternity of laymen to minister to pilgrims in need of food and shelter which led to the establishment of a now-famous Roman hospital, Santa Trinità dei Pellegrini. As well, he founded the congregation of the Oratorians. St. Philip Neri was known for his deep faith and spiritual life. When asked how to pray, his answer was, “Be humble and obedient and the Holy Spirit will teach you.” Monsignor Formosi noted how St. Philip Neri joins some of the great saints such as Saint Thérèse of Lisieux, who never went to the missions but became patrons of the missions because of their profound prayer life. “We need prayers and good works to serve in the missions, and these saints give us powerful examples of how this can be attained.” At the gathering after Mass, Monsignor Formosi continued with his stories on his adventures in the missions. True to the tradition of St. Philip Neri who once said, “I will have no sad spirits in my house. Cheerful people are more easily led to perfection,” Monsignor Formosi put his “divine sense of humour” to task to share his daunting visits in missions where there was no drinking water (“On the first night, I had to pray to the Holy Spirit to help me survive the remaining 14 days”) or in fishing areas where a missionary was once asked to dive into the waters to help unravel crab creels with bare hands. Though not many can put their lives on the line and sacrifice to keep the faith alive as missionaries do, people in cities and more urban areas can do their share and help those in the mission areas, Monsignor Formosi said. “When times are tough, Catholic Missions’ grants to the missions tend to the decrease, so it is up to supporters to continue giving generously especially in those lean times. Your help will keep our mission churches open,” said Monsignor Formosi. “Besides,” he quipped, “You can’t take your riches to heaven with you!”
Posted on: Tue, 27 May 2014 21:36:59 +0000
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