Hello everyone.
Heyo.
Welcome back to Scattering Flowers with Elise and Miles, a podcast where we read the daily gospels and the saint of the day.
Let’s get started.
Today is Thursday, June 4th, and the gospel reading is Mark 12, 28-34, and the scripture to reflect on is Psalm 25, 5.
Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God, my savior.
Our official last day of school was yesterday.
I’m so excited, because that means that today is the first day of summer.
Whether the school year is over for you or not, you’re almost there.
What will happen next is a mystery full of surprises.
During the days of sleep-in-late summer vacation, you have the greatest teacher of all to guide you, the God of heaven and earth.
Stay close to God this summer, and ask him to show you what he wants you to do.
Today’s saint of the day is Saint Filippo Smaldon.
He was born 1848 and died 1923.
He’s a patron saint of deaf people and mute people.
The oldest of seven children, Filippo was born in Napolins, Italy.
While studying for the priesthood, he began to minister to people who were deaf and mute.
After Filippo was ordered a priest, he was able to devote himself completely to this ministry.
At one point while he was ministering to the sick, Filippo caught cholera.
He was miraculously cured through the intercession of Our Lady of Pompeii.
Filippo’s work was not easy, and he eventually became discouraged because of his apparent lack of success.
He was tempted to give up and instead go for forging missions, but his spiritual director helped him through the crisis.
Filippo recognized that God wanted him to stay in Italy and work for the deaf in 1885.
Filippo went to lease and founded an institute for the deaf and mute with Father Lorenzo Epichella and a group of sisters known as the Congregation of the Southian Sisters of the Sacred Hearts.
Filippo died knowing that the important work he had begun would be continued.
Look for God this summer in the beauties of nature and in your friends that you will hang out with, neighbors and family, and let him guide you and your summer will be great and so fun.
Filippo joined Concern for the Poor and Needy with a profound life of prayer.
He had a special devotion to the Eucharist and founded a group dedication to adoration.
The Eucharistic League of Priests, Adorers and Women Adorers.
Before Jesus in the Eucharist, Filippo received the insight of strength to carry out his work among the deaf and mute and poor.
He believed in Jesus' words, those who abide in me and I in them bear much fruit because apart from me you can do nothing.
Let’s pray.
In the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.
Dear God, thank you for being with me everywhere and thank you for summer.
And pray for me that I might spend time in prayer with you and trust in you who has given all the good gifts.
Saint Filippo, small den, pray for us.
Amen.
In the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
Thank you so much for listening.
We’ll be back tomorrow scattering more flowers.
See ya!