CLXXI: St. Philip in His School explained

What happens

Themes in this chapter

• The Role of the Saint

  St. Philip is portrayed as a gentle, patient guide who leads souls to God through love and kindness.

• Sin and Redemption

  The poem describes sinful souls being healed and forgiven under St. Philip's guidance.

• Suffering and Humility

  St. Philip is cheerful in penance, embodying humility and patient healing.

Characters to notice

• St. Philip

  Celebrated as the saint of gentleness and kindness, who patiently heals pride and blindness in sinning souls.

• Sinner

  Souls that are sinning, whom St. Philip heals of their pride and blindness.

• Lord

  God, throned in high heaven, toward whom St. Philip conducts souls.

Key passages

• “This is the Saint of gentleness and kindness, Cheerful in penance, and in precept winning; Patiently healing of their pride and blindness, Souls that are sinning.”

  This saint is gentle and kind, joyful in his own penance and persuasive in his teaching; he patiently cures the pride and ignorance of those who are sinning.

  Introduces St. Philip's character and method.

• “Love is his bond, he knows no other fetter, Asks not our all, but takes whate’er we spare him, Willing to draw us on from good to better, As we can bear him.”

  Love is the only constraint he uses; he does not demand everything from us but accepts whatever we offer, gently leading us step by step as we are able.

  Describes St. Philip's gentle, non-coercive approach to spiritual direction.

• “Thus he conducts by holy paths and pleasant, Innocent souls, and sinful souls forgiven, Towards the bright palace where our God is present, Throned in high heaven.”

  In this way he leads both innocent and forgiven sinners along holy and joyful paths toward the radiant palace where God sits enthroned in heaven.

  Summarizes St. Philip's role as a guide to heaven.