Saint Philip Smaldone (1848-1923) was born in Naples, Italy. He volunteered to help deaf-mute people while he was still in the seminary studying for the priesthood and continued to serve them after being ordained. But he became depressed and frustrated at one point and seriously abandoning this work and joining the foreign missions. Fortunately, his spiritual advisor talked him out of it.
For the rest of his life, Philip served the disabled, first by founding a school for deaf-mutes, then expanding to serve children who were blind, abandoned, or orphaned. He was also a priest with deep devotion to the Eucharist, as well as our Blessed Mother, who he believed had miraculously cured him of the plague through his prayers to Our Lady of Pompeii. His fellow priests as well as religious communities sought him out for spiritual direction.
Saint Philip, help me persevere when I am discouraged.
