St. Philip Neri
Feast day: May 26
“My sons, be humble, be lowly: be humble, be lowly. It is not enough to honor superiors, but we must honor our equals and the inferiors, and try to be the first to give honor.”
These are the words of St. Philip Neri, an Italian priest who founded the Congregation of the Oratory as a means of evangelization in Rome. Born in 1515 into a wealthy Florentine family, St. Philip Neri received a strong faith formation at a Dominican monastery. His family expected him to go into business, but St. Philip Neri instead chose a life devoted to the sick and the poor, as well as to the conversion of the people of Rome. Eventually, he became a priest who had a special devotion to the sacraments and the religious instruction of many in what came to be known as an oratory-style setting.
St. Philip Neri had an unusual start. When shown a copy of his family pedigree, he tore it up. He was also unconcerned by the burning of his father’s house. Although a diligent worker for the wealthy family relative to whom he was sent, St. Philip Neri was more interested in withdrawing in prayer. Here he heard his call to be the “Apostle of Rome,” and he departed for Rome with no money and without informing his father of his decision. Working at first as a tutor for children, St. Philip Neri pursued theological studies under the Augustinians for several years before, in 1538, beginning his active apostolate of talking to people around the city about God.
St. Philip Neri’s personal renewal movement of Rome took place at a time when the Church was dealing with clerical scandal, the dissipation of the Renaissance and the Protestant Reformation. Known for his jovial spirit and sense of compassion, he began his apostolate with solitary and low-key visits to hospitals. He then convinced others to accompany him and began to evangelize in shops, warehouses, banks and other public places in Rome. An easygoing character with a sense of humor, St. Philip Neri would also just stand on the street and talk to passersby about doing good. In the evening, he would pray in intimate conversation with God in the catacombs. He lived as a hermit and was tried by terrible temptations. He fasted on a single daily meal of bread and water and usually slept on the floor.
The apostolate of St. Philip Neri spread rapidly. Together with his confessor, he founded the Confraternity of the Most Holy Trinity for looking after pilgrims to Rome and convalescents. Its members met for prayer and spiritual exercises at the Church of San Salvatore, where the Forty Hours devotion of exposition and adoration of the Eucharist was first introduced in Rome.
After studying and working in Rome for 17 years as a layman, St. Philip Neri was finally ordained a priest in 1551 at the bidding of his confessor. He began to meet in the evenings with several companions for prayer, hymns, readings of Scripture, lectures and discussions of religious topics. Members of this novel group preached in different churches every evening throughout Rome. Under the permission of a papal bull, a community of secular priests called the Congregation of the Oratory was founded.
As a priest, St. Philip Neri continued his efforts in promoting the frequent reception of the sacraments. He remained in church hearing confessions from daybreak until nearly midday. St. Philip Neri was known to fall into deep, ecstatic trances while celebrating Mass. He also endured persecution within the Church by individuals complaining that he was setting up a new sect. St. Philip Neri died on the feast of Corpus Christi, May 26, 1595. The work of the Oratorians continues to this day. Among the congregation’s numerous saints and blesseds are St. Francis de Sales and St. John Henry Newman.
Reflection
My Lord and my God, may I meet people where they are as I show concern for their souls. Help me, God, never to forget that I am here to serve you as I love your people.
Prayer
O God, who never cease to bestow the glory of holiness
on the faithful servants you raise up for yourself,
graciously grant
that the Holy Spirit may kindle in us that fire
with which he wonderfully filled
the heart of St. Philip Neri.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
God, for ever and ever.
