Portal:Catholic Church/Patron Archive/May 26 2007

St. Philip Romolo Neri (Filippo de Neri; known as Apostle of Rome), (July 21, 1515 – May 27, 1595), was an Italian churchman, noted for founding a society of secular priests called the "Congregation of the Oratory".

He was born in Florence as child of a noble family.

When he was about sixteen, Philip was sent to his father's brother with the hope that he might inherit his possessions. So far as gaining Romolo's confidence and affection, the plan was entirely successful, but it was thwarted by Philip's own resolve to take holy orders.

In 1533 he went to Rome and to begin those labours amongst the sick and poor which gained him in later life the title of "Apostle of Rome," besides paying nightly visits to whore houses to introduce them to the churches of the city and to the catacombs. In 1538 he entered on the home mission work for which he became famous.

In 1548 he founded the celebrated confraternity of the Santissima Trinita de' Pellegrini e de' Convalescente, whose primary object was to minister to the needs of the thousands of poor pilgrims who flock to Rome, and also to relieve the patients discharged from hospitals, but still too weak for labour. In 1551 he passed through all the minor orders, and was ordained deacon, and finally priest. In 1556, he began the institute of the Oratory. The scheme at first was no more than a series of evening meetings in a hall (the Oratory), at which there were prayers, hymns, readings from Scripture, from the fathers, and from the Martyrology, followed by a lecture, or by discussion of some religious question proposed or consideration. The scheme was developed, and the members of the society undertook various kinds of mission work throughout Rome, notably the preaching of sermons in different churches every evening, a completely new idea at that time.

Neri organized, under permission of a papal bull dated July 15, 1575, a community of secular priests, called the Congregation of the Oratory. He was elected superior for life.

Neri is said to have possessed a playful humour, combined with a shrewd wit. He considered a cheerful temper to be more Christian than a melancholy one, and carried this spirit into his whole life:

"A joyful heart is more easily made perfect than a downcast one."

This was the secret of his popularity and of his place in the folklore of the Roman poor. Many miracles were attributed to him. Neri was beatified by Paul V in 1600, and canonized by Gregory XV in 1622.

Attributes:

Patronage: Rome, US Special Forces

Prayer: Saint Philip Neri, we take ourselves far too seriously most of the time. Help us to add humor to our perspective -- remembering always that humor is a gift from God. Amen