St. Philip Neri: The Apostle of Rome and Saint of Joy
Quick answer
St. Philip Neri (1515–1595) was a Florentine who moved to Rome as a young man and spent sixty years renewing the faith of the city. First as a layman and then as a priest, he befriended people of every class, heard confessions for hours, and gathered people for prayer, music and talks on Scripture. He founded the Congregation of the Oratory. Known for his humor, he is the patron of joy. His feast is May 26.
Key takeaways
- He lived in Rome for years as a layman, praying in the catacombs at night.
- In 1544 he experienced the Holy Spirit entering his heart like a ball of fire.
- He was ordained in 1551 and became one of Rome's most sought-after confessors.
- His informal gatherings grew into the Congregation of the Oratory, approved in 1575.
Rome in the sixteenth century was wealthy, worldly and badly in need of renewal. God sent it a cheerful, eccentric priest who made holiness attractive. St. Philip Neri is proof that sanctity and a sense of humor go together.
From Florence to Rome
Philip Neri was born in Florence on July 21, 1515. As a boy he was so good-natured that people called him “Pippo buono,” good little Phil. At eighteen he was sent to learn business from a relative, but soon left for Rome with almost nothing.
For years he lived as a layman in a small attic room, tutoring two boys in exchange for food. He studied, prayed, visited the sick in hospitals, and spent nights praying in the catacombs of St. Sebastian.
A Heart on Fire
In 1544, while praying in the catacombs on the eve of Pentecost, Philip experienced what he described as a ball of fire entering his mouth and lodging in his heart. From then on he felt a physical warmth and palpitation in his chest when he prayed. After his death, doctors found that two of his ribs had been pushed outward.
Priest and Confessor
Philip was ordained in 1551 at age 36. He became one of the most sought-after confessors in Rome. Cardinals, shopkeepers, young men and the poor came to him. He was gentle but wise, and he could see through pride.
He took people on walks to the seven pilgrim churches of Rome, with picnics and music along the way, a joyful alternative to the rowdy carnival.
The Oratory
Men began to gather in Philip’s room in the afternoons to pray, read Scripture and the lives of the saints, discuss them, and sing. The meetings grew so large that a room called an oratory was built above the church. The great composer Palestrina wrote music for them, and the musical form called the oratorio takes its name from these gatherings.
Priests who joined Philip formed the Congregation of the Oratory, approved by Pope Gregory XIII in 1575.
Humility and Humor
Philip fought pride with humor. He sometimes shaved half his beard, wore his clothes inside out, or read joke books aloud to visitors who came expecting a solemn saint. He told a vain young man to walk through Rome carrying a cat. He said it is easier to guide cheerful people in the spiritual life than melancholy ones.
He died on May 26, 1595, and was canonized in 1622.
A Prayer for a Joyful Heart (Original Prayer)
St. Philip Neri, you served God with gladness. Give me a cheerful heart, a humble spirit and a sense of humor in hard times. Help me make holiness attractive to others. Amen.
Continue Reading
Read about St. John Bosco, another saint of joy, St. Ignatius of Loyola, Philip’s contemporary, or St. Charles Borromeo.
Frequently asked questions
When is the feast of St. Philip Neri?
May 26.
What is an Oratory?
Philip's gatherings met in a room called an oratory, a place for prayer. The priests who lived with him became the Congregation of the Oratory. St. John Henry Newman brought the Oratory to England in 1848.
Why is St. Philip Neri called the saint of joy?
Because he was cheerful, playful and full of fun, and he taught that a joyful heart is more easily made perfect than a sad one.
Sources
- Antonio Gallonio, Life of St. Philip Neri (1600)
- St. John Henry Newman, Sermons and writings on St. Philip Neri
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