Saint Philip Neri
Stored in Cargo: Saint Philip Neri
| Saint Philip Neri | |
| Feast Day | May 26 |
|---|---|
| Liturgical Class | |
| Patronage | Rome, humor, joy |
| Birthplace | Florence, Republic of Florence |
| Death Place | Rome, Papal States |
| Cause of Death | Natural causes |
| Primary Shrine | Chiesa Nuova (Santa Maria in Vallicella), Rome, Italy |
Saint Philip Neri (July 21, 1515 – May 26, 1595), born Filippo Romolo Neri, was a saint and Italian priest known as the “Apostle of Rome” for his joyful spirituality and pastoral care. Born in Florence, Republic of Florence, to a modestly wealthy family, he rejected a mercantile career to pursue a life of prayer and charity in Rome. Ordained in 1551, he founded the Congregation of the Oratory, a community of secular priests dedicated to preaching, music, and community engagement. His informal gatherings, blending humor and devotion, revitalized Catholicism during the Counter-Reformation. Canonized by Pope Gregory XV in 1622, his feast day is celebrated on May 26.[1][2]
Neri’s charisma, marked by playful pranks and heartfelt confessions, drew thousands, from beggars to cardinals, earning him the title “Second Apostle of Rome.” His emphasis on joy, music, and the Eucharist influenced sacred art and liturgy, with his Oratorians fostering composers like Palestrina. His incorrupt heart, enlarged from mystical experiences, rests at the Chiesa Nuova in Rome, a pilgrimage site. As patron of Rome, humor, and joy, his legacy inspires modern Catholics to live faith with lightness.[3][4]
Biography
Birth
Saint Philip Neri was born on July 21, 1515, in Florence, Republic of Florence, to Francesco Neri, a notary, and Lucrezia da Mosciano. Raised in a devout, middle-class family, he was one of four children, showing early piety and charm, earning the nickname “Pippo Buono” (Good Philip). Florence’s vibrant Renaissance culture shaped his love for art and music.[1][2]
Early Life
Educated by Dominicans at San Marco monastery, Neri excelled in studies but felt called to a religious life. At 18, in 1533, he was sent to his uncle Romolo in San Germano (modern Cassino) to learn the mercantile trade. Disliking commerce, he left after months, arriving in Rome around 1534 as a layman. There, he lived as a hermit-like tutor for a Florentine family, studying philosophy and theology at the Sapienza and Sant’Agostino, while performing acts of charity.[1][4]
For nearly 17 years, he evangelized Rome’s streets, engaging strangers in cheerful conversations that led to prayer. He founded a confraternity to care for pilgrims and the sick, visiting hospitals and Rome’s seven pilgrimage churches daily.[3][5]
Occupation
Neri’s early “occupation” involved tutoring and informal evangelization in Rome. Ordained a priest on May 23, 1551, at 36, he served at San Girolamo della Carità, hearing confessions for hours and counseling diverse penitents. In 1575, he founded the Congregation of the Oratory, approved by Pope Gregory XIII, a community of secular priests living without vows, focused on preaching, music, and charity.[1][2]
His Oratory hosted spiritual discussions, music, and sermons in the “Oratorio,” influencing sacred music through figures like Giovanni Palestrina. Neri also organized youth activities and pilgrimages, revitalizing Rome’s spiritual life.[4][6]
Vocation
Neri’s vocation was to renew Rome’s faith through joy and pastoral care, earning him the title “Apostle of Rome.” His approach combined humor—shaving half his beard to humble himself—with deep spirituality, experiencing ecstasies during Mass and visions, including one prompting the Oratory’s founding. His “school of Christian mirth” used pranks to teach humility, once sending a nobleman to fetch wine in a tiny flask.[3][5]
He emphasized frequent Confession and Communion, fostering devotion to the Eucharist and Mary. His trembling during Mass, attributed to divine love, and an enlarged heart (confirmed post-mortem) reflected his mystical union with God. He mentored future saints like Charles Borromeo and advised popes, yet remained accessible to all.[1][6]
Death
Saint Philip Neri died on May 26, 1595, in Rome, Papal States, at 79, of natural causes after a life of frail health. On May 25, Corpus Christi, he celebrated Mass with unusual vigor, heard confessions, and predicted his death. Found dead the next morning, his body was autopsied, revealing an enlarged heart pressing on broken ribs, attributed to a 1544 mystical experience. Buried at the Chiesa Nuova, his incorrupt heart and relics draw pilgrims.[1][4]
Significant events
- Left Florence for Rome in 1534, beginning lay evangelization.
- Ordained a priest on May 23, 1551, at San Girolamo della Carità.
- Founded the Congregation of the Oratory in 1575.
- Experienced a mystical heart expansion in 1544, confirmed post-mortem.
- Advised popes and mentored saints during the Counter-Reformation.
- Died on May 26, 1595, with relics preserved at Chiesa Nuova.[1][2]
Significant locations
Legend
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Canonization
Servant of God
The process for Saint Philip Neri’s canonization began shortly after his death in 1595, driven by miracles and his reputation for holiness. The Diocese of Rome collected testimonies of his charity, miracles, and pastoral impact, advancing his cause under Pope Clement VIII.[5]
Venerable
No formal Venerable declaration is recorded, as his canonization predates modern processes. His cult grew rapidly in Rome, supported by biographies from disciples like Antonio Gallonio, affirming his sanctity.[4]
Beatification
Neri was beatified on May 11, 1615, by Pope Paul V in Rome, following documented healing miracles attributed to his intercession between 1595 and 1615. His widespread devotion as “Rome’s Apostle” accelerated the process.[1][2]
Canonization
He was canonized on March 12, 1622, by Pope Gregory XV in Rome, alongside Ignatius of Loyola, Francis Xavier, and Teresa of Ávila, after further miracles were verified. His canonization recognized his role in the Counter-Reformation, with his feast day set for May 26.[1][5]
Miracles
Neri’s canonization was supported by numerous miracles, primarily healings, reported post-death. His life included mystical phenomena, like levitating during prayer, considered providential.[1]
Miracle for beatification
Healing miracles, documented between 1595 and 1615, were attributed to Neri’s intercession, satisfying beatification requirements. Specific cases involved cures of the sick who prayed at his tomb or used his relics.[5]
Miracle for canonization
Additional miracles, verified between 1615 and 1622, included healings credited to his intercession, enabling his canonization. These were recorded by the Diocese of Rome, affirming his sanctity.[4]
Other notable miracles
Patronage
Saint Philip Neri is the patron saint of Rome, humor, and joy, reflecting his cheerful spirituality and pastoral legacy.[3]
Feast day
His feast day is celebrated on May 26 in the Roman Catholic Church, commemorating his death and joyful faith.[1]
Veneration
Saint Philip Neri is venerated through prayers, novenas, and pilgrimages to his incorrupt heart at the Chiesa Nuova (Santa Maria in Vallicella) in Rome. Devotees seek his intercession for joy and spiritual renewal, inspired by his playful yet profound faith. His image, often showing priestly vestments, a heart, or a lily, adorns churches worldwide, especially in Oratorian communities.[1][2]
His Oratory continues to influence liturgy and music, with feast day Masses celebrating his call to “castigate and not grow weary” in faith. Recent posts on X praise his humor, noting how he shaved half his beard to teach humility, resonating with modern calls for joyful Catholicism.[7][8]
Books
Written about the saint
- St. Philip Neri and the Roman Society of His Times by Louis Ponnelle and Louis Bordet[4]
- The Life of Saint Philip Neri by Antonio Bacci[5]
- Philip Neri: The Fire of Joy by Noreen Turkington[6]
Written by the saint
- None directly written, but his sayings and spiritual counsels are preserved in biographies and Oratorian records.[8]
External links
References
- ↑ 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 1.11 "St. Philip Neri". New Advent. https://www.newadvent.org/cathen/12061b.htm.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 "Philip Neri". Wikimedia Foundation. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philip_Neri.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 "Saint Philip Neri". Franciscan Media. 2023-05-26. https://www.franciscanmedia.org/saint-of-the-day/saint-philip-neri.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 4.6 Ponnelle, Louis; Bordet, Louis (1932). St. Philip Neri and the Roman Society of His Times (1515–1595). London: Sheed & Ward.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 5.5 Bacci, Antonio (1902). The Life of Saint Philip Neri. London: Kegan Paul, Trench, Trübner & Co.. https://archive.org/details/lifeofsaintphili01bacc.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 Turkington, Noreen (1995). Philip Neri: The Fire of Joy. New York: Alba House. ISBN 978-0818906893.
- ↑ "San Felipe Neri". @aciprensa. https://t.co/RiCu4GiNyN.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 "The Life of St. Philip Neri". Toronto Oratory. https://www.oratory-toronto.org/about/st-philip-neri/.