Philip Neri (1515–1595)

Biography

He was simple, ingenious, happy, ecstatic, unpredictable, a musician, poet, extravagant and humorist. Brother Zboni scolded Felipe one day because he was laughing out loud reading "the priest Arlotto's jokes", telling him: "Priests should not laugh loudly." "The Lord is good, Felipe answered. How could he not be happy that his children laugh? Sadness makes us bend our necks and does not allow us to look at the sky. We must fight sadness, not joy." Since he was a child, they called him "Felipín the good", for his piety, sweetness and kindness. In the midst of the paganism that prevailed in the Roman Renaissance environment, Philip gives all his assets to the poor, while he fasts on bread and water. He spent his days in works of charity, and his nights in the catacombs of San Sebastian, dedicated to prayer and penance. Reach very high prayer. His ecstasies last for hours and sometimes he is heard crying: Enough, Lord, enough! Stop the torrent of your love! In the face of that angelic life the attacks of evil could do little. However, he liked to pray like this: "Lord, do not trust me. Lord, take Philip by your hand, or one day, like Judas, he will betray you." He founded a brotherhood to care for the poor and pilgrims. Visit prisons and hospitals. Look especially for children and young people. In 1551 he was ordained a priest out of obedience. Throughout Rome he spreads his charities, his fervor, his contagious joy, the certainty that there is more joy in virtue than in sin. His gift of tears and performing miracles is proverbial. In the penitential court he achieved wonderful conversions. All the Popes and Princes came to him. His definitive work was the founding of the Oratory, to instruct and entertain children and young people. "Be good... If you can, he told them with understanding. As long as you don't offend God, you can chop wood on my back." From the Oratory he spread good everywhere. He died in 1595. It was Corpus Christi night and he went to heaven to finish the party. His remains rest in the "Chiesa Nuova" in Rome. He was canonized by Gregory XV in 1622.