Philip Neri 1

Philip Neri

Saint Philip Neri

Born 21 July 1515Florence

Died 25 May 1595 (aged 79)Rome

Honored in Roman Catholic Church

Beatified 11 May 1615 by Pope Paul V

Canonized 12 March 1622 by Pope Gregory XV

Feast 26 May

Patronage Rome, Mandaluyong, US Special Forces, Institute of Christ the King Sovereign Priest, laughter, humour, joy

Philip Romolo Neri (Italian: Filippo Neri), CO, (21 July 1515 – 25 May 1595), known as the Apostle of Rome, wasan Italian priest noted for founding a society of secular clergy called the "Congregation of the Oratory".

Early lifeHe was born in Florence on 21 July 1515, the youngest child of Francesco, a lawyer, and his wife Lucrezia daMosciano, whose family were nobility in the service of the state. Neri was carefully brought up, and received hisearly teaching from the friars at San Marco, the famous Dominican monastery in Florence. He was accustomed inlater life to ascribe most of his progress to the teaching of two of them, Zenobio de' Medici and Servanzio Mini. Atthe age of 18,[1] Philip was sent to his uncle, Romolo, a wealthy merchant at San Germano, a Neapolitan town nearthe base of Monte Cassino, to assist him in his business, and with the hope that he might inherit his uncle's fortune.He gained Romolo's confidence and affection, but soon after coming to San Germano Philip had a religiousconversion: he no longer cared for things of the world, and chose to relocate to Rome in 1533.[1]

Founding of the Oratory

Missions workAfter arriving in Rome, he became a tutor in the house of a Florentine aristocrat named Galeotto Caccia. After two years he began to pursue his own studies (for a period of three years) under the guidance of the Augustinians (a Catholic religious order).[1] Following this, he began those labours amongst the sick and poor which, in later life, gained him the title of "Apostle of Rome". He also ministered to the prostitutes of the city. In 1538 he entered into the home mission work for which he became famous; traveling throughout the city, seeking opportunities of entering into conversation with people, and of leading them to consider the topics he desired to set before them. For seventeen

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years Philip lived as a layman in Rome, probably without thinking of becoming a priest. Around 1544, he Made theacquaintance of Ignatius of Loyola. Many of Neri's disciples found their vocations in the infant Society of Jesus.

Philip Neri

Confraternity of the Holy Trinity

In 1548 he founded (with his confessor, Fr Persiano Rossa) theconfraternity of the Santissima Trinita de' Pellegrini e de' Convalescenti("Most Holy Trinity of Pilgrims and Convalescents"),[2] whose primaryobject was to minister to the needs of the thousands of poor pilgrims whoflocked to Rome, especially in years of jubilee, and also to relieve thepatients discharged from hospitals but who were still too weak forlabour. Members met for prayer at the church of San Salvatore in Campowhere the devotion of the Forty Hours of Exposition of the BlessedSacrament was first introduced into Rome.

Congregation of the Oratory

In 1551 he passed through all the minor orders, and was ordaineddeacon, and finally priest (on 23 May). He thought of going to India as amissionary, but was dissuaded by his friends who saw that there wasabundant work to be done in Rome. Accordingly he settled down, withsome companions, at the hospital of San Girolamo della Carità, and while there tentatively began, in 1556, theinstitute with which his name is more especially connected, that of the Oratory. The scheme at first was no more thana series of evening meetings in a hall (the Oratory), at which there were prayers, hymns, and readings from Scripture,the church fathers, and the Martyrology, followed by a lecture, or by discussion of some religious question proposedfor consideration. The musical selections (settings of scenes from sacred history) were called oratorios. GiovanniPalestrina was one of Philip’s followers, and composed music for the services. The scheme was developed, and themembers of the society undertook various kinds of mission work throughout Rome, notably the preaching ofsermons in different churches every evening, a completely new idea at that time. He also spent much of his timehearing confessions, and effected many conversions in this way.[2] Neri sometimes led “excursions” to otherchurches, often with music and a picnic on the way.[]

In 1564 the Florentines requested that he leave San Girolamo to oversee their newly built church in Rome, SanGiovanni dei Fiorentini.[] He was at first reluctant, but by consent of Pope Pius IV he accepted, while remaining incharge of San Girolamo, where the exercises of the Oratory were kept up. At this time the new society includedamong its members Caesar Baronius, the ecclesiastical historian, Francesco Maria Tarugi, afterwards Archbishop ofAvignon, and Ottavio Paravicini, all three of whom were subsequently cardinals, and also Gallonius (AntonioGallonio), author of a well-known work on the Sufferings of the Martyrs, Ancina, Bordoni, and other men of abilityand distinction. In 1574, the Florentines built a large oratory or mission-room for the society, next to San Giovanni,in order to save them the fatigue of the daily journey to and from San Girolamo, and to provide a more convenientplace of assembly, and the headquarters were transferred there.As the community grew, and its mission work extended, the need for a church entirely its own made itself felt, and the offer of the small parish church of Santa Maria in Vallicella, conveniently situated in the middle of Rome, was made and accepted. The building, however, not large enough for their purpose, was pulled down, and a splendid church erected on the site. It was immediately after taking possession of their new quarters that Neri formally organized, under permission of a papal bull dated 15 July 1575, a community of secular priests, called the Congregation of the Oratory. The new church was consecrated early in 1577, and the clergy of the new society at once resigned the charge of San Giovanni dei Fiorentini; Neri himself did not leave San Girolamo until 1583, and

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then only by virtue of an injunction of the pope that he, as the superior, should reside at the chief house of hiscongregation. He was at first elected for a term of three years (as is usual in modern societies), but in 1587 wasnominated superior for life. He was, however, entirely free from personal ambition, and had no desire to be superiorgeneral over a number of dependent houses, so he desired that all congregations formed on his model outside Romeshould be autonomous, governing themselves, and without endeavouring for Neri to retain control over any newcolonies they might themselves send out—a regulation afterwards formally confirmed by a brief of Gregory XV in1622.

St. Philip Neri and the Virgin Mary, by Tiepolo

Political activity

Although he refrained from becoming involved in political matters,he broke this rule in 1593 when he persuaded Pope Clement VIII towithdraw the excommunication and anathema laid on Henry IV ofFrance,[3] and the refusal to receive his ambassador, even though theking had formally renounced Calvinism. Neri saw that the pope'sattitude was more than likely to drive Henry to a relapse, andprobably to rekindle the civil war in France, and directed CardinalCaesar Baronius, then the pope's confessor, to refuse the Popeabsolution, and to resign his office of confessor, unless the Popewould withdraw the anathema. Clement yielded at once, though thewhole college of cardinals had supported his policy; and Henry, whodid not learn the facts until several years afterwards, testified livelygratitude for the timely and politic intervention. Neri continued in thegovernment of the Oratory until his death. He was succeeded byBaronius.

Character

Philip Neri was a sign of contradiction, combining popularity withpiety against the background of a corrupt Rome and an uninterestedclergy, the whole post-Renaissance malaise. St. Philip possessed aplayful humour, combined with a shrewd wit. He considered acheerful temper to be more Christian than a melancholy one, andcarried 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 wereattributed to him. When his body was autopsied it was found that two of his ribs had been broken, an event attributedto the expansion of his heart while fervently praying in the catacombs about the year 1545. Benedict XIV, whoreorganised the rules for Canonisation, decided that Philip's enlarged heart was caused by an aneurism. Ponnelle andBordet, in their 1932 biography St. Philip Neri and the Roman Society of His Times (1515-1595), conclude that itwas partly natural and partly supernatural. What is certain is that Philip himself and his penitents associated it withdivine love.

"Practical commonplaceness," says Frederick William Faber in his panegyric of Neri, "was the special mark which distinguishes his form of ascetic piety from the types accredited before his day. He looked like other men ... he was emphatically a modern gentleman, of scrupulous courtesy, sportive gaiety, acquainted with what was going on in the world, taking a real interest in it, giving and getting information, very neatly dressed, with a shrewd common sense always alive about him, in a modern room with modern furniture, plain, it is true, but with no marks of poverty about it—In a word, with all the ease, the gracefulness, the polish of a modern gentleman of good birth, considerable

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accomplishments, and a very various information."Accordingly, he was ready to meet the needs of his day to an extent and in a manner which even the versatile Jesuits,who much desired to enlist him in their company, did not rival; and, though an Italian priest and head of a newreligious order, his genius was entirely unmonastic and unmedieval, frequent and popular preaching, unconventionalprayer, and unsystematized, albeit fervent, private devotion.Philip Neri prayed, "Let me get through today, and I shall not fear tomorrow."When summoned to hear confessions or to see someone who had called, he came down instantly with the words “Wemust leave Christ for Christ”. Philip was a mystic of the highest order, a man of ecstasies and visions, whose greatesthappiness was to be alone with God. Yet at the call of charity he gave up the delight of prayer and, instead, soughtGod by helping his neighbour. His whole life is that of the contemplative in action.[]

Neri had no difficulties in respect of the teaching of his church, being in truth an ardent Ultramontane in doctrine, aswas all but inevitable in his time and circumstances, and his great merit was the instinctive tact which showed himthat the system of monasticism could never be the leaven of secular life, but that something more homely, simple,and everyday in character was needed for the new time.

Death and veneration

Philip Neri's effigy at his tomb.

Philip died around the end of the day on 25 May 1595, the Feast ofCorpus Christi that year, after having spent the day hearingconfessions and receiving visitors.[4] About midnight he beganhemorrhaging, and Baronius read the commendatory prayers overhim. Baronius asked that he would bless his spiritual sons beforedying, and though he could no longer speak, he blessed them withthe sign of the cross and died.

St Philip Neri was beatified by Paul V in 1615, and canonized byGregory XV in 1622. His memorial is celebrated on 26 May. Hisbody is in the Chiesa Nuova ("New Church") in Rome.

Neri is one of the influential figures of the Counter-Reformation,mainly for converting to personal holiness many of the influential people within the Church itself.

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Oratory

Philip Neri, as painted by Guercino in 1656.

The congregation he founded is of the least conventional nature,rather resembling a residential clerical club than a monastery ofthe older type, and its rules (never written by Neri, but approvedby Paul V in 1612) would have appeared incredibly lax. In fact itsreligious character would seem almost doubtful to men such asBruno, Stephen Harding, Saint Francis or Saint Dominic. It admitsonly priests aged at least 36, or ecclesiastics who have completedtheir studies and are ready for ordination. The members live incommunity, and each pays his own expenses, having the usufructof his private means—a startling innovation on the monastic vowof poverty. They have indeed a common table, but it is kept upprecisely as a regimental mess, by monthly payments from eachmember. Nothing is provided by the society except the barelodging, and the fees of a visiting physician. Everythingelse—clothing, books, furniture, medicines—must be defrayed atthe private charges of each member. There are no vows, and everymember of the society is at liberty to withdraw when he pleases,and to take his property with him. The government, strikinglyunlike the Jesuit autocracy, is of a republican form; and the superior, though first in honour, has to take his turn indischarging all the duties which come to each priest of the society in the order of his seniority, including that ofwaiting at table, which is not entrusted in the Oratory to lay brothers, according to the practice in most othercommunities. Four deputies assist the superior in the government, and all public acts are decided by a majority ofvotes of the whole congregation, in which the superior has no casting voice. To be chosen superior, 15 years ofmembership are requisite as a qualification, and the office is tenable, as all the others, for but 3 years at a time. Noone can vote until he has been three years in the society; the deliberative voice is not obtained before the eleventhyear.

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Statue of Philip Neri in Congregados Church, Braga,Portugal.

There are thus three classes of members: novices, triennials anddecennials. Each house can call its superior to account, candepose, and can restore him, without appeal to any externalauthority, although the bishop of the diocese in which any houseof the Oratory is established is its ordinary and immediatesuperior, though without power to interfere with the rule. Theirchurches are non-parochial, and they can perform such rites asbaptisms, marriages, etc., only by permission of the parish priest,who is entitled to receive all fees due in respect of theseministrations.

The Oratory chiefly spread in Italy and in France, where in 1760there were 58 houses all under the government of asuperior-general. Nicolas Malebranche, Louis Thomassin, JulesMascaron and Jean Baptiste Massillon were members of thefamous branch established in Paris in 1611 by Bérulle (latercardinal), which had a great success and a distinguished history. Itfell in the crash of the French Revolution, but was revived by PèrePététot, curé of St Roch, in 1852, as the "Oratory of Jesus and theImmaculate Mary"; the Church of the Oratory near the Louvrebelongs to the Reformed Church. An English house, founded in1847 at Birmingham, is celebrated as the place at which CardinalNewman fixed his abode after his submission to the RomanCatholic Church. In 1849 a second congregation was founded inKing William Street, Strand, London, with FW Faber as superior;

in 1854 it was transferred to Brompton, where it is still based. Its church, the Church of the Immaculate Heart ofMary, was consecrated on 16 April 1884 and is the second largest Roman Catholic church in London. The societyhas never thrived in Germany, though a few houses have been founded there, in Munich and also in Vienna, Austria.

Neri encouraged the singing of the lauda spirituale (laude) in his oratory services. The prominent composers TomásLuis de Victoria and Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina probably participated in this music. His unique and variedaesthetic experience has been highlighted in a study by the Italian historian Francesco Danieli.[5]

In popular cultureGigi Proietti played Philip Neri in a 2010 Italian made for television movie Preferisco il Paradiso.

References[1][1] Walsh, p.156.[2][2] Walsh, p.157.[3] St. Philip Neri, Confessor, Lives of Saints, John J. Crawley & Co., Inc. (http:/ / www. ewtn. com/ library/ MARY/ PHILIP. htm)[4][4] Walsh, p.157-158.[5] F. Danieli, San Filippo Neri. La nascita dell'Oratorio e lo sviluppo dell'arte cristiana al tempo della riforma. (San Paolo: Cinisello Balsamo,

2009).

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Sources• Butler's Lives of the Saints, M. Walsh, ed. (HarperSanFrancisco: New York, 1991)

Biographies• Türks, Paul; Daniel Utrecht (translator) (1995). Philip Neri: The Fire of Joy (http:/ / books. google. com/

books?id=OzvB0YZ6MDkC). Edinburgh, Scotland, UK: T&T Clark. ISBN 0567293033. Authorised Englishtranslation of Philipp Neri oder Das Feuer der Freude (Freiburg im Breisgau: Herder, 1986, ISBN3-451-20809-1)

• Alfonso Capecelatro, The life of Saint Philip Neri, Apostle of Rome v.1 (1894) (https:/ / archive. org/ details/a549672601capeuoft)

• The life of Saint Philip Neri, Apostle of Rome v.2 (1894) (https:/ / archive. org/ details/ a549672602capeuoft)• Bacci, Pietro Giacomo. The life of Saint Philip Neri, Apostle of Rome, and founder of the congregation of the

oratory (1902) (https:/ / archive. org/ details/ lifeofphilipneri01baccuoft)•  This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911).

Encyclopædia Britannica (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Philip Neri.

• As described by Goethe (http:/ / books. google. com/ books?id=tY9LAAAAMAAJ& lpg=PA359&ots=usw_9Ox3fA& dq="cardinals of florence and cusano"& pg=PA348#v=onepage& q="cardinals of florenceand cusano"& f=false)

• Filippo Neri's memo to Pope Clement VIII (http:/ / books. google. com/ books?id=ioXNoJa6qNsC& pg=PA340&lpg=PA340& dq="cardinals+ of+ florence+ and+ cusano"& source=bl& ots=4KwEXAYLsP&sig=a6y-CTohqd_RWCdKVgm2ANEaCyE& hl=en& ei=czyxS9f0N4j8sgOiyuGdAg& sa=X& oi=book_result&ct=result& resnum=1& ved=0CAYQ6AEwAA#v=onepage& q="cardinals of florence and cusano"& f=false)

•• Maxims of St. Philip Neri• The Oratory of St. Philip Neri - Toronto (http:/ / www. oratory-toronto. org/ index. html)• The Oratory Birmingham (http:/ / www. oratoryparish. org. uk/ )• Saint Philip Neri engraved by Alessandro Badiale from the De Verda collection (http:/ / www. colecciondeverda.

com/ 2012/ 10/ la-virgen-y-el-nino-con-san-antonio-y. html)

Article Sources and Contributors 8

Article Sources and ContributorsPhilip Neri  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=626806947  Contributors: Adam sk, Adam78, Aidawhoelse, Alansohn, Alegreen, Alensha, Andycjp, Angeldeb82,Aristophanes68, Arjun01, Attilios, Auric, Bart133, Bear475, Bel Air Hillock, Bender235, Bernadeta, Big Bird, Bobo192, Caeruleancentaur, Cap10xb1s, Carl.bunderson, Charles Matthews,Chishikijin, Chl, Ciaconne, Citicat, Cryptic, Crysanthus, Curps, D6, Danield7606, DavidBrooks, Davidjoseph.vella, Deb, DeusDS, Dionysodorus, DocendoDiscimus, Donner60, Eagle4000,Edgarde, Efiiamagus, Esoglou, Evrik, Excirial, FF2010, FeanorStar7, Fidelia, Firstthes, Foofbun, Francvs, Garion96, Gilliam, Hacker6969, Hailey C. Shannon, HeartofaDog, Hello71, IanSpackman, JASpencer, JRHorse, JaGa, Jan morovic, Javaman59, JoJan, John Carter, Jordon Kalilich, Joseolgon, Josinj, Jpisafag, KGasso, Katharineamy, KathrynLybarger, Kingstowngalway,Laurencebeck, MAlanH, MER-C, Makemi, MamaGeek, Mannanan51, Maria Bernada, Mathiasrex, Matt.smart, Max Schwarz, Melaen, Merope, Michael David, Mike Rosoft, Miorik, Mkmcconn,Necrothesp, Nunquam Dormio, OccultZone, Ocyril, Olivier, Omnipaedista, Organic Cabbage, PBS, Palmettoredbird, Panairjdde, Pharaoh of the Wizards, Pil56, Polylerus, Presearch, Quantpole,Redsky89, Riccardo Riccioni, Rich Farmbrough, Ricky81682, RogDel, Rojypala, Saddhiyama, Safebreaker, Sanziolo, Ser Amantio di Nicolao, SimonP, Snigbrook, Sophroniscus, Spondoolicks,Srich32977, Staffelde, Stevenmitchell, T. Anthony, Theun k, Uberon, Ultatri, Unyoyega, Vaquero100, Volunteer Marek, Vrenator, Wetman, Wiki13, WikiDan61, Wikipelli, Zoicon5, Zé da Silva,180 anonymous edits

Image Sources, Licenses and ContributorsFile:FNeri.gif  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:FNeri.gif  License: Public Domain  Contributors: Henxter, MathiasrexImage:San felipe neri.jpg  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:San_felipe_neri.jpg  License: Public Domain  Contributors: G.dallorto, Pelagio de las Asturias, Safebreaker,TúrelioImage:Giovanni Battista Tiepolo 025.jpg  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Giovanni_Battista_Tiepolo_025.jpg  License: Public Domain  Contributors: Demidow,G.dallorto, JedImage:S Filipo Neri chapel.JPG  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:S_Filipo_Neri_chapel.JPG  License: Public Domain  Contributors: anon.Image:Guercino San Filippo Neri. San Marino.JPG  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Guercino_San_Filippo_Neri._San_Marino.JPG  License: Attribution  Contributors:Stefano BologniniImage:Filipe de Nery.JPG  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Filipe_de_Nery.JPG  License: Creative Commons Attribution-Sharealike 3.0  Contributors: JoseolgonFile:PD-icon.svg  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:PD-icon.svg  License: Public Domain  Contributors: Alex.muller, Anomie, Anonymous Dissident, CBM, MBisanz, PBS,Quadell, Rocket000, Strangerer, Timotheus Canens, 1 anonymous editsImage:Commons-logo.svg  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Commons-logo.svg  License: logo  Contributors: Anomie

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