St. Philip Neri - May 26th

 

 Today we celebrate the memorial of St. Philip Neri, who was born in Florence, in 1515, the same year St. Teresa of Avila was born in Spain.

Ever since six years old, he was perfectly obedient to his parents. He had the nickname of “good little Phil”. Already at the age of 18, he developed the reputation of great sanctity. He taught others, as he himself studied philosophy and theology. He used to start up a conversation with people on street corners, and ask them, “Well, when shall we start to do good?” He also used humor to help bring them closer to Christ. The people responded and Philip would show them the way—taking them to hospitals to visit the sick, or showing them how to care for the needy. His desire to save souls caused him to establish the Confraternity of the Blessed Trinity in 1548, with the object of serving pilgrims and the sick. His confessor insisted that he become a priest. Once ordained, he established the Oratorian Fathers. However, his greatest work was in the Confessional. He spent long hours each day, reconciling sinners to the love of God and spent his life doing penance and mortification.

One day, on the eve of Pentecost, he had an experience that affected him profoundly. There appeared to him, what seemed to be a globe of fire; it entered his mouth, and afterwards he felt the dilation of his heart. He immediately was filled with such divine love, that he fell to the ground exclaiming, “Enough, enough, Lord, I can bear no more!” When the experience was finished, he discovered a swelling over his heart, though it never gave him any pain. From that moment on, he often experienced palpitations; and he would ask God to limit his visitations, so that he would not die of love. 

To prevent his ecstasies, he would place a squirrel on his shoulder when He offered the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass to distract him.

Due to his holiness, people around him often stated that his face glowed with radiance. He had a great devotion to the Eucharist and so popularized the devotion of 40 hours of Eucharistic Adoration and it was on the Feast of Corpus Christi, a physician told him he had not looked so well in years. All day on Corpus Christi, he heard confessions and saw visitors as usual and before going to bed, he made this statement, “Last of all, we must die.” He died that night, after suffering from a hemorrhage, surrounded by his Oratorian Fathers. His last act of love was very similar to the death of Pope John Paul II. They both raised their hands to give a blessing, and then died.

Today, may our hearts be on fire for love of Jesus imitation of St. Philip Neri, so that we live forever in our heavenly home, with the Blessed Virgin Mary, and all the angels and saints.