Saint Philip Neri

Life story

Philip Neri was born on 21 July 1515 in Florence, the son of a notary. Around 1533 he left home for southern Italy to live with a relative, and then moved to Rome. He worked as a tutor and studied philosophy and theology, but mostly lived as a simple layman, visiting hospitals, talking with young people in the streets, and praying in quiet places.

In 1548, together with the priest Persiano Rossi, he founded a confraternity to welcome and care for poor pilgrims, known as the Confraternity of the Most Holy Trinity of the Pilgrims. On the advice of friends he was ordained a priest in 1551 and lived at the church of San Girolamo della Carità. According to tradition, in 1544 he had an intense spiritual experience in the catacombs of San Sebastiano. Many of the people he met in these years were young men from the streets and shops of Rome, whom he gathered for walks, talk and prayer.

His gatherings combined readings from the Bible and from spiritual books, singing and simple commentary. From them grew the Oratory, approved by Pope Gregory XIII in 1575, centred on the church of Santa Maria in Vallicella, also called the Chiesa Nuova. He was known for his humour, his simplicity and his friendships with people of all ranks, including powerful figures such as Charles Borromeo.

He died in Rome on 26 May 1595 and was canonised in 1622. The people of Rome often called him the apostle of their city. His body rests in the Chiesa Nuova, where the Oratorians he founded have continued their work.

Works and witness

• Founded a confraternity to receive poor pilgrims in Rome in 1548.
• Was ordained a priest in 1551.
• Held Oratory gatherings of Scripture, singing and talk for laypeople and young people.
• Founded the Congregation of the Oratory, approved in 1575.

Saints from the same country

Saint Agnes, Saint Lawrence, Saint Cecilia, Saint Sebastian

References

• Martyrologium Romanum
• Dicastery for the Causes of Saints – biographical profile
• Early Lives of Philip Neri by Gallonio and Bacci

Written by Anawim from documented history. Some details about ancient saints rest on tradition and are marked as such.