Philip Neri
US Special Forces; Institute of Christ the King Sovereign Priest; Catbalogan , Philippines; laughter; joy; comedians; artists; writers |
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Philip Romolo Neri, Cong. Orat. (
Early life
Philip was the son of Francesco di Neri, a lawyer, and his wife Lucrezia da Mosciano, whose family were nobility in the service of the state. He was carefully brought up, and received his early teaching from the friars at San Marco, the famous Dominican monastery in Florence. He was accustomed in later life to ascribing most of his progress to the teaching of two of them, Zenobio de' Medici and Servanzio Mini. At the age of 18, in 1533, Philip was sent to his uncle, Romolo, a wealthy merchant at San Germano (now Cassino), a then Neapolitan town near the base of Monte Cassino, to assist him in his business, and with the hope that Philip might inherit Romolo's fortune.[1] Philip did gain Romolo's confidence and affection, but during his stay he also experienced a religious conversion. From then onward, Philip no longer cared for the things of this world. In 1533, he left San Germano to live in Rome. [2]
Founding of the Oratory
Mission work
After arriving in Rome, Philip became a tutor in the house of a Florentine aristocrat named Galeotto Caccia. After two years he began to pursue his studies (for three years) under the guidance of the
Confraternity of the Holy Trinity
In 1548, together with his
The Oratory
In 1551, Philip received all the
In 1564 the Florentines requested that Philip leave San Girolamo to oversee their newly built church in Rome,
As the community grew, and its mission work extended, the need for a church entirely its own made itself felt, and the small parish church of
Political activity
Although Philip refrained from becoming involved in political matters, he broke this rule in 1593–1595 when he persuaded Pope
Personal character
Philip Neri embodied several contradictions, combining popular veneration with intensely individual piety. He became deeply involved with the Church while seeking to reform a corrupt Rome and an indifferent clergy.[7]
Philip possessed a playful sense of humor, combined with a shrewd wit. He considered a cheerful temper to be more Christian than a melancholy one, and carried this spirit into his whole life: "A joyful heart is more easily made perfect than a downcast one." This was the secret of Neri's popularity and his place in the folklore of the Roman poor. Many
"Practical commonplaceness," says Frederick William Faber in his panegyric on Philip, "was the special mark that 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, and 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 accomplishments, and widespread knowledge."[9]
Accordingly, Philip 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 new religious order, his genius was entirely unmonastic and unmedieval – frequent and popular preaching, unconventional prayer, and unsystematized, albeit fervent, private devotion.[9]
Philip prayed, "Let me get through today, and I shall not fear tomorrow."[7]
Philip had no difficulties in respect of the teaching of his Church. His great merit was the instinctive tact that showed him that the system of monasticism could never be the leaven of secular life in the world of his day, but that something more homely, simple, and every day in character was needed for the new times then emerging.[9]
Death and veneration
Philip Neri died around the end of the day on 25 May 1595, the Feast of
Philip Neri was beatified by Paul V in 1615 and canonized by Pope Gregory XV in 1622.[6] His memorial is celebrated on 26 May. His body is venerated in the Chiesa Nuova ("New Church") in Rome.
Philip Neri is one of the influential figures of the Counter-Reformation and is noted for converting to personal holiness many of the influential people within the church itself.[7]
Philip is
Legacy
The Oratory
The congregation Philip Neri founded is of an original stamp, little resembling a monastery of the older type, and its rules (not drawn up by Philip Neri, but approved by Pope Paul V in 1612)[12] leave considerable freedom of action compared with traditional religious foundations.[9]
The Congregation of the Oratory of Saint Philip Neri is a pontifical society of apostolic life of Catholic priests and lay brothers who live together in a community bound together but without formal vows. They are commonly referred to as Oratorians (Oratorian Fathers). Oratorians commit themselves to membership in a particular, independent, self-governing local community (an Oratory, usually named for the place in which it is located). In some locations, the local Oratory has been designated to administer a particular parish; others may be tasked with campus ministry.
The French Oratory
The Oratory movement spread in the early period, especially in Italy. In France, a separate and distinct foundation from the
Music
Philip Neri encouraged the singing of the Lauda spiritual (
Seven Churches Walk
Philip sometimes led "excursions" to other churches, often with music and a picnic on the way.
The tradition of visiting all seven churches was started by Neri[18] to combine conviviality and the sharing of a common religious experience through discovering the heritage of the early saints. Neri drew up an itinerary that included visits to St. Peter's Basilica, then St. Paul Outside-the-Walls, St. Sebastian's, St. John Lateran, Holy Cross-in-Jerusalem, St. Lawrence-Outside-the Walls, and finally St. Mary Major. He and a few friends and acquaintances would gather before dawn and set out on their walk. At each church, there would be prayer, hymn singing, and a brief sermon by Neri.[19]
A simple meal was pre-arranged at the gardens of the Villa Mattei. The Mattei family opened their grounds for pilgrims to rest and provided them with bread, wine, cheese, eggs, apples, and salami. During these "picnics", musicians would play and singers would perform.
The street which links Basilica of Saint Paul Outside the Walls with San Sebastiano fuori le mura is still called "Via Delle Sette Chiese" (Seven Churches Walk). These pilgrimages were designed to be a counterpoint to the raucous behavior of Carnival.[19] The Walks became very popular and began to attract others. From this developed the custom of visiting seven churches on Maundy Thursday. In Rome, the Seven Church Walk is traditionally done on Wednesday of Holy Week.
In popular culture
Johnny Dorelli played Philip Neri in a 1983 Italian movie State buoni se potete.
Gigi Proietti played Philip Neri in a 2010 Italian movie made for television, Saint Philip Neri: I Prefer Heaven.
See also
References
- ^ a b c "St. Philip Neri". www.ewtn.com. Retrieved 2017-12-09.
- ^ a b c d e f g Chisholm 1911, p. 389.
- ^ a b c Ritchie 1911
- ^ a b Walsh 1991, p. 157.
- ^ "San Salvatore in Campo". romafelix.com. Retrieved 2017-12-09.
- ^ a b c "Addington, Raleigh (of the London Oratory), Saint Philip Neri" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2014-05-28. Retrieved 2017-07-12.
- ^ a b c d e Miller, Don (2016-05-26). "Saint Philip Neri". Franciscan Media. Archived from the original on 2017-12-10. Retrieved 2017-12-09.
- ^ Chisholm 1911, pp. 389–390.
- ^ a b c d e Chisholm 1911, p. 390.
- ^ Walsh 1991, pp. 157–158.
- ^ "The Calendar". The Church of England. Retrieved 2021-03-27.
- ^ Ingold 1911.
- ^ Britannica: "Oratorian" Retrieved August 17, 2016,
- ^ Smither.
- ^ Danieli 2009.
- ^ "Visiting the Seven Pilgrim Churches of Rome – ZENIT – English". zenit.org. 12 November 2012. Retrieved 2017-12-09.
- ^ "Catholic News Herald - Catholic News Herald". www.catholicnewsherald.com. Retrieved 2017-12-09.
- ^ Schneible, Ann. "Visiting the Seven Pilgrim Churches of Rome", Zenit, November 12, 2012
- ^ a b ""St. Philip's 'Picnic'", The Pontifical Congregation of the Oratory". Archived from the original on 2016-02-07. Retrieved 2017-11-24.
Sources
- Danieli, Francesco (2009). San Filippo Neri. La nascita dell'Oratorio e lo sviluppo dell'arte cristiana al tempo della riforma. San Paolo: Cinisello Balsamo.
- Ingold, A M.P. (1911). Catholic Encyclopedia. Vol. 11. New York: Robert Appleton Company. . In Herbermann, Charles (ed.).
- Smither, Howard E. (2001). "Filippo Neri". In ISBN 978-1-56159-239-5.
- Walsh, M., ed. (1991). Butler's Lives of the Saints. New York: HarperSanFrancisco.
Attribution:
- public domain: Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Neri, Philip". Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 19 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. pp. 389–390. This article incorporates text from a publication now in the
- This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Ritchie, C. Sebastian (1911). "St. Philip Romolo Neri". In Herbermann, Charles (ed.). Catholic Encyclopedia. Vol. 12. New York: Robert Appleton Company.
Further reading
- Türks, Paul (1995). Philip Neri: The Fire of Joy. Translated by Daniel Utrecht. Edinburgh, Scotland, UK: T&T Clark. ISBN 3-451-20809-1).
- Alfonso Capecelatro, The life of Saint Philip Neri, Apostle of Rome v.1 (1894).
- OCLC 460693224.
- The life of Saint Philip Neri, Apostle of Rome v.2 (1894).
- Bacci, Pietro Giacomo. The life of Saint Philip Neri, Apostle of Rome, and founder of the congregation of the oratory (1902).
- Neri, Philip (1847). .
External links
- As described by Goethe
- Filippo Neri's memo to Pope Clement VIII
- The Oratory of St. Philip Neri - Toronto
- Saint Philip Neri engraved by Alessandro Badiale from the De Verda collection
- Colonnade Statue in St Peter's Square
- Founder Statue in St Peter's Basiica
- Literature by and about Philip Neri in the German National Library catalogue
- Works by and about Philip Neri in the Deutsche Digitale Bibliothek (German Digital Library)
- "Philip Neri" in the Ecumenical Lexicon of Saints
- Procura Generalis Confoederationis Oratorii S. Philippi Nerii
- In Freude Christ sein - Leben des hl. Philipp Neri at the Wayback Machine (archived December 2, 2009) – Biografie
- German Federation of the Oratorium of Saint Philipp Neri
- Oratorium in St. Rochus, Vienna
- Himmel und Hölle (OT: State buoni, se potete) at IMDb Luigi Magniabout Philipp Neri – a film by