Philip Neri is remembered for his cheerfulness and sense of humor. When someone urged him to be a little more serious, he once replied: “You wouldn’t want them to say that Philip is a saint, would you?”
Philip Neri is remembered for his humility. “My children, be humble, keep yourselves low: be humble, keep yourselves low,” he would repeat to his followers.
Philip Neri is remembered for his goodness and charity. He devoted time and energy to the street children of sixteenth-century Rome: he fed them, had them play, ensured they received a basic education, and nurtured their religious growth. Discover more.
His sense of humor
Saint Philip Neri always kept “The Jests of Pievano Arlotto” with him, a humorous book that became known throughout the world, recounting the merry oddities of a parish priest of the time.
Sometimes Philip received distinguished guests wearing his clothes inside out, or he would dress ridiculously; he was capable of walking around with half his beard shaved, on one side only, or with a large blue cushion on his head, or enormous white clown shoes, or a bright red sweater over his cassock. He acted this way because he did not want people to think he was a saint.
His ecstasies
Before Mass, in the sacristy, he would sometimes keep puppies and little birds there and play with them for a while before beginning the celebration, because he knew that as soon as it began, he would be so absorbed that he would fall into ecstasy. Sometimes he would even interrupt himself while reading the Gospel during Mass; he would start playing with the keys and his watch. When the consecration approached, however, it was as if he were swept away by an overwhelming force. The altar server would often hear him whisper: “It is Blood, it is truly Blood!” When he had given a particularly beautiful sermon, he would pretend to stagger like a drunkard as he came down from the pulpit, but by then people understood that it was all an act to disguise his holiness.
His miracles
Many miracles are attributed to the intercession of Saint Philip Neri. Such was his reputation that people brought him those who were on their deathbeds; he would touch and caress them, and they would rise healed. Dozens of healings of this kind were recorded during the trial.
All of Philip's spirituality can be summed up in this phrase he loved to repeat to his followers: “Our only rule is love.” Let us imitate his example so that we too can be witnesses in the world of the love and joy that come from God.
Do you have any memories of Saint Philip Neri that you would like to share? Write them in the comments.
