Saint Philip Neri’s secret for defeating the devil

In the heart of sixteenth-century Rome, amid the noise of carriages and the splendor of the courts, a man unlike any other walked: dressed simply, with a contagious smile and a heart kindled by divine fire. His name was Filippo Neri, but everyone knew him as “Good Pippo,” the saint of joy. What many people do not know, however, is that behind his cheerful spirit was a true spiritual warrior, one who knew how to stand up to the devil… and always defeated him. Want to know how?

When the devil knocks…

Several stories handed down by his biographers and disciples tell of direct encounters between Saint Filippo Neri and the devil. But he did not respond with solemn exorcisms or dramatic gestures. His shield was humility, prayer, and a joy so powerful that it was unbearable to hell.

Disturbing apparitions

The devil, according to hagiographic tradition, sometimes appeared in terrifying forms (black animals, threatening shadows, deformed figures) and at other times in human form, for example disguised as a penitent or even as a bright angel, as in these two anecdotes.

The devil in the confessional

A young man entered Saint Filippo’s church to go to confession. As soon as he sat down in the confessional, Filippo felt something strange: a sudden chill and an unbearable smell. Then he understood. He was not an ordinary penitent. According to the story, he was the devil in disguise, who had come to tempt him. Filippo did not lose his composure. He stood up, made the sign of the cross, and said: «If you have sins, you can confess them. If you only want to cause trouble, the door is right there». The devil disappeared with an angry cry.

The devil disguises himself as an angel

One day he appeared to Saint Filippo in a vision, with a radiant appearance, and tried to convince him to stop praying and doing penance, telling him: «God is already pleased with you, now you can think a little about yourself». Filippo immediately understood the trick. He replied: «If God is pleased, then I want to please him even more». With a breath, the apparition vanished, leaving behind the smell of sulfur.

Physical attacks

According to several accounts, the devil also tried to torment the saint’s body: he made him feel sudden pains, caused noises at night to disturb him, and tried to tear the bones from his body. One night, Filippo’s fellow brothers heard him shouting from his room: «You will not have them! The bones are mine!». They ran to him and found him awake, sweaty but calm. He told them that the devil had tried to tear the bones from his body, as if wanting to physically destroy the temple of the Holy Spirit that he had become. When they asked him how he had reacted, he replied with a smile: «I made the sign of the cross… and laughed in his face».

Temptations: pride, vanity, and discord

The devil did not limit himself to frightening Filippo: he tried to slip into his thoughts, making him believe he was special, seeking to lead him toward spiritual vanity, grandiose thoughts, or the pursuit of public admiration. At other times, he sowed discord between him and his disciples.

How did Filippo respond?

With hilarious acts of humility: he shaved only half his beard; went out with flowers on his head or wore his clothes inside out; deliberately made himself appear clumsy; and spoke foolishly in front of important people.
He used to say: «It is better to be ridiculous before men than proud before God».

Exorcism through laughter

The devil feeds on fear and sadness. But Saint Filippo was the saint of joy, and this made him invulnerable. One day, a man tormented by visions and strange voices came to him. Instead of beginning a long, solemn exorcism, Filippo sat him down and began telling him jokes. After half an hour, the man burst into hearty laughter… and the torment ceased completely. Filippo explained: «The devil hates joy. Where there is genuine happiness, he cannot resist».

The heart on fire (literally)

Filippo was not merely a cheerful man: during Pentecost, a mystical flame struck his heart. His ribs physically shifted to contain the love of God burning within him. From that day on, anyone who came near him felt a real, almost burning warmth.
The devil also knew that this heart was inaccessible. For another reason as well.

The secret weapon

Filippo knew that he should not rely on his own strength but on God. His most immediate and powerful help came from the intercession of the Virgin Mary.
Filippo often said: «Last night the devil tried to frighten me, but I entrusted myself to the Most Holy Madonna, and she delivered me». In fact, one evening, when the devil appeared to him in a terrifying form, Saint Filippo invoked the help of the Queen of Heaven, and the evil one disappeared immediately. Whenever he felt tempted, he turned to the Virgin Mary for help and was never disappointed.
This approach is consistent with what many exorcists testify: the devil deeply hates the Blessed Mother. She represents the greatest example of fidelity to God and is a true “thorn” in the devil’s plans. Saint Filippo knew this well.
Thus, the secret of Saint Filippo Neri lay in a deep and constant trust in the help and intercession of the Virgin Mary, who was able to free him easily from the devil every day. A luminous example of how devotion to Mary can be a powerful weapon in spiritual battle.

Saint Filippo Neri leaves us a unique and profound spiritual legacy: evil can be fought with Mary’s help and without losing our smile. That is why he often said: «A sad saint is a sad saint».
And today, in our anxious world full of burdens, his message is more valuable than ever.

To discover the extraordinary life of Saint Filippo Neri, buy the book now and let yourself be inspired by the “saint of the smile”.