Philip Neri was born at Florence, of pious and respectable parents. From his early childhood, he gave evident promise of future sanctity. While yet a young man, he gave up an ample fortune which he inherited from an uncle, and went to Rome. Here he studied philosophy and sacred letters, and devoted himself entirely to Christ. So great was his abstinence, that he frequently passed three days without eating. He was intent upon watching and praying, and, frequently visiting the seven churches of Rome, he was in the habit of spending the night in the cemetery of Callistus, in the contemplation of heavenly things. Being ordained priest out of obedience, his one object was the salvation of souls. To the last day of his life assiduous in hearing confessions, he was the father in Christ of almost innumerable children. Wishing to nourish them with the daily hearing of God's word, with frequent sacraments, with constant prayer, and with other pious exercises, he founded the Congregation of the Oratory.
He was ever languishing with the love of God, by which he was wounded, and such was the ardour that glowed within his heart, that, as he could not keep it in its place, his breast was miraculously enlarged by the breaking and expansion of two of his ribs. Sometimes, when celebrating Mass, or in fervent prayer, he was seen to be raised up in the air and encircled with a bright light. He cared for the needy and the poor with an all-providing charity. He was deemed worthy to give alms to an Angel, in the guise of a beggar; and once when carrying loaves to the poor during the night, he fell into a pit, and was in like manner rescued unhurt by an Angel. He was devoted to humility, and always shrank from honours; and when even the highest ecclesiastical dignities were more than once offered to him, he very firmly refused them.
He was noted for the gift of prophecy, and was marvellously eminent in reading the thoughts of men's minds. Throughout his whole life he preserved his chastity unsullied. He had the power of distinguishing those who were chaste by a sweet odour, and the unchaste by a stench. He sometimes appeared to persons at a distance, and assisted them in moments of danger. He restored many who were sick, and at death's door, to health. He also restored a dead man to life. He was frequently favoured with apparitions of heavenly spirits and of the Virgin Mother of God, and saw the souls of many ascending, amid great brightness, into heaven. At length, in the year of salvation 1595, on the 25th day of May, on which day there fell the Feast of Corpus Christi, after having said Mass with extraordinary spiritual joy, and after the other functions were finished, just after midnight, which was the hour he had foretold, in his eightieth year he fell asleep in the Lord. Illustrious for his miracles, he was added to the number of the Saints by Gregory XV.
He was ever languishing with the love of God, by which he was wounded, and such was the ardour that glowed within his heart, that, as he could not keep it in its place, his breast was miraculously enlarged by the breaking and expansion of two of his ribs. Sometimes, when celebrating Mass, or in fervent prayer, he was seen to be raised up in the air and encircled with a bright light. He cared for the needy and the poor with an all-providing charity. He was deemed worthy to give alms to an Angel, in the guise of a beggar; and once when carrying loaves to the poor during the night, he fell into a pit, and was in like manner rescued unhurt by an Angel. He was devoted to humility, and always shrank from honours; and when even the highest ecclesiastical dignities were more than once offered to him, he very firmly refused them.
He was noted for the gift of prophecy, and was marvellously eminent in reading the thoughts of men's minds. Throughout his whole life he preserved his chastity unsullied. He had the power of distinguishing those who were chaste by a sweet odour, and the unchaste by a stench. He sometimes appeared to persons at a distance, and assisted them in moments of danger. He restored many who were sick, and at death's door, to health. He also restored a dead man to life. He was frequently favoured with apparitions of heavenly spirits and of the Virgin Mother of God, and saw the souls of many ascending, amid great brightness, into heaven. At length, in the year of salvation 1595, on the 25th day of May, on which day there fell the Feast of Corpus Christi, after having said Mass with extraordinary spiritual joy, and after the other functions were finished, just after midnight, which was the hour he had foretold, in his eightieth year he fell asleep in the Lord. Illustrious for his miracles, he was added to the number of the Saints by Gregory XV.
The Tomb of St. Philip Neri in the Chiesa Nuova, Rome
