“Pippo bono”
Belonging to a wealthy family, the son of a notary, the saint, born in 1515 in Florence, Italy, was orphaned by his mother very early, and while still young he already earned the name “good Philip”, due to his kind, cheerful and loyal.
Business and studies
At the age of 18, he received an invitation from his uncle to dedicate himself to business in São Germano. Filipe, however, did not adapt. Attracted by God, he dedicated himself to studying in Rome. He studied Philosophy and Theology, allowing himself to be led and formed by the Holy Spirit.
The Apostle of Rome
Néri, even before he became a priest, visited the poorest places in Rome, the most abandoned hospitals and the most terrible prisons, bringing joyful, spontaneous and lively preaching, together with a kind Christian charity that made him known and liked by everyone. city, being then called: the apostle of Rome.
Dedication to young people
“As long as you do not commit sins, I will gladly bear with you chopping wood on my back”, said Filipe to the young people, whom he instructed and educated. He dedicated himself to them with such love that he was not disturbed by the complaints and insults received because of them.
“Oratory of divine love”
Saying yes to the glory of God and passionate about poetry and music since his adolescence, he began the beautiful work of the Oratorio do Divino Amor, where he gathered young people and made them sing and pray. The musical meaning of the word began there: the lyrical drama was created with choirs and orchestra. From then on, Philip founded the Congregation of the Oratory.
The joyful saint
A man of prayer, penance and adoration, Saint Philip Neri, known for his joyful testimony, whose smile, said Pope Francis, transformed him into a passionate announcer of the Word of God, died on May 26, 1595, leaving for heaven with 80 years. He was beatified in May 1614 by Pope Paul V; and canonized, in March 1622, by Pope Gregory XV.
Enlarged heart
After Easter, doctors found that his heart was enlarged to such an extent that two ribs were broken to accommodate it. This fact is attributed to his great love for God and men.
My prayer
“Saint Philip, intercede for me and lead me to true joy in the service of Christ and to loving charity for all the people of God. I also want to be able to sing the glory of God and proclaim, with a passionate heart, his Word. Amen!”
Saint Philip Neri, pray for us!
Other saints and blesseds celebrated on May 26:
- Saint Eleutherius, Pope, in Rome. († 189)
- Saint Symmetrius, martyr, in Rome. († date inc.)
- Saint Felicíssima, martyr, in Tódi, in Umbria, region of Italy. († s. III/IV)
- Saint Priscus and companions, martyrs, in Gaul, today in France. († date inc.)
- Saint Augustine, bishop, whose memory is celebrated tomorrow, in Canterbury, England.(† 604/605)
- Saint Desiderius, bishop of Vienne, who, by order of Queen Brunhilde, whom he reproached for his incestuous nuptials and other perversities, was relegated to exile, and later, stoned by order of the same queen, received the crown of martyrdom. († c. 606)
- Saint Berengar, monk, in the monastery of Saint-Papoul, also in Gaul, today in France. († 1093)
- Saint Lambert, bishop, who was generous to the poor and a friend of poverty, in Vence, in Provence, present-day France. († 1154)
- Blessed Francisco Patrízi, presbyter of the Order of the Servants of Mary, in Siena, Etruria, today in Tuscany, a region of Italy. († 1328)
- Blessed André Fránchi, bishop, in Pistoia, also in Etruria, currently in Tuscany. († 1401)
- Saint Mariana de Jesus de Paredes, virgin, who consecrated her life to Christ in the Third Order of Saint Francis in Quito, Ecuador († 1645)
- Saint Peter Sans i Jordá, bishop of the Order of Preachers and martyr, who, together with other priests, was arrested and taken in chains the long way to the court; in the place of torture, he knelt and, after the prayer, voluntarily presented his neck to the cleaver, in Fuzhou, a town in Fugian, province of China. († 1747)
- Saint Joseph Chang Song-jib, martyr, in Seoul, Korea. († 1839)
- The holy martyrs João Doan Trinh Hoan, priest, and Mateus Hguyen Van Phuong, family man and catechist, who had hosted their companion in martyrdom; For their faith, they were both tortured and cruelly beheaded in Dong Hoi, a city in Aname, in modern-day Vietnam. († 1861)
- Saint Andrew Kagwa, martyr, in Numyonyo, a town in Uganda. († 1886)
- Saint Pontian Ngondwe, martyr, who died pierced by a spear while being led to the hill of torture, in Ttaka Jiunge, also in Uganda. († 1886)
Sources:
- vaticannews.va
- Roman Martyrology – liturgia.pt
- archisp.org.br
- Book “Saints of each day II” – José Leite, SJ
– Research and writing: Catarina Xavier – Comunidade