Persecution: Saint Philip Neri, Priest
by VP
Posted on Sunday May 26, 2024 at 12:20AM in Saints
"He was born at Florence; and having employed his youth in the study of learning and virtue, he dedicated himself wholly to the service of God in prayer and fasting. Being desirous to labour in the best manner he could in the care of souls, he deliberated with himself what state to choose for this end. After a long preparation he was ordained priest; and then his whole concern was for the salvation of souls. He showed wonderful zeal in the discharge of every part of his function, in which he spent himself for their eternal good. That he might more plentifully provide them with all necessary helps, he instituted the Congregation of Oratorians, whose whole business was, by praying and preaching, to instruct the faithful in the way of salvation. The delight he found in the Blessed Sacrament is inexpressible. He was favoured with extraordinary raptures in prayer, and sometimes raised high above the ground during his devotions, at which time his countenance appeared shining with a bright light. He was so great a lover of poverty, that he desired always to live destitute of worldly goods, and in a state of indigence. Under the sharpest pains of sickness, no complaint, groan, or stir was ever observed in him; he was only heard. sometimes to repeat these words: "Increase my pain, but increase my patience." Having lived many years in the practice of great charity, and wonderful humility, and received extraordinary favours from heaven, bequeathing his spirit to his spiritual children, he died in 1595.
Pray for all the fathers of his congregation; that they may ever preserve the spirit of their founder for the good of many. Pray for all priests, that they may be laborious, zealous, charitable, and examples of humility
to all. Pray for yourself; that you may be faithful in your duties,
first as a Christian, and then as your particular state requires,
whether as husband, wife, parent, superior, child, or servant.
All conditions have particular obligations; and you are bound to know
what belongs to yours. And remember that if you have any under your
care, it is your duty to see that they want no instruction."The Catholic Year by Fr. John Gother
"Every one in Rome began to talk about Philip; many judged him unfavorably, and he was everywhere spoken against.
(...) They declared that Philip was a sower of scandals and of evil seed, and that he ought to be dealt with as a teacher of new doctrines and a setter-up of a new sect.
(Philip) saw that a great trial was coming on him and he prepared to meet it bravely. He enjoined on his disciples the utmost prudence and forbearance; he forbade them to speak even a word against their revilers and calumniators, for he knew that some of them at least were good men, led astray by others, or blinded by their own weak prejudices.
Meanwhile the calumnies so industriously circulated were reported to some person of high position and great authority in the Church, and at last they reached the ear of the Cardinal of Spoleto, a prelate of impetuous and ill-regulated zeal. (...)
We can scarcely imagine the anguish of Philip's heart during this trial. It is hard to bear the sorrows that come on us from our own corrupted nature, and perhaps harder still to bear those laid on us by ignorant and wicked men. But no sorrows are so keen as those inflicted on us by persons who are to us the representatives of God and His justice, and whom we therefore respect and love. To feel one's self despised by the good, when all the aim of our life is to do good; to be condemned by the ministers of God's truth and justice, when all our life is a sacrifice of self to justice and truth; this is indeed a keen and unutterable sorrow, and only he who has felt it knows how hard it is to bear. And because this sorrow exceeds in bitterness all other sorrows, we find it always the portion of saints, and per-eminently of Jesus, king and pattern of saints, who was persecuted even to death by the priests of the people of God. It was as a sword piercing Philip's heart that he was declared guilty, not only by the enemies of the Pope and the Church, but by the Vicar of the Pope himself, and that this sentence was approved by so many good men in Rome. (...)
The result of these things was, that Philip's position become every day more painful and embarrassing. Ecclesiastical authority was against him; the ungodly and profane treated him with unrestrained insolence; of the good, some who had been his friends were now alienated from him, and others, who were still devoted to him, could not keep silence, and were sometimes imprudent. Philip himself yielded a perfect obedience to the command of his superiors.
Philip did everything in his power to stop (his friends) from speaking against his adversaries. He found a thousand excuses for those who were persecuting him; he was always calm and gentle, and ever bright with gladness; he put the best interpretation he could on all that was said against him; and was disquieted with apprehension that his enemies might be less esteemed or respected. And, above all, he prayed for them with great fervor, and with many tears; and he urged his disciples to follow his example. He often said to them: "This persecution is not for your sake, but for mine; God desires to make me humble and patient, and when I have gathered from this trial the fruit He wills me to gather, it will pass away." What simplicity and what peace there is in these words, and what profound wisdom too!"
The Priesthood:
"Philip's first thought on entering the house of S. Girolamo was to manifest in himself the sacred impress of the priesthood of Jesus, and to imitate, so far as he could, His most holy and gracious life. Jesus in His priestly office offered Himself in sacrifice to the Father, forgave the sins of all who drew near to Him with faith and love, and sowed by His preaching the seed of the good tidings of God. And Philip not only resolved to offer the Divine Sacrifice every day, to devote himself to the ministry of the sacrament of penance, and to preach; but he resolved that he would, in these three great functions, always try to reflect the image of Jesus Christ. From the day of his ordination he ever set before his eyes Jesus the Great High Priest, and united himself so intimately with Him, that his works were in their substance the works of Christ, wrought by him as an instrument. He looked on himself as the branch abiding in the vine, and the vine was Christ; he strove to be one with Christ, as Christ and the Father are one. Nor is there in this anything to startle us. It is the very idea of the christian priesthood, and he who does not realize it in some degree has the sacerdotal character indeed, but is not a priest after the heart of Jesus Christ.
One of his most distinctive characteristics (...) was a bright cheerfulness of spirit, which went with him throughout his life, and which helped him much in his ministry to souls. This genial cheerfulness and sympathy drew sinners to Philip with singular force; it made them love him, and to love Philip was to be drawn mightily towards God.
Hence Philip applied himself to this ministry with marvelous assiduity and constancy. Not satisfied with hearing confession during the day, the continued them on into the night; and in the morning before dawn he had generally confessed forty persons in his own room. (...)
He allowed nothing to interfere with this great work of reconciling sinners to God. He would interrupt even his prayers, or leave his dinner, the moment he was asked for in the confessional.
This ministry of pardon, and of the mercy of our Father in heaven, was peculiarly dear to Philip, so that he used to say: " It is the greatest delight to me even to sit in the confessional. What do you mean by calling it a fatigue? It is not a fatigue, but a solace and refreshment. Do not shrink, then, from coming to me; you can never be too many." The Life of Saint Philip Neri, Apostle of Rome, Volume 1 By Alfonso Capecelatro
Prayer:
Your love of the Church, O Philip, was most fervent: there can be no true sanctity without it. Though your contemplation was of the sublimest kind, yet did it not make you lose sight of the cruel trials which this holy Spouse of Christ had to endure in those sad times. The successful efforts of heresy stimulated your zeal. Get us that keen sympathy for our holy Faith which will make us take an interest in all that concerns its progress. It is not enough for us that we save our own souls. We must, moreover, ardently desire and do our utmost to obtain the advancement of God’s kingdom on Earth, the extirpation of heresy, and the exaltation of our holy Mother the Church. If these are not our dispositions, how can we call ourselves children of God? May your example urge us to take to heart the sacred cause of our common Mother. Pray, too, for the Church Militant of which you were one of the bravest soldiers. Shield with your protection that Rome which loves you so devoutly because of the services which she received at your hands. You led her children to holiness during your mortal career. Bless her and defend her now that you are in Heaven." Dom Prosper Guéranger
LITANY OF ST. PHILIP
Lord, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.
Christ, hear us.
Christ, graciously hear us.
God the Father of heaven,Have mercy on us.
God the Son, Redeemer of the world,Have mercy on us.
God the Holy Ghost, Have mercy on us.
Holy Trinity, one God, Have mercy on us.
Holy Mary, Pray for us.
Holy Mother of God, Pray for us.
Holy Virgin of Virgins, Pray for us.
St. Philip, Pray for us.
Vessel of the Holy Ghost, Pray for us.
Child of Mary, Pray for us.
Apostle of Rome, Pray for us.
Counsellor of Popes, Pray for us.
Voice of Prophecy, Pray for us.
Man of primitive times, Pray for us.
Winning Saint, Pray for us.
Hidden hero, Pray for us.
Sweetest of Fathers, Pray for us.
Flower of purity, Pray for us.
Martyr of charity, Pray for us.
Heart of fire, Pray for us.
Discerner of spirits, Pray for us.
Choicest of priests, Pray for us.
Mirror of the divine life, Pray for us.
Pattern of humility, Pray for us.
Example of simplicity, Pray for us.
Light of holy joy, Pray for us.
Image of childhood, Pray for us.
Picture of old age, Pray for us.
Director of souls, Pray for us.
Gentle guide of youth, Pray for us.
Patron of thy own, Pray for us.
Who didst observe chastity in thy youth, Pray for us.
Who didst seek Rome by divine guidance, Pray for us.
Who didst hide so long in the Catacombs, Pray for us.
Who didst receive the Holy Ghost into thy heart, Pray for us.
Who didst experience such wonderful ecstasies, Pray for us.
Who didst so lovingly serve the little ones, Pray for us.
Who didst wash the feet of pilgrims, Pray for us.
Who didst ardently thirst after martyrdom, Pray for us.
Who didst distribute the daily word of God, Pray for us.
Who didst turn so many hearts to God, Pray for us.
Who didst converse so sweetly with Mary, Pray for us.
Who didst raise the dead, Pray for us.
Who didst set up thy houses in all lands, Pray for us.
Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world, Spare us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world,Graciously hear us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world, Have mercy on us.
Christ, hear us.
Christ, graciously hear us.
V. Remember thy Congregation.
B. Which thou hast possessed from the beginning.
Let us pray.
O God, who hast exalted blessed Philip, Thy Confessor, in the glory of Thy saints, grant that, as we rejoice in his commemoration, so we may profit by the example of his virtues, through Christ our Lord.
Source: Meditations and Devotions of the Late Cardinal Newman, 1903
