Summary of St. Philip Neri by Bob & Penny Lord

Here 4 things I learned about St. Philip Neri from this short & great book:

1. Apostle of Rome & Super Saint of the Counter-Reformation

• Although Philip had a highly lucrative business set up for him to inherit from his uncle, the Blessed Virgin Mary called him to go to Rome to find his vocation.
• Rome at this time was in ruins, both physically and spiritually. 5 million Catholics had already left the Church throughout Europe. Bad popes at the time.
• Even when Philip was ordained a priest, he felt called to go to India, but his confessor had a vision from St. John the Baptist who told him, “Rome is your India!”
• St. Philip was a super-saint in the Counter-Reformation movement.
• After spending an entire year caring for the pilgrims who came to Rome during the Holy Year, St. Philip and his Confraternity set up the first pilgrims’ houses in Rome, where they could stay a short time, convalesce or receive more intensive hospital care.
• 1 year later, at the age of 37, he became a priest.
• People had to wait up to 2 days to see his casket after his death at the age of 80. Literally all of Rome went to his funeral.

2. Burning Heart & Saint of the Earthquake

• While praying in the Catacombs of St. Sebastian, the evening of the vigil of Pentecost, as Philip prayed for the Holy Spirit to descend upon him and fill him with His Spirit, he received the Holy Spirit in the form of huge ball of fire, soaring toward him. The ball of fire entered his mouth, traveled down to his heart, and finally rested there for the rest of his life. His heart was so on fire, he was filled with such passion, such ecstasy, he pleaded, “Stop Lord! I cannot take anymore. Anymore and I will die!”
• This fire would remain with him the rest of his days, from age twenty to eighty, sixty years! His heart became so enlarged, as a result his two ribs broke. When he meditated on the Lord and His Sacrifice for us, his heart would beat so loudly, it sounded like the rumbling of an earthquake; for this reason, they dubbed him Saint of the Earthquake. They said that it could be heard all the way to St. Peter’s, about two miles away.

3. Apostle of Frequent Confession

• Philip’s burning heart gave him super-human energy in the Confessional.
• Some days, he would hear 40 confessions before the sun rose.
• He was given the miraculous gift of reading souls, meaning he was able to tell people their sins before they even confessed them. 
• As a result, he gave amazing advice & custom-made penances – exactly what people needed.
• My favourite story: A young prince named Paul was on his deathbed. Called for Philip. Too late. Died. Philip learned that the young price wanted to go to Confession before he died. Philip began to weep. Got some holy water. Put a little on the prince’s lips, placed his hand on him, and called out, in front of his family, “Paul! Paul!” The youth opened his eyes, filled with joy, and said, Father, how much I prayed for you to come. I had forgotten a sin and I wanted to confession. Fr. Philip told everyone to leave the room. Heard his Confession. After, he asked the young prince, “Are you now content to die?” At which he answered, “Yes Father, because now I know I am going to heaven.” St. Philip said, “I bless you. Go in peace.” The little prince died, his eyes filled with peace as he gave up his spirit.

4. Apostle of Joy

• Patron Saint of Comedians & Jokes.
• Only thing to take seriously is the salvation of souls.
• Philip joked about everything . . . except sin.
• Philip’s main object in being the “clown” and playing practical jokes, though at times he must have naturally taken pleasure in doing so, was to draw men to God with jests and humor. Philip once remarked, “A cheerful and glad spirit attains to perfection much more readily than a melancholy spirit.”

St. Philip Neri in levitation, fresco by unknown (1600 ca.) from Vallicella rooms of the saint, Chiesa Nuova, Rome. / Credit: Francesco Cantone/Shutterstock