May – There is a rhyme that says ‘April showers turn into May flowers.’
May is a gentle month, known as Mary’s month. Mary, who was meek
and humble of heart. So, it’s time for a gentle and meek saint. St Philip
Neri.
St Philip Neri was born in Florence, Italy in 1515. As a
child he was nicknamed ‘Good Little Phil’ and this is
what he was. He was always happy and cheerful,
making friends with everyone he met.
Philip began life with a very worldly outlook, he
wanted money and lots of it. As a young man he went
to stay with a rich uncle, hoping to win the uncle’s
heart so that he would leave him all his money and
possessions in his will. Slowly Philip gained his uncles
affection and trust, but Philip begun to really love his
uncle. He realised that love is worth much more than money and had
such a great conversion that he left his uncle out of
fear that his uncle would indeed give him the money
and fortune he had always sought.
He travelled to Rome and begun teaching some rich
young children their ABC’s and 123’s. It was while he
was in this job that one day he came across a small
boy, he was dirty and dusty and seemed to be very
hungry, but the most interesting thing about this
small child was that he seemed interested in learning
what Philip was teaching the other children. Philip
followed the little boy and discovered that this little
boy was homeless he was sleeping on the streets.
Philip decided then and there that he would change this. So as well and
teaching the rich children he turned his attention to teaching the street
children and providing them with hot meals to aid them in their
learning. Philip knew that he had to do something to get them off the
streets. So he rented an oratory where the children could sleep, eat, work
and play as they wished. This
didn’t make Philip very popular
with the noble families of Rome
nor with the church. Philip would
teach and care for all the children,
he made no distinction between
them, rich or poor they were all
cared for as children of God.
After Philip was ordained a priest
he ministered to the people who
lived on the streets, hearing their
confessions and in the name of Jesus forgiving them their sins. Philip
became such a holy man that he did strange and wonderful things
without meaning to and Jesus healed many people through the touch of
Philip’s hands. When in
prayer he would often be
called upon to leave the
chapel to tend to those in
need. He would say ‘we
must leave Christ, for
Christ.’ He knew in leaving
Jesus in the Blessed
Sacrament he would find
Jesus in the people.
Philip founded the Oratorians, they are priests and lay brothers living,
working and studying together in community. They teach others about
the life of a Christian and how to live a holy
life dedicated to Jesus. Philip was known
for his joy and wit and said ‘a joyful heart is
more easily made perfect than a downcast
one.’ He was personable and was easy to
talk to, he never spoke down to others. The
people of the streets felt understood by this
saint.
On the 25th of May 1595 he went to heaven
blessing his spiritual sons of the Oratory
with the sign of the cross.
St Philip Neri is the patron saint of laughter, humour and joy. St Philip,
you saw the need of those around you and you ministered to them with
joy. Help us to do all that we are asked to do with the same joy.