Saint Philip Neri :: essays research papers fc

nonesuch Philip Neri was born in Florence, Italy, in the year 1515. He was theoldest son of Francis Neri and Lucretia Soldi, twain descendants of Tuscanfamilies. He was kind hearted as a jolly and soon became known as Philip theGood - "the good Pippo." As a child, he studied philosophy and later he tooka complete course in theology. With fourteen companions, he createdthe Confraternity of the Most Holy terce for looking later on pilgrims andconvalescents. The members met for Communion, request and other spiritualexercises in the church building of San Salvatore, and Philip himself introduced theidea of having exposition of the Blessed Sacrament at least one time a month.At these devotions, Philip preached, even though he had not tho become apriest. In 1550, he transferred this Confraternity to the Church of the HolyTrinity, and built a new hospital. His work continued and in 1551, he was ordain a priest at the age of thirty-six. As a saucily ordained priest, Philip continued his spiritual conferences toever-increasing numbers, who came seeking his guidance and help. In a shorttime, several priests and upstart clergymen associated themselves with him.They began to aid him with his conferences and in reading prayers andmeditations to the flock of the Church of the Holy Trinity. This smallgroup soon became known as an Oratory, because at certain hours each day,they would gather the people together for prayer and meditation. Thereforethey laid the foundation of a new religious society. In 1564, when Philiphad formed his congregation into a regular community, he had several of hisyoung clergy men ordained to the priesthood. canonise Philip lived to be eighty years of age. In the year 1595, he wasstruck by an unusual violent feverishness and was confined to his bed for theentire month of April. Cardinal Caesar Baronius game him thorough Unction andCardinal Frederick Borromeo, an intimate friend, brought him Holy Viaticum.His entire congregation attended him on his finalebed. It was shortlyafter midnight on May 26th, 1595 that he passed away.Saint Philip was noted also for his kindness and simplicity and was muchsought after as a confessor. His sense of humor was note worthy. He wasbeautified by Pope Paul V in 1615 and was canonized a enshrine by Pope GregoryXV in the year 1622.After Philips death it was discovered that two of his ribs were broken andhad formed an arch, enlarging the normal space for the heart. His consistence restsin the Chiesa Nuova where it remains miraculously incorrupt.