Following a day filled with hearing confessions and receiving visitors, Philip passed away by the end of the day on May 25, 1595. Around midnight, he started to hemorrhage. At that time, commendatory prayers were read over his body. In this article, you will learn additional background information on the saint that was highly respected throughout Rome for his service to the people.
21) Philip received one last request, as he was asked to bless his spiritual sons before dying. Even though he could not utter a word, he blessed them with the sign of the cross and died.
22) Philip’s body is located in the Chiesa Nuova, where his memorial is celebrated on May 26.
23) Philip was known for has playful humor with a clever wit.
24) Philip is quoted as saying: “A joyful heart is more easily made perfect than a downcast one.”
25) A great deal of miracles were attributed to Philip, which granted him a place in many folklore of the Roman poor. It is believed that when his body was looked at after his death, two of his ribs had been broken. It was said that this event took place because of an expanded heart that may have occurred due to all of the praying that he did in the catacombs in 1545. This phenomenon is often placed in the same category as the stigmata of St Francis of Assisi.
26) In Philip’s Oratory, there were three classes of members: novices, triennials and decennials. Each house possessed its own superior. The churches followed a non-parochial tradition with the performance of rites, like baptisms and marriages, which only took place with the permission of the parish priest, who was entitled to receive all the fees associated with such practices.
27) Throughout Italy and France, the Oratory spread. In 1760, there were 58 houses that were all governed by a superior-general.
28) During oratory service, Philip promoted the singing of the lauda spirituale (known as laude), which most likely included the talent of composers, such as Tomas Luis de Victoria and Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina.
Maxims of St Philip Neri
A maxim is an expression of a general truth or principle, and St Philip Neri had a great deal attributed to him, including those listed below:
· He who wishes for anything but Christ, does not know what he wishes; he who asks for anything but Christ, does not know what he is asking; he who works, and not for Christ, does not know what he is doing.
· A man who leads a common life under obedience, is more to be esteemed than one who does great penance after his own will.
· Cheerfulness strengthens the heart and makes us persevere in a good life; wherefore the servant of God ought always to be in good spirits.
· In the warfare of the flesh, only cowards gain the victory; that is to say, those who fly.