PHILIP NE'RI, SAINT ( 151595). The found er of the Congregation of the Oratory (q.v.). lie was born at Florence of a distinguished family, duly 21, 1515. On the death of his parents in 1533, he was adopted as his heir by a wealthy relative, with whom lie lived for a time at San Germano, near Monte Cassino. But he relin quished these prospects to devote himself to the service of God, and on the advice of the Bene dictine monks of Monte Cassino, came to Rome to make his theological :ind philosophical studies (1534-37). lie devoted himself to works of mercy, once sold his books to feed the poor, and in 15 t8, in conjunction with his confessor, Per sian() 1;osa, founded the Confraternity of the holy Trinity to care for the needs of the vast numbers of pilgrims who came to Rome. This brotherhood is said to have provided hospitality for not less than 600.000 pilgrims in the jubilee year of 1625, and for a quarter of a million in 1825. (See Alorichini, instil/Ili di pubbliea (wild, !Ionic, 1870.) Having long refused holy orders from motives of humility, he finally re ceived them in 1551, and began as a priest a still more remarkable career of devotion and MIN °nee. inspired by the tidings of the heroic labors and death of Saint. Francis Xavier, he determined to go to the Indies, and assembled 20 compan ions; but he was finally convinced that Rome was meant to be the field of his work. The ob jects of the informal assmiation out of which the Congregation of the Oratory later developed were the instruction and training of the young and un educated. Asa means of withdrawing them from dangerous amusements, sacred musical entertain ments (hence called by the name of oratorio) were held in the oratory, at first consisting mere ly of hymns set to popular tunes, but afterwards partaking more of the nature of sacred dramas. The music- was composed by the first musicians of Rome. Polestrina was a spiritual child of Philip's, and died in his arms. It was in the leetures originally prepared for use in the oratory that, at Saint Philip's instance, the Church History of Baronius had its The personal char:10er of Philip. the unselfish devotion of his life, his unaffected piety, genuine -love of the poor. kindly and cheerful disposition,
and perhaps as much as anything else a certain quaint humor which pervaded many of his sav ings and doings. contributed to popularize work. The development of the Oratory was al most unconscious. In 1504 Philip was requested by his fellow-eountrymen the Florentines ia Rome to take charge of their Church of San Giovanni near the Ponte Sant' Angelo; he declined. until Pope Pins 1V. gave him permission to hold it while still retaining his residence in his humble cell at San Girolamo. In 1 574 the Florentines erected a Dew oratory near the church, and the exercises were held there for a. time; the follow ing year he saw himself compelled to provide for the permanence of his work on a larger scale, and, taking the small Church of Santa Maria in Vallicella, he pulled it down and built a large new one. Here he was authorized by Gregory XIII. to found a definitely organized congregation in the same year. Ile still remained at San Giro lamo, and refused to appear as the head and founder of the new society, until in 1533 he was expressly commanded by the Pope to take up his residence in the new house. Then his associates elected him superior for life, despite all his pro tests. Ten years later, however, he prevailed upon them to let him lay the burden aside, and Baronies was chosen in his stead. He died May 26, 1595. Paul V. beatified him in 1615 and Greg ory XAT. canonized him in 1622. Called the Apostle of Rome. he remains to this day emphatically the popular saint of the Roman people, who observe his feast-day with great devotion. From 1726 antil the Italian occupation, the popes were ac customed to go in solemn state on this day to visit his tomb and to say mass there. Consult the contemporary lives of Gallonio, Barnabei, and Bocci (the two first contained in the Acta Sanetorunt); English translation of the last by F. W. Faber (London. 1847) ; a modern biography hy Cardinal Capecelatro (Naples, 1879; Eng. trans., London, 1894) ; Maxims and Covasels of Saint Philip Neri (Dublin, 1890) ; Cardinal Wise man. Panegyric of Saint Philip Neri (London, 1856).