Feast of St. Philip Neri

The gift of a vocation is particular to each one of us. We are each called to be someone special and to do something unique in the time given to us by God in this world. And the fact that we're all called to be someone unique and to do some individual, particular good should be a cause for thanksgiving.

St. Philip Neri, whose feast day is today, was uniquely a person of joy, so much so that he has become known as the "Patron Saint of Joy." He was born in 1515 and grew up in Florence. When he was about eighteen, the age when many people today begin a college career, he moved to Rome with no specific plans except to try to do some good and he settled there for the rest of his life. Because he was such a joyful and encouraging personality, the people of that capital Catholic city of the world fell in love with him and so he also began to be known as the "Apostle of Rome."

Since Rome was the place he spent most of his life -- he died there in 1595, at the age of 80 -- he revealed his unique mixture of humor, seriousness, zeal, humility and warmth there. Those traits made him a trusted and revered friend to people of all backgrounds and religious persuasions. That was the uniqueness of the Rome of his day. All kinds of people and political and religious persuasions were to be found there. He encouraged the people who knew him to all forms of conversion of heart which invited them to pursue social change for the good of themselves and for others. And while encouraging conversion, Philip also respected how change for good would look and feel differently for each person according to their own personal and unique place in the community.

Even though St. Philip's life was centered in Rome his influence has spread far and wide. Today there are more than ninety separate communities in the world that attempt to live by the values of his life. They each call themselves "The Oratory." In fact, one of these communities is in Brooklyn and two of the parishes close to the college (Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Brooklyn Heights and St. Boniface in downtown Brooklyn) are served by priests and brothers who follow his example. Joy, Philip's special gift, is universally desired by all, and may be especially illusive in a time of pandemic. When hate and despair can seem to have the upper hand, joy is all the more passionately sought. Like conversion, joy is also a uniquely felt and experienced gift. My joy may be different than yours. It may come from a different source or be threatened by a different kind of fear. But in the end, if it leads me to seek the good and for you to seek the good as well, it's what binds us and helps us strive to make the world a better place for everyone.

Dr. Joel Warden

Catholic Scholar-in-Residence

For more info on St. Philip's life and times,
please click on the image above.