Friends at court.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXVIII, Issue 20, 17 May 1900, Page 7

Friends at court.

+ . GLEANINGS FOR NEXT WEEK'S CALENDAR. (Written for the N.Z. Tablet.) May 20, Sunday. — Fifth aft^r Easter. „ 21, Monday. — Rogation £ day. St. l'elix of Cantalice, Confessor. „ 22, Tuesday.— Rotation day. St Pascal Baylon, O.S.F. „ 28, Wednesday. — Rogation day. Vigil of Ascension. St. John Baptist de Koss. „ 24, Thursday. — Ascension of Our Lord Jesus Christ. „ 2", Friday — St Gregory VII . Pope and Confessor. „ 20, Saturday.. — St. Pcilip Neri, Confessor. ST. l'HILll" NhKI, 1 OTNDKR OT Til i: CON(, RE(. \TION <>l 11IL ORATORY. St. Philip Neri was born at Florence, A i> 1 ">I ">, and having lot his mother at an early age was brought up by hii father s second wife, whose affection for him was unbounded. No one, indeed, could help loving him, he was so amiable and gentle, so open and candid, and at the game time so bright, intelligent, and full of tender piety. After completing his early studies he was placed by hn father with his uncle, a wealthy tradesman, who promised to adopt him. Feeling "himself, however, called to a more perfect way of life, he gave up all his worldly prospects and went to Rome, where a gentleman received him into his house as tutor to his sons. Here he led the life of a hermit, employing his leisure hours in the study of philosophy and theology, in which he made rapid progress. But the science of the saints wan his chief .study, and the exercise of poverty, penance, and Divine contemplation his principal delight. He was often so inflamed with the fire of Divine love that he was forced to uncover his breast to allay the burning heat which devoured him. Every night, after visiting the seven churches of the Stations, he descended into the Catacombs, where he remained till morning occupied in prayer and meditation. At the age of 2 ( .i, on the Feast of Pentecost, while fervently imploring the Holy Ghost to bestow upon him His precious gifts, Philip experienced a sudden transport of Divine love, which so inflamed his heart that two of his ribs were burst asunder, causing a visible elevation of a portion of the chest, which dislocation remained with him during life. From that moment he could not occupy himself with Divine things without experiencing an extraordinary palpitation and trembling of the body, while at the same time his soul was inundated with a flood of heavenly delight which caused him at times to cry out, ' Depart from me. O Lord, depart from me. for mortal weakness cannot endure so great an access of joy. Behold I die unless Thou coraest to my aid ' Whereupon our Lord, moved by his prayers, moderated the heat of the Divine tire with which he was inflamed. After this infusion of the Holy Spirit, Philip issuing from his retreat, visited each day the schools, the workshops, and the most frequented places ot the city in order to gain souls to God. His words cirri* d with them an irresistible charm, and numbei less were the sinner^ reclaimed from vice, and the tepid and worldly bOuK who were drawn to a more perfect life by his fervent exhortaticns, animated by the Divine Spirit who reigned within him. Many were the priests and laics who flocked around him to co-operate with him in serving the t-iek, catechising the children of the poor, and ministering to the numerous pilgrims attracted to Rome on the occasion of the Pontifical jubilee, A.D. l."50. Having received sacerdotal Orders in obedience to his confessor, Philip took up his abode at the little Church of St. Geronimo with a community of priests who enjoyed a great reputation for piety. Here he laid the foundation of the oratory by the institution of spiritual conferences, daily sermons, and devotional exercises, varied ■with processions to the seven churches and the shrines of our Blessed Lady, to whom he was tenderly devoted. His disciples becoming very numerous, he transferred his work to the Florentine Church of St. Giovanni, and afterwards to that of St. Mary of Vallicella, -where he erected a spacious and magnificent temple in honor of his beloved Madonna. Here the new Congregation increased and prospered to an extraordinary extent, becoming the instrument of innumerable conversion, religious vocations, and every kind of pious and charitable undertaking. At the time of his ordination Philip in his ardent zeal for souls had formed the desire of preaching the Gospel in the Indies, but on consulting a certain holy Cistercian had been told that Rome was to be his Indies, and that there he was destined by <sod to labor for His glory. The iruit which attended his efforts and those of his companions was an evidence of the truth of this prediction, and a general revival of piety, accompanied with the correction of inveterate abuses, was soon observable throughout the city. The fame of Philip as a skilful director of souls, along with the powerful attraction of his sweet, playful and affectionate disposition, drew to his chamber penitents of all classes and conditions of life. His angelic purity and burning zeal for souls were rewarded by God with eminent supernatural gifts, such as the power to read the secrets of heart and to heal with his touch the wounds and infirmities both of soul and of body. Frequently he was ravished in ecstacy while celebrating the Divine Mysteries or meditating on the infinite love of God for sinful man. But in the midst of these heavenly favours he preserved the most profound humility and constantly refused to accept the dignity of Cardinal offered to him by several Pontiffs. St. Philip completed his holy and meritorious course on May 2ii, A.i). 1.7J3, at the age of Bi>. Ho was assisted in his last moments by his spiritual sonj the eminent Oratorian Cardinal Baronius, to whom we owe the precious Ecclesiastical Annals composed in obedience to the commands of his venerable director and superior.