SAINT OF THE DAY | MAY 26, 2025 ST. PHILIP NERI Let's get to know more about St. Philip Neri with these 6 facts about him: 📌HE WAS KNOWN FOR HIS HUMOUR & UNPREDICTABILITY. - He loved to crack jokes. There were also stories of him wearing ridiculous clothes, or walking around with half his beard shaved off to bring smiles to children. One day a group travelled from Poland to Rome came to hear Philip preach, but he instead read to them from a joke book. 📌HE IS THE PATRON SAINT OF JOY. - St. Philip was known to have a joyful heart, as well as for his simple and straightforward spirituality, making him a powerful intercessor for those who need more joy in their lives. 📌HE HAD A HUGE HEART — LITERALLY & FIGURATIVELY. - While St. Philip's heart had an intimate connection with the heart of Our Lord, and His people, his physical heart literally enlarged. While he was praying in the catacombs of St Sebastian on the feast of Pentecost in 1544, the Holy Spirit descended into him as a ball of fire and lodged in his heart. At that moment, Philip experienced an immense amount of joy, as if his heart had expanded. Doctors would later discover that two of his ribs were broken by his heart's expansion. 📌HE WAS THE PERSON BEHIND "VISITA IGLESIA". - The first ever Visita Iglesia was led by St. Philip Neri in 1553, done with other faithful before sunrise. 📌HE FORMED A RELIGIOUS COMMUNITY. - St. Philip formed the Congregation of the Oratory (commonly known as the “Oratorians”) — whose members are dedicated to spiritual reading, study, and works of charity. 📌THE POPE TRIED TO MAKE PHILIP A CARDINAL, BUT HE FAILED. Pope Gregory XIV wanted to make Philip a cardinal, but the priest declined. ————————————————————— Sources: (1.) Followers with Enlarged Hearts for Christ — Catholic Apostolate Center (2.) Life of Saint Philip Neri — St. Philip Neri Catholic Parish (3.) Saint of the Day: St. Philip Neri — Aleteia (4.) Saint Philip Neri — The Toronto Oratory (5.) St. Philip Neri — Catholic News Agency (CNA) (6.) St. Philip Neri, in his own words — Denver Catholic (7.) St. Philip Romolo Neri — New Advent [retrieved on 1 May 2015] (8.) Want to be more joyful? Pray this prayer to St. Philip Neri — Aleteia #hugotseminarista #hugotseminaristainfograph #stphili