Philip Neri was born in Florence in 1515 but spent most of his life in Rome. He worked with young men among whom he fostered Christian life and formed an association for the poor and the sick. He had a mystical experience in the catacombs in 1544, when he “felt himself divinely filled with the power of the Spirit,” causing his heart to dilate. Ordained in 1551, he founded the Congregation of the Oratory where spiritual reading, singing and works of charity were practised. He was noted for his constant joy and the love he showed to those who came to him for counsel or confession. He died in 1595. He is known as the Apostle of Rome. – CTS New Daily Roman Missal 2012, p 2710; Christian Prayer 1990, p 1135.
