Getting More Joy in Your Heart With St Philip Neri

Today is the Feast of St Philip Neri, a Saint well known for his sense of humour. "He even once shaved off half of his beard and wore silly clothing just to invoke laughter from onlookers."

From Aleteia

By Dr Annabelle Moseley, TOCarm

In his honor, why not get the family together and visit seven churches? Pack a picnic, grab the joke book, and set off on a holy adventure!

This spring, as altars and gardens abound in flowers celebrating Eastertide, it is the perfect time to be reminded of our Catholic call to joy. The Lord is risen, alleluia!

One of the saints who is best known for embodying this call is the patron saint of joy and laughter … the fun-loving and faith-filled St. Philip Neri (1515-1595). 

St. Philip Neri is known for his great sense of humor. He loved kind-hearted jokes and his humility was commendable. Interestingly, humor and humility share the Latin root, “hum,” which means “ground or earth,” and both practices indeed make us more grounded and less full of ourselves. St. Philip’s humor was imbued with humility, which is a vital facet of spiritual growth, in that it leaves us more open to God’s will. 

In an act of spiritual mortification, Philip humorously and famously wore his cloak inside-out. He even once shaved off half of his beard and wore silly clothing just to invoke laughter from onlookers. He reminds us that laughter (not directed at someone else’s expense, but in good natured fun) can increase happiness and yes, holiness.

Such laughter can also wake us up to the fact that our happiness might be deeply hidden within ourselves, buried beneath our cares, anxieties, and fears. With authentic happiness, we can better experience gratitude toward God.

Teacher and confessor

This clever saint was also known to be a superb teacher who drew people from all walks of life closer to God. St. Philip’s kind, erudite, and joyful instructions of faith led him to advise many -- from peasants to popes. He is known for instructing Pope Clement III to reconcile with King Henry IV of France, urging the pontiff to offer absolution to the monarch.

Philip is also a saint of great depth and compassion who spent long hours listening to confessions. In fact, he died after eight hours of hearing confessions. This holy, generous saint received many graces in return for his many sacrifices.

One such example is a mystical and profound experience that happened on the eve of Pentecost while he was praying to the Holy Spirit. Miraculously, a globe of fire entered his mouth, and an unfathomable love for God overwhelmed him. He was shaken in a violent tremor, and felt a strong fire within him. A physical swelling, about the size of a fist, appeared over his heart. It seems that, under the great impulse of love he had experienced, his heart had dilated, and, to give it more room, two ribs were broken and curved in an arch. After his death, an autopsy confirmed this state of his heart and even helped to lead to his eventual canonization. 

One beautiful tradition this great saint left us, in his trademark spirit of joy, is the Seven Church Devotion. This tradition offered an alternative to the debaucheries of Carnival time, when so many people were tempted to sin. Influenced by his piety, many chose St. Philip’s joyful and holy alternative to the base activities of Carnival.

The saint’s new tradition was to make a pilgrimage to seven churches in one day; he included a picnic with music and his characteristic good cheer … joy in the Lord and thankfulness for the one, true, rich and beautiful faith. This moving Seven Church Devotion was traditionally practiced on Holy Thursday, and deepens devotion to the First Sorrowful Mystery: The Agony in the Garden. To pray a guided Holy Hour inspired by this example of St. Philip Neri, sign up for free here.

Wisdom from a happy saint

Here are three quotes from St. Philip Neri to inspire us all month long:

How can we cultivate a joyful heart? For this we must pray often.

Try this the next time your heart needs softening: Speak the name of Our Lord with as much tenderness and love as possible … and God will do the rest.

With this quote, St. Philip Neri recommends that we frequently have little prayers at the ready to send Our Lord. Aspirations, or short prayers, are great to have memorized to help us to “pray without ceasing” as Scripture recommends. For example: “Jesus, I trust in you;” or “Jesus, Mary; I love you. Save souls.” What are some of your favorite aspirations? 

Here is a suggested way to celebrate St. Philip Neri this spring: In his honor, why not get the family or friends together and visit seven churches with your loved ones, all in one day? Pack a picnic, grab the joke book (Mad Libs will do!), and set off on a holy adventure that's bound to be a good time.

St. Philip Neri, pray for us!