St. Philip Neri - Patron of Rome - May 26th
This Italian Saint was called Pippo buono-”Good little Phil”-when he was a child. He was always so jolly and friendly that everyone he met loved him. He studied in Rome and while still a teenager, gave up a great amount of money he could have received from his uncle. He studied hard and led a pure, good life. Once some evil young men hid two bad women in his room to tempt him to sin. Philip could not go out, but he saved his soul from any impure sin by kneeling down and praying out loud with all his heart. Those women were so struck with shame that they did not even dare to look at the Saint!
When Philip became a priest, he did much good to poor children, to sinners, to sick people, and to all. Because of him, the whole city of Rome became better. He treated himself very strictly, but he was gentle and kind to everyone. He listened to confessions for hours every day. He worked miracles. Knew the future, and read minds. But to avoid the admiration of the people, he played jokes and did funny things, like shaving only one side of his face, so that they would laugh and forget how holy he was.
St. Philip cheered up all who came near him. Often he would say: “I will have no scrupulosity and no melancholy in my house.” He was always ready to comfort and help anyone. At the same time he was very prudent. Once he was called to a sick women’s bed, but when he got there, he found that she was only pretending to be sick. She wanted to tempt the Saint to sin, instead. St. Philip turned right around and left at once. So pure was he that many times one look of his drove temptations away.
To conquer temptations of impurity, we must avoid the occasions of sin. If we cannot avoid these occasions, let us pray and be modest, and then Our Lord will help us.