Saint Philip Neri
Jul 26th, 2006 by Br. Joshua
Light of Holy Joy
As the years passed, and the community grew in numbers and importance, Father Philip gave more and more duties of government over to his more senior disciples, preferring to advise where necessary, but to devote himself mostly to prayer, confessions, and the personal direction of souls. He worked many wonders in these later years, and schooled his spiritual sons in the art of interior mortification. Silly assignments that were thoughtfully designed to break down their pride was to be the main route to growth, more than the popular external penances alone. Beyond this, however, the deep abiding peace that all experienced in his presence - in the presence of genuine holiness - seems more the reason behind his being called the “saint of joy.” Though he lacked no courage when it came to warning someone of imminent danger, he knew, good pastor that he was, that much of our difficulty in life arises from unreasonable fears; the non dubitare that was more often on his lips appears now as a precursor to the “Be not afraid!” of our late Pope John Paul II. This fire of joy was truly the source, the message, and the medium of all his work in this life.
