The Secular Oratory: (A community of Catholic young adults, inspired by the spirituality of St. Philip Neri)
The Nature and Spirit of the Secular Oratory:
How did the Oratory begin? – - With laymen gathered for prayer and spiritual reading, for conversation and recreation, and for the care of those in need. St. Philip was at the heart of the group, of course. Yet how unobtrusive he was! He desired to bring his friends to Christ, not to himself. Christ was to be found in the sacraments, in Holy Scripture, in the lives of the saints and the history of the Church – and also in other people, especially the poor and the sick, to care for whom is to care for Christ. The Oratory was not particularly dramatic or especially demanding. All sorts belonged, drawn simply by their sense that here, from St. Philip, they could learn how to make progress in knowing and loving our Lord.
Those who participate today in the Secular Oratory are among their successors. Keeping Philip’s original way in mind, the Secular Oratory is not so much a formal confraternity or third order as it is an association of all those who wish to serve God under Philip’s gentle guidance. No specific commitment is required, other than the desire to attend when one can and to grow in one’s faith. It is also a special blessing for us to receive St. Philip’s spirit from the hands of the soon to be “Blessed” John Henry Newman. Newman understood that spirit; he knew that in our relations with God and with each other, we must try to leave behind all that is wrong, false and pretentious, so that, in all simplicity, heart can speak to heart. ?This is what Saint Philip wants for those who take him as a special patron: simply and intimately, to know Christ. It is the aim of the members of the Secular Oratory, each one as far as he or she can, to seek that knowledge in Saint Philip’s way and Newman’s: in prayer and devotion, through the bonds of Christian friendship and in works of practical charity.
When:
Every other Saturday (2nd and 4th) 7:00pm, Newman Center Conference Room, beginning Saturday, September 11 at 7:00pm
Confessions and Eucharistic Adoration available prior to meeting (6:00-6:45pm) in Oratory Chapel
What:
The meetings consist of:
The singing of a hymn
A reading from scripture or other spiritual text
period of silent meditation
period of discussion
praying of the Litany of St. Philip Neri
Hymn to the Blessed Virgin Mary
Social (about 8:00pm)
When the first members of what became the Secular Oratory met with Saint Philip in 16th-century Rome, he often asked them to give talks to one another on Scripture, Church history, the lives of the saints, and other aspects of Catholic life and culture. We continue this tradition by inviting members of Secular Oratory to volunteer to make presentations at our meetings.
Additional Activities:
Regular Retreats
Pilgrimages
Social Events
Regular Outreach Opportunities
For more information, contact Fr. David at frdavid@pittsburghoratory.org
