Saint Philip Neri: Apostle of Rome and Founder of the Congregation of the Oratory

The Second Apostle of Rome  Saint Philip Neri stands like a giant among the saints, a magnificent and singular character who bore in himself many opposites, many seeming contradictions, in complete harmony. His character was of such immensity that he merited to be named the "Second Apostle of Rome."  Born in 1515 to a wealthy Florentine family, Philip was duly educated. From a young age he was pious, praying the psalms with his sister as a boy, and he was formed intellectually under magnificent scholars. He was also a bit of a joker, and he remained so his whole life. At 16, he was sent to do business with a family member near Monte Cassino; much of his time was spent praying in secret in a little chapel there, though he never neglected and even excelled at his duties. Finally, he decided to leave for Rome, and he set up as a lay hermit, paying for his keep by tutoring. For 17 years he remained a layman; he help the poor and spent hours in prayer, also studying philosophy for a time (t