Novena to St. Philip Neri

May 26th.

1. O glorious Saint Philip, by that remarkable detachment from earthly things which caused you when a youth to renounce the inheritance offered you by your uncle, and afterwards to refuse all the honourable employments which were proposed to you by the vicars of Jesus Christ; intercede for us, that we may never set our affections upon the perishable goods of this life, but that, by preferring poverty to riches, may secure for ever the true goods of Heaven. Gloria.

2. By the continual care with which you guarded the mystical lily of your purity, which enabled you to triumph in the most dangerous occasions, and by the especial hatred which you had to the contrary vice: obtain for us, O glorious St. Philip, to watch over ourselves so carefully that we may be able to persevere always pure, not only in body, but in mind, and at length be admitted to the enjoyment of the spotless Lamb who feeds among the lilies. Gloria.

3. By that tender devotion which you always cherished towards the great virgin Mary, whom you called your Mother, and honoured as such; and by the singular favours with which she recompensed you: obtain for us, all glorious St. Philip, that we may be truly devout to our common Mother Mary, and may receive the benedictions which she, the arbitress of all graces, especially reserves for her most faithful clients. Gloria.

4. By that most ardent zeal which you had for the salvation of your neighbour, which caused you, to visit hospitals and prisons, that you might console and help the afflicted;—to keep your door opened day and night that you might teach the ignorant, and reconcile sinners to God whenever they had recourse to you;—to found the congregation of the oratory which has furnished most indefatigable labourers to the mystical vine, and opened to all a school of knowledge and true Christian perfection: obtain for us also, O glorious St. Philip, the grace to labour for the sanctification of our neighbours with all our powers, so that we may merit that glory which has been promised to all those who instruct others to justice. Gloria.

5. By that seraphic charity with which your heart was always burning, and by the intimate union which you had with God, when you were raised in ecstasies and became so inflamed that you were obliged to cool your breast and to call out for a diminution of the Divine favours: obtain, O glorious St. Philip, that we may so burn with the holy fire of divine love, as to be always united with God, and to attain to eternal felicity in Heaven. Gloria.

6. By that generous contempt which you always felt for the judgment of the world, so that your whole study was to be despised by men: obtain for us, O glorious St. Philip, that we may never feel any concern about the opinions of creatures, the better to secure the approbation of Him whose judgment alone we ought to fear. Gloria.

7. By the unutterable meekness with which you endured the satires and calumnies by which the spirit of the world always sought to counteract your labours for the sanctification of souls, by the lowly opinion you had of yourself amidst all the veneration with which you were regarded by persons of the greatest distinction, and by the wonderful miracles which the Lord was pleased to work, not only through your prayers, but even at the touch of your garments: obtain for us, glorious St. Philip, that we may always endure patiently the persecutions of the world, cancel our debts to the Divine Justice and at length obtain a glorious crown in Heaven. Gloria.