Philip Neri had a ‘saintly’ look about him. He was good looking and devout. Looking holy is dangerous and many people can be fooled by a devout expression. When people told him how impressed they were with him Philip shaved off  his ‘Jesus looking’ beard. Philip never took himself too seriously. He gained a huge reputation and was called  patron of Rome and joy. As a priest, he was marvelous at hearing confessions. He could cut through people’s pretensions, but always in a kindly way, sometimes with a joke.

Philip was also good at guiding people in prayer. St Ignatius of Loyola, founder of the Jesuits and Francis Xavier, the  great Jesuit missionary both came to him for spiritual help. Maybe they liked him because of his appealing personality and his sense of humour. Pope Francis probably had Philip in mind when he said that ‘a sad saint would be a sorry saint.’ Philip had no time for narrow or glum piety. He wanted people to become more human, more concerned with others needs rather than less so as they became holier.

Philip used often advise people during Lent people

‘A joyful heart is more easily made perfect than a downcast one.’
“Cast yourself into the arms of God and be very sure that if he wants anything of you, He will fit you for the work and give you strength.

Bernard Cotter, Scandalous saints and sinners,  www.veritas.ie