Saint Philip of Neri "Apostle of Rome"

Saint Philip Neri, patron saint of Rome and patron saint of U. S. Special Forces, has a legacy that should gladden the hearts of many. The St. Philip of Neri biography cites the facts that he was joyful, amusing and sometimes even whimsical. St. Philip preached that a happy heart and happy disposition were more pleasing to God than melancholy. He coined the phrase

*""A joyful heart is more easily made perfect than a downcast one."

This was his response to the accepted inclination of the times to be downcast, gloomy and meditative about life and salvation. The St Philip Neri medal or the St. Philip Neri pendant on a necklace is a popular modern means of honoring his sainthood and expressing agreement with his central teaching.

Caesar Baronius, Devoted Understudy

Cardinal Caesar Baronius was a contemporary of Saint Philip of Neri, in fact was an understudy given the assignment from St. Philip to write a chronology of history of the Church. His renowned work is still recognized today as an honest attempt to record history always in the spirit of truthfulness. Baronius was so taken by the common touch and unpretentious manner he wrote the enduring famous St. Philip of Neri prayer pleading for earthly assistance.

Look down from heaven, Holy Father, from the loftiness of that mountain
to the lowliness of this valley, from that harbour of quietness and tranquility
to this calamitous sea. And now that the darkness of this world hinders no more
those benignant eyes of thine from looking clearly into all things, look down
and visit, O most diligent keeper,this vineyard which thy right hand planted
with so much labour, anxiety, and peril. To thee then we fly, from thee we seek
for aid:
to thee we give our whole selves unreservedly.
Thee we adopt for our patron and defender:
undertake the cause of our salvation, protect thy clients.
To thee we appeal as our leader,
rule thine army fighting against the assaults of the devil.
To thee, kindest of pilots, we give up the rudder of our lives;
steer this little ship of thine, and placed as thou art on high,
keep us off all the rocks of evil desires,
that with thee for our pilot and our guide we may safely come to the
port of eternal bliss.
Amen.