Philip Romolo Neri, aka the Second Apostle of Rome after Saint Peter, was an Italian Catholic priest who founded the Congregation of the Oratory, a society of secular clergy dedicated to pastoral care and charitable work. Neri's spiritual mission emphasized personal holiness and direct service to others, particularly through the education of young people and care for the poor and sick. His work played a significant role in the Counter-Reformation
Saint Philip Neri's Food for the Soul 1Q2025
Saint Philip Neri's Food for the Soul 4Q2024
The Power of Prayer: The Paraphrase and Compendium of the Gospel.
If you have never read the Bible, but want to know what is in it, take one minute and read the Our Father: it's a paraphrase
As prescribed by Saint Neri, I posted one maxim per day starting with the one for September 27, 2024. This page shall contain Saint Philip Neri's Maxim of the Day for 2Q2025.
How to Pray: the Ladder of Monks
Lectio Divina, “Divine Reading”, refers to an approach to prayer and scripture reading practiced by monastics since the early Church.
Lectio (reading): An attentive, slow, repetitious recitation of a short passage of scripture.
Meditatio (meditation): An effort to understand the passage and apply it to my own life.
Oratio (prayer): Engaging or talking with God about the passage.
Contemplatio (contemplation): Allowing oneself to be absorbed in the words of God as the Holy Spirit draws us into His presence through scripture.
Meditatio (meditation): An effort to understand the passage and apply it to my own life.
Oratio (prayer): Engaging or talking with God about the passage.
Contemplatio (contemplation): Allowing oneself to be absorbed in the words of God as the Holy Spirit draws us into His presence through scripture.
Visio Divina
incorporating sacred Art in our Prayer Life
Maxims For June 2025
30. Even though a man may be unable to attain such a height of sanctity, he ought to desire it, so as to do at least in desire what he cannot carry out in effect.
29. We ought to desire to do great things for the service of God, and not content ourselves with a moderate goodness, but wish, if it were possible, to surpass in sanctity and love even St. Peter and St. Paul.
28. Those who pay a moderate attention to the mortification of their bodies, and direct their main intention to mortify the will and understanding, even in matters of the slightest moment, are more to be esteemed than they who give themselves up exclusively to corporal penances and macerations.
Self-Mastery: true spiritual growth comes not just from physical mortification, but also from actively controlling one's will and understanding, even in minor matters
27. The devil has a crafty custom of sometimes urging spiritual persons to penances and mortifications, in order that by going indiscreet lengths in this way, they may so weaken themselves as to be unable to attend to good works of greater importance; or be so intimidated by the sickliness they have brought upon themselves as to abandon their customary devotions, and at last turn their backs on the service of God.
26. It is generally better to give the body rather too much food than rather too little; for the too much can be easily subtracted, but when a man has injured his constitution by the too little, it is not so easy to get right again.
25. He who cannot put up with the loss of his honor, can never make any advance in spiritual things.
24. Outward mortifications are a great help towards the acquisition of interior mortification and the other virtues.
23. We must not be too ready to trust young men who have great devotion; we must wait till their wings are grown, and then see what sort of a flight they make.
22. Of these three degrees it is well to persevere in the second, because the Lord will grant the third in His own good time.
21. The third degree may be called the angelic life; this is the life which they come to, who, having been exercised for a long time in the taming of their own passions, receive from God a quiet, tranquil, and almost angelic life, even in this world, feeling no trouble or repugnance in anything.
20. The second degree may be called the human life; this is the life of those who do not experience any sensible sweetness, but by the help of virtue combat their own passions.
19. In the spiritual life there are three degrees: the first may be called the animal life; this is the life of those who run after sensible devotion, which God generally gives to beginners, to allure them onwards by that sweetness to the spiritual life, just as an animal is drawn on by a sensible object.
18. For young men to make sure of persevering, it is absolutely necessary that they should avoid wicked companions, and be familiar with good ones.
17. When a person who has been living a spiritual life for a long time falls into a serious fault, there is no better way of raising him up again than by exhorting him to manifest his fall to any pious friend with whom he has a particular intimacy: and God will reconduct him to his first estate for the sake of his humility.
16. Penitents should not generally change their confessors, nor confessors be forward to receive the penitents of others, a few particular cases excepted.
15. He who conceals a grave sin in confession, is completely in the devil’s hands.
14. Let us always go to confession with sincerity, and take this as our rule - Never out of human respect to conceal anything from our confessor, however inconsiderable it may be.
13. The servant of God ought to seek knowledge, but never to show it or make a parade of it.
12. We must take care of little faults: for he who once begins to go backward, and to make light of such defects, brings a sort of grossness over his conscience, and then goes wrong altogether.
11. It is not a good thing to load ourselves with many spiritual exercises; it is better to undertake a little, and go on with it: for if the devil can persuade us to omit an exercise once, he will easily get us to omit it the second time, and the third, until at last all our pious practices will melt away.
10. It is a good thing, during the week that follows our communion-day, to do something more than usual; for example, to say five Our Fathers and Hail Maries with our arms extended, or an extra rosary.
9. Those who are going to Communion should prepare themselves for more temptations than usual, for the Lord will not have us stand idle.
8. To feel any displeasure because we are refused the Communion, is a sign of hardiness, pride, and a want of mortification.
7. Let all go to the Eucharistic Table with a great desire for that Sacred Food. Sitientes! Sitientes!
"Sitientes! Sitientes!" (thirsting! thirsting!) emphasizes the deep desire and longing one should have for the sacred food of the Eucharist. The Eucharist is seen as a sacred meal and a sacrifice, where the bread and wine are become the body and blood of Christ.
6. Our sweet Jesus, through the excess of His love and liberality, has left Himself to us in the Most Holy Sacrament.
5. When we see these virtues in a man, then we know that he has really gathered the fruit of prayer and of communion.
4. Prayer and communion are not to be made or desired for the sake of the devotion we feel in them, for that is seeking self, and not God; but we must be frequent in both the one and the other in order to become humble, obedient, gentle, and patient.
3. Before communion, we ought to exercise ourselves in many acts of virtue
2. If you wish to come where I am going, that is, to glory, you must come this road, that is, through thorns.
Maxims For MAY 2025
31. Let us be humble and keep ourselves down:- Obedience! Humility! Detachment!
30. A virtuous life consists in mortifying vices, sins, bad thoughts, and evil affections, and in exercising ourselves in the acquisition of holy virtues.
29. The fruit we ought to get from prayer, is to do what is pleasing to the Lord.
28. If we wish the Holy Spirit to teach us how to pray, we must practise humility and obedience.
27. The Holy Spirit is the master of prayer, and causes us to abide in continual peace and cheerfulness, which is a foretaste of Paradise.
26. Let us strive after purity of heart, for the Holy Spirit dwells in candid and simple minds.
Candid and simple" generally refers to honesty and straightforwardness, or simplicity in design and style. In photography, "candid" refers to capturing unposed, spontaneous moments. In design, "candid" can suggest a direct, uncluttered approach, while "simple" can refer to a minimalistic aesthetic.
25. The greatness of our love of God must be tested by the desire we have of suffering for His love.
24. It is a good thing to leave the world and our possessions to serve God, but it is not enough:
B. Practical examples: This idea can be seen in various aspects of Christian life, such as using one's talents and abilities to serve others, engaging in meaningful work that reflects God's character, and showing love and compassion to those in need.
C. Avoiding idolatry and greed: The Bible warns against making possessions or worldly wealth a primary focus, as this can lead to idolatry and detachment from God. True service involves prioritizing God's kingdom and His will over personal desires.
23. He who wishes to attain to perfection must have no attachment to anything.
22. If we find nothing in the world to please us, we ought to be pleased by this very not finding anything to please us.
21. We must always pray God not to let the spirit of avarice domineer over us, but that we may live detached from the affections of this world,
20. All sins are highly displeasing to God, but above all sensuality and avarice, which are very difficult to cure.
19. He who wishes for goods will never have devotion.
18. Experience shows that men given to carnal sins are converted sooner than those who are given to avarice.
17. Avarice is the pest of the soul
16. He who has the slightest taint of avarice about him, will never make the least advance in virtue.
15. Penitents ought never to force their confessor to give them leave to do anything against his inclination.
14. As much love as we give to creatures, just so much we steal from the Creator.
13. Even in bodily indispositions spiritual remedies are the most helpful.
12. Scruples are an infirmity which will make a truce with a man, but very rarely peace; humility alone comes off conqueror over them.
11. The scrupulous should remit themselves always and in everything to the judgment of their confessor, and accustom themselves to have a contempt for their own scruples.
10. If those who are molested by scruples wish to know whether they have consented to a suggestion or not, especially in thoughts, they should see whether, during the temptation, they have always had a lively love to the virtue opposed to the vice in respect of which they were tempted, and hatred to that same vice, and this is mostly a good proof that they have not consented.
9. When a scrupulous person has once made up his mind that he has not consented to a temptation, he must not reason the matter over again to see whether he has really consented or not, for the same temptations often return by making this sort of reflections.
8. We ought to abhor every kind of affectation, whether in talking, dressing, or anything else.
8. We ought to abhor every kind of affectation, whether in talking, dressing, or anything else.
Humility is the quality of being humble; it involves a modest view of one's own importance, abilities, or achievements. It's characterized by a lack of pride, arrogance, and a willingness to recognize one's limitations. Humility also encompasses gratitude, empathy, and a respect for others
7. We must often remember what Christ said, that not he who begins, but he that perseveres to the end, shall be saved.
6. He who is unable to spend a long time together in prayer, should often lift up his mind to God by ejaculations.
"Lifting up one's mind to God by ejaculations" refers to engaging in short, spontaneous, and often heartfelt prayers, or aspirations, where the mind and heart are directed towards God. These are not lengthy, formal prayers, but rather brief expressions of praise, gratitude, or requests, often used as a form of ongoing spiritual connection throughout the day.
Here's a more detailed explanation:
• Ejaculatory Prayer:
This term, sometimes used interchangeably with "ejaculations," refers to short, improvisational prayers that are usually brief and quick.
• Raising the Mind:
The phrase "lifting up one's mind" suggests an upward direction of thought and attention towards God.
• Spontaneous & Frequent:
Ejaculatory prayers are typically spontaneous, meaning they arise naturally from one's thoughts and emotions, and are often practiced frequently throughout the day.
• Examples:
Common examples include simple phrases like "God, I love you," "Praise the Lord," or "Thank you, Jesus".
• Purpose:
The purpose of ejaculatory prayers is to maintain a connection with God, to express gratitude, to seek guidance, or to acknowledge His presence.
"Lifting up one's mind to God by ejaculations" refers to engaging in short, spontaneous, and often heartfelt prayers, or aspirations, where the mind and heart are directed towards God. These are not lengthy, formal prayers, but rather brief expressions of praise, gratitude, or requests, often used as a form of ongoing spiritual connection throughout the day.
Here's a more detailed explanation:
• Ejaculatory Prayer:
This term, sometimes used interchangeably with "ejaculations," refers to short, improvisational prayers that are usually brief and quick.
• Raising the Mind:
The phrase "lifting up one's mind" suggests an upward direction of thought and attention towards God.
• Spontaneous & Frequent:
Ejaculatory prayers are typically spontaneous, meaning they arise naturally from one's thoughts and emotions, and are often practiced frequently throughout the day.
• Examples:
Common examples include simple phrases like "God, I love you," "Praise the Lord," or "Thank you, Jesus".
• Purpose:
The purpose of ejaculatory prayers is to maintain a connection with God, to express gratitude, to seek guidance, or to acknowledge His presence.
5. We must not give up praying and asking, because we do not get what we ask all at once.
4. Let us concentrate ourselves so completely in the divine love, and enter so far into the living fountain of wisdom, through the wounded Side of our Incarnate God, that we may deny ourselves and our self-love, and so be unable to find our way out of that Wound again.
3. Men are generally the carpenters of their own crosses.
2. Let him remember also that when he says the Pater Noster every day, instead of asking pardon for his sins, he is calling down vengeance upon them.
1. If a man finds it very hard to forgive injuries, let him look at a crucifix, and think that Christ has shed all His Blood for him, and not only forgave his enemies, but prayed the Eternal Father to forgive them also.
Maxims For April 2025
30. Human language cannot express the beauty of a soul which dies in a state of grace.
29. At table, especially where there are guests, we ought to eat every kind of food, and not say, “I like this,” and “I do not like that.”
28. Nay more, it roots up the little a man may have already acquired.
The statement "Nay more, it roots up the little a man may have already acquired" suggests that something is not only not beneficial or beneficial, but actively harmful, even to the extent of destroying what a person already possesses. It implies that a force or situation can not only deprive a person of potential gains, but also undo any existing accomplishments or possessions.
This phrase is often used in religious or moral contexts, particularly in interpretations of scripture passages. For example, in Luke 12:15, Jesus warns against hoarding wealth, stating "Take heed and guard yourselves against all covetousness, for one's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.”This passage emphasizes that material wealth is not the true measure of life's value and can even be detrimental to spiritual growth. The phrase "roots up the little" aligns with this idea, suggesting that the pursuit of wealth or possessions can lead to the loss of what truly matters, like spiritual well-being or personal values.
The statement "Nay more, it roots up the little a man may have already acquired" suggests that something is not only not beneficial or beneficial, but actively harmful, even to the extent of destroying what a person already possesses. It implies that a force or situation can not only deprive a person of potential gains, but also undo any existing accomplishments or possessions.
This phrase is often used in religious or moral contexts, particularly in interpretations of scripture passages. For example, in Luke 12:15, Jesus warns against hoarding wealth, stating "Take heed and guard yourselves against all covetousness, for one's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.”This passage emphasizes that material wealth is not the true measure of life's value and can even be detrimental to spiritual growth. The phrase "roots up the little" aligns with this idea, suggesting that the pursuit of wealth or possessions can lead to the loss of what truly matters, like spiritual well-being or personal values.
27. Buffoonery incapacitates a person from receiving any additional spirituality from God.
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26. It is very necessary to be cheerful, but we must not on that account give in to a buffooning spirit.
25. Charity and cheerfulness, or charity and humility, should be our motto.
24. Excessive sadness seldom springs from any other source than pride
23. Those who wish to enter upon the religious life, should first of all mortify themselves for a long time, and particularly mortify their will in things to which they have the greatest repugnance
This quote advises those aspiring to a religious life to engage in prolonged mortification, particularly focusing on suppressing their will in areas where they experience the most resistance or repugnance. In essence, it's a call to discipline oneself by intentionally overcoming personal desires and preferences, especially those that are difficult to overcome
This quote advises those aspiring to a religious life to engage in prolonged mortification, particularly focusing on suppressing their will in areas where they experience the most resistance or repugnance. In essence, it's a call to discipline oneself by intentionally overcoming personal desires and preferences, especially those that are difficult to overcome
21. The true way to advance in holy virtues, is to persevere in a holy cheerfulness
20. Let the sick man enter into the Side of Jesus and His most holy Wounds; let him not be afraid, but combat manfully, and he will come forth victorious.
19. The sick man must not fear when he is tempted to lose confidence; for if he has sinned, Christ has suffered and paid for him.
The Ultimate Reparation was paid in full: Tetelestai!
18. A sick man should make God a present of his will; and if it turns out that he has to suffer for a long time, he must submit to the Divine Will.
O Death, Where Is Thy Sting? The Paschal Sermon of St. John Chrysostom
17. In visiting the dying we should not say many words to them, but rather help them by praying for them.
O Death, Where Is Thy Sting? The Paschal Sermon of St. John Chrysostom
16. In trying to get rid of bad habits, it is of the greatest importance not to put off going to confession after a fall, and also to keep to the same confessor.
15. One of the very best means of obtaining humility, is sincere and frequent confession.
14. When we go to confession, we should accuse ourselves of our worst sins first, and of those things which we are most ashamed of, because by this means we put the devil to greater confusion, and reap more fruit from our confession.
13 We must avoid lies as we would a pestilence.
12. We must not trust in ourselves, but take the advice of our spiritual father, and recommend ourselves to everybody’s prayers.
11. The stench of impurity before God and the angels is so great, that no stench in the world can equal it.
10. In temptation we ought not to say, “I will do,” “I will say,” for it is a species of presumption and self-confidence; we ought rather to say with humility, “I know what I ought to do, but I do not know what I shall do.”
9. It is a most useful thing to say often, and from the heart, “Lord, do not put any confidence in me, for I am sure to fall if Thou dost not help me;” or, “O my Lord, look for nothing but evil from me.”
more fruit from our confession.
more fruit from our confession.
8. When a person puts himself in an occasion of sin, saying, “I shall not fall, I shall not commit it,” it is an almost infallible sign that he will fall, and with all the greater damage to his soul.
7. We should be less alarmed for one who is tempted in the flesh, and who resists by avoiding the occasions, than for one who is not tempted and is not careful to avoid the occasions.
6. In the warfare of the flesh, only cowards gain the victory; that is to say, those who fly.
5. Never say, “What great things the Saints do,” but, “What great things God does in His Saints.”
4. When sensual thoughts come into the mind, we ought immediately to make use of our minds, and fix them instantaneously upon something or other, no matter what.
3. As soon as a man feels that he is tempted, he should fly to God, and devoutly utter that ejaculation which the fathers of the desert so much esteemed: Deus in adjutorium meum intende; Domine ad adjuvandum me festina: or that verse, cor mundum crea in me Deus.
Deus in adjutorium meum intende; Domine ad adjuvandum me festina" translates to "O God, make haste to help me; O Lord, make haste to help me," the opening verse of Psalm 69
Cor mundum crea in me, Deus: et spiritum rectum innova in visceribus meis. Create a clean heart in me, O God, and renew an upright spirit within me. The distribution of Ashes marks the beginning of Lent, accompanied by the Miserere sung to the famous setting by Allegri
Deus in adjutorium meum intende; Domine ad adjuvandum me festina" translates to "O God, make haste to help me; O Lord, make haste to help me," the opening verse of Psalm 69
Cor mundum crea in me, Deus: et spiritum rectum innova in visceribus meis. Create a clean heart in me, O God, and renew an upright spirit within me. The distribution of Ashes marks the beginning of Lent, accompanied by the Miserere sung to the famous setting by Allegri
2. Let a man who desires the first place take the last.
1. To acquire and preserve the virtue of chastity, we have need of a good and experienced confessor.
