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.
Maxims For MAY 2025
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.
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