Tuesday, May 19, 2009

Novena to St Philip Neri: 3rd Day

We celebrate a holy hermit and a Pope this day: St Peter Celestine, the only man freely to abdicate the Chair of the Fisherman.  No doubt St Philip, ever steadfast in refusing every high office pressed upon him - even the Cardinalate: when one Pope put the red hat on his head, he laughingly returned it - would have earnestly admonished his followers to imitate so extraordinary an example of humility.

For the Novena, pray for instance Newman's Litany of St Philip.

Consider what Fr Faber wrote of his spiritual father, the Founder of the Oratorians, which I quoted last year...

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