Who was St. Philip Neri?
Though born in Florence (in 1515), St. Philip Neri was known as the "Apostle of Rome" due to the affection the Romans had for him. A practical joker, he was nonetheless a man of deep prayer, often spending entire nights in prayer. A generous, joy-filled man, he developed a reputation as an insightful confessor faithful to the church's teaching and a friend to the friendless.
Attracted by Philip's easy manner and profound spirituality, an informal group of young men soon gathered around him and eventually attracted numerous talented and diverse persons. The notable church musician, Palestrina was one of these.
Eventually several of Philip's associates were ordained priests. From these a new religious community was formed that came to be known as the Oratory. In 1575 Pope Gregory XIII officially established the Congregation of the Oratory and gave them the small Church of Santa Maria in Vallicella (today known as the Chiesa Nuova) where Philip died and was buried 1595.