St. Philip Neri biography
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St. Philip Neri was a saint born on July 22, 1515, in Florence, Italy. At age 18, he decided to commit his life to God. While praying in the catacombs of St. Sebastiano, he experienced a globe of light that entered his mouth and moved to his heart. He felt closer to God and began serving the ill, poor and others in need. Neri was ordained as a priest in 1551 at the church of San Girolamo. He had a strong following of worshippers who often met in the Oratory, thus they were named the Congregation of the Oratory. Neri died on May 25, 1595, after a long illness. He was beatified in 1615 and canonized in 1622. St. Philip Neri’s memorial day is on May 26.