Feast of St. Philip Neri

Today is the Feast of St. Philip Neri, founder of the Oratorians. Given the particular role and influence the Oratory has had in so many places and on so many people generally, and most especially in our own day with regard to the sacred liturgy, it seems to me that we should express our gratitude, particularly as they have done so both when it has been in season and out of season.

One way to express our thanks is to join with them today in the celebration of their founders feast and wish all of them a blessed St. Philip's day.

While I am hopeful the NLM will be able to present you with some sense of their festal celebrations today, here are a few images from this day two years ago in Birmingham which shows the Solemn Vespers of the Feast. (Do take note of the red festal hangings used. They are a particularly effectual, dignified and Roman way to mark special festal days.)

(Reliquary containing relics of St. Philip)

Photo Source: Matthew Doyle, Lacrimarum Valle