On May 26 the Catholic Church celebrates the Memorial of Saint Philip Neri, a 16th-century Italian priest famously known as the "Apostle of Rome". He is celebrated for his profound joy, deep humility, and his unique ability to guide the youth and reform the church through love and laughter rather than strictness.
Born in Florence in 1515, he relocated to Rome and dedicated his life to serving the poor, caring for the sick, and catechizing the locals. He founded the Congregation of the Oratory (the Oratorians), a community of priests and laymen focused on prayer, spiritual direction, and sacred music.
Philip Neri is the patron saint of joy, humor, and Rome. He used wit and playful pranks to break down the spiritual apathy of the Renaissance era. Philip Neri was canonized in 1622.
His tomb is in inside the Church of Santa Maria in Vallicella, commonly known as Chiesa Nuova in Rome, Italy in the Blessed Sacrament chapel (left of the choir and main altar).