We live in days marked by restlessness. The world seems to spin rapidly around uncertainties, anxieties, and constant noise. Many ask themselves how to persevere in faith, how to preserve hope in the face of so much pain, injustice, and confusion. The answer does not lie in empty speeches or superficial sentimentalism, but in the serene depth of the saints — and among them, the figure of Saint Philip Neri, the “saint of joy,” shines with particular clarity.
Saint Philip did not ignore human suffering. On the contrary, he saw it every day in the streets of Rome, in the lost souls he rescued, in the directionless youth he welcomed with patience and firmness. Yet his soul was not overcome by sadness. He knew that the kind of sadness that paralyzes, that murmurs against God or sinks the spirit into itself, is the fruit of a lack of trust in the Lord.
“Deliver us, Lord, from sad saints,” he used to say. Not as one who despises those who suffer, but as one who understands that true holiness is not rooted in discouragement, but in the joy that springs from abandonment to God. A deep joy, not made of laughter, but of inner peace; not dependent on favorable circumstances, but on the certainty that God is Father and leads all things for the good of those who love Him.
Saint Philip teaches us that it is possible to be joyful even in pain, if the soul is united to Christ. He himself lived a life of austerity and penance, but never lost the lightness of spirit. He knew how to laugh at himself, made others laugh, but never joked with sin. He was radical against the world and its vanities, but sweet and compassionate toward sinners. A model for our times, so full of extremes, where many confuse severity with sanctity or informality with virtue.
How then should we behave in the face of today’s trials? With the serene courage of the saints. Not yielding to fear, but also without illusions. With our hearts fixed on Heaven, our feet firmly on earth, and our souls freed from all that is not God. We must cultivate silent prayer, frequent sacraments, balanced humor, patient charity, and constant vigilance. Like Saint Philip, we must learn to be strong without being harsh, and pious without being melancholic.
In a world that screams, Saint Philip invites us to recollection; in a time that is restless, he leads us to peace. May we imitate him not only in words, but in our daily choices: choosing to trust, choosing to serve, choosing to smile with a soul pacified by God. Holiness does not require closed faces, but open hearts. May our steadfastness in faith always be illuminated by true joy — the one that no one can steal, because it comes from above.
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