Born in Florence in 1515, St. Philip Neri lived all his life in Rome and was one of the most influential persons of his times. He was a man of original character and happy disposition, but his soul was burning with an ardent and unbounded love of God and for people of all conditions, with whom he made contact and whom he led to God, directing and advising them with exceptional sureness of touch. After living as a pilgrim or as a hermit in the streets of Rome for fifteen years, he was ordained priest at the age of thirty-six and gathered round him a group of about twenty priests who formed the Congregation of secular priests of the Oratory. But St. Philip’s life remained what it had always been, original in character and a very great influence for holiness, which seemed to radiate from him. He died in 1595. The texts of his Mass emphasize the ardent love of God which was the inspiration of his life.